Triathlon: Doctor's prescription for perfect performance

Brent Foster, left, and Matthew Morreau after the Mangawhai Triathlon. Photo/Supplied

Whangarei doctor Mathew Morreau led from start to finish at the annual Mangawhai Triathlon to take the win on the newly laid out course.

Competing in a large field of 217 athletes, Morreau was first out of the water after a 500-metre swim and continued on to complete the 20km bike ride and 5km run in 1 hour 13 seconds.

Brent Foster, of Auckland, who won the veteran men's swim section, pushed Morreau all the way to finish 18sec behind the winner on Sunday.

Fellow Aucklander Carmel Tolhurst took out the women's section in 1 hour 8 minutes after also winning the swim leg, from Alana Lythe, also of Auckland, who won the women's under-20 section.

The men's open kayak section was won by Richard Bleakley who took the 1.5km kayak option instead of the swim, to finish in 1 hour 11 minutes with Kevin O'Brien next home in 1 hour 15 minutes. The women's open kayak winner was Carron Chessum with Shona Fogden a close second.

After finishing in second place last year, Kerikeri's Harry Pearson took out the under-20 male swim section which included a strong field that ventured north from Auckland for the popular event.

Sport Northland will stage two further triathlons this season with the Ray White Allens Kids Tri in Whangarei on March 23 and the AvantiPlus Kumara Triathlon at Kai Iwi Lakes on March 29.