Triathlon: Warriner off to winning start

Sam Warriner celebrates winning the Sovereign Tri Series Tinman at Mount Maunganui yesterday. Photo / George Novak

Sam Warriner has experienced most things in her distinguished career as a world-class triathlete.

But swimming into a boat moored at Pilot Bay was a shock to her system at the start of the Sovereign Tri Series Tinman yesterday morning.

Luckily the 43-year-old former world champion hit the boat with her hand rather than a more vulnerable part of her anatomy.

She was able to laugh the incident off after she crossed the finish line first, to win yet another elite women's title at Mount Maunganui.

"I was laughing when I left the water because I actually swam into a boat," Warriner said. "It hurt at the time but it was my own fault, just my head down thing. I knew I was near the boat and wanted to get out there with the lead pack so that was my only focus. It was an athlete's error.

Stephen Hurdley safely takes a corner in the blustery conditions at Mount Maunganui yesterday.

"Tinman starts the summer season for me so if I can get a good one here then that's great. But it has been a really tough year for me this year and I had to borrow a bike off someone last week. It was a surprise and I did not expect to win but I went in with such a laid back attitude."

Warriner is coach of a group of Sweat 7 athletes who competed yesterday.

She says they were her first priority and why she was so relaxed at the start of her own race.

"This is the race for me but I am here mostly for my team really. It is always nice for the coach to be a role model."

Conditions were difficult for all athletes yesterday morning, with a howling wind churning up the normally benign Pilot Bay and causing havoc for some lesser riders in the teams' and youth races.

But for Warriner, the tougher the conditions the more the English-born athlete likes it.

"You just have to put your head down and keep as aero as you can. The wind makes you stronger and you just have to make sure you adjust your cadence and grit your teeth.".