Star trying to go pro

Gun Greytown triathlete Hamish Hammond has put his aspirations to work for a New Zealand agribusiness on hold.

Instead, the recent Massey University graduate from Greytown is escaping the Kiwi winter and making a move to the Australia's Gold Coast where he will set up base and look to springboard his triathlon ambitions.

It is an easy decision to understand when you consider what the former Greytown School and Rathkeale College pupil has achieved since becoming serious about triathlons in 2009.

And while he is pleased with his progress, Hammond himself is the first to admit that there is still some work to do before he is ready to join the professional ranks.

This is the reason for his move across the Tasman, due to the greater opportunity to develop his swimming, cycling and running skills.

This year in particular has started in promising fashion for Hammond.

The 22-year-old took out race two of the national triathlon series in Whangamata, heading off Stephen Sheldrake in an exciting sprint finish, was a solid fourth in race three in Christchurch and then a bold third in the finale in Wellington.

International competition now beckons for Hammond with two world series events scheduled in Japan for early next month, one in Amakusa on June 3 and the other the other in Gamagori on June 10.

That is a taxing schedule by any standards but Hammond has already shown he is well capable of meeting that challenge, having won both the Olympic distance triathlon and aquathlon 20-24yrs age group world titles in the same week in China last September.

History shows that the Gamagori event, in particular, seems to suit the Kiwi psyche as two of our top elite triathletes, Kris Gemmell and Andrea Hewitt, both claimed victory there in the early stages of their careers.

From Japan, Hammond will head back to the Gold Coast where he will train under the guidance of his coach Greg O'Connor who, like Hammond, was a leading figure in Wairarapa swimming before turning his attention to triathlon.

It is anticipated that Hammond will remain in Australia until September when he will return to New Zealand to defend the two world age-group titles he won in China last year.