Aquathlon: Brothers duke it out for top honours

NZ Aquathlon Championships winner Jay Wallwork, right, with brother Quinn who finished second on Saturday. Photo / Peter White

A glorious morning at Pilot Bay on Saturday greeted a field of athletes who lined up for the second Jennian Homes NZ Aquathlon Championships.

The event was run in two sections, 11-15 years and 16 and over, with the main race a qualifier for the 2015 ITU World Aquathlon Championships.

The men's race was a showdown between two exponents in brothers Jay, 19, and Quinn, 17, Wallwork from Auckland.

Jay finished in a sharp time of 29.02 for the 1km swim in Pilot Bay and 5km run up and down The Mall and around the Mauao Base Track. Quinn was second home in 30.35, with Bradley Cullen third in 30.39.

It was Jay's first experience of the course and the New Zealand Swimrun champion was in form after winning his third straight Stroke and Stride series race on Wednesday.

"I just came off a good race and had a three-day turn around, so I was feeling a little bit tired. I was second out of the water but I beat him out of transition," Jay said. "It wasn't too much of a gap and I backed myself on the run and eased out and did my own kind of race."

His first experience of the at-times dodgy surface of the base track was an eye opener.

"The loose gravel is quite interesting. I guess I might have picked the wrong shoes. It was really hard, a good tough run. I like it, it's good. The scenery is awesome and the water is so clear here. I enjoy coming down here to race."

New Plymouth's Hannah Sturmer, 20, who finished 8th at the ITU World Triathlon Series 16-19 age sprint race final in London last year, easily took out the women's race. Her time of 32.59 was well clear of former world junior champion Mikayla Nielsen (34.14) with Jacey Cropp third (34.27).

Sturmer is easing herself into the summer season and admits she was not at 100 per cent fitness levels. But it was more than good enough on the day.

"I raced here last year and I am quite happy with the win for the start of the season," she said.