Wairarapa triathletes Gavin Champion and Lucy Cruickshank won their age groups at the inaugural Taranaki Half-Ironman held in testing conditions last weekend.
Strong winds troubled competitors on the cycle leg, as did searing heat on the run.
Champion placed 15th overall and first in the men's 40-44 years section in a time
of 5h 09m 37s, taking 34m 16s for the 2km swim leg, 2h 43m 34s for the 90km cycle and 1h 48m 35s for the 21.1km run. His transitional times were 1m 50s and 1m 22s.
Cruickshank was 48th female finisher and first in the 30-34 years category. She clocked 6h 03m 58s, made up of 33m 55s for the swim, 3h 21m 21s for the bike and 2h 02m 55s for the run. Her transitional times were 2m 38s and 3m 09s.
Two other Wairarapa participants were Michael Duthie and Sue Bankier. Duthie was 69th overall and 11th in the men's 45-49 years grade in a time of 6h 36m 01s, while Bankier completed the swim and cycle legs but did not finish the run.
