Visitor leaves peak rivals in the distance

Triple Peaks Challenge winner Yanqiao Yun finished nearly one hour ahead of the nearest competitor. PHOTO / PAUL TAYLOR

Hot conditions and a longer course meant nothing to the winner of the Triple Peaks Challenge who smashed previous records, finishing nearly one hour ahead of the next competitor.

The event ranges across Mt Erin, Mt Kahuranaki and Te Mata Peak and cover 47km in total.

Chinese ultra-distance athlete Yanqiao Yun was visiting Hawke's Bay when he heard of the event and made inquiries about Saturday's event on Friday night, race director David Tait said.

"He asked how big the cup was and I told him it wasn't that big but was an amazing race with two river crossings, three large mountains it and had a lot of history," he said.

"He decided to enter and now holds the race record by a long way. He was second in the Tarawera Ultra last year - this year he hurt his foot. He's a very, very good competitor."

Yun finished in 3 hours 49 minutes. Graham Butcher of Masterton was second in a time that would have won him the race in previous years - 4 hours 35 minutes.

"He [Yun] is the first competitor who, when asked if it was hard, said no."

Yun said he took it easy for the first hill as he did not want to get lost but then decided to push it a bit harder when he realised he would not lose his way.

"The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was called to a 33-year-old competitor suffering from heat exhaustion, Mr Tait said.

The man collapsed on a zig-zag section of the track that an ambulance could not access. He was winched aboard and flown to Hawke's Bay Hospital for further treatment.

"Several competitors helped out, which is all in the spirit of the event, " Mr Tait said.
The 27th Triple Peaks Challenge "was never going to be easy" due to a warm day and slightly longer 47.8 km course for the 500 competitors.

The 2015 event will be remembered as the year the world discovered the event, with a "huge increase" in international competitors.

"I was very impressed at the way competitors and supporters helped each other, with many stories of camaraderie and I have thanked a couple of people for their acts of kindness.

"At the end of the day an event is made or broken by those involved in it and we have some great people out there."

The Mountain bike race was dominated by Hawke's Bay athletes. Gary Hall beat Luke Osborne by more than one minute in a time of 2 hours and 48 minutes with Darren Warren in third at 2:56:17.

For full results go to: www.triplepeakschallenge.co.nz