Multisport: Ironman Foster rules the waves

Brent Foster again underlined his strength as an open water expert by beating some of New Zealand's best pool swimmers in the King of the Bays 2.8km ocean event from Milford to Takapuna yesterday.

Foster, the perennial first out of the water at the Ironman triathlon in Taupo, capitalised on a mistake by pace-setters Cameron Gibson and Moss Burmester to win the race by 26 seconds from Dean Kent.

Renowned butterfly exponent Corney Swanepol pressed hard to finish third just edging leading woman and North Shore clubmate Helen Norfolk by two seconds.

The race, which attracted 617 starters (more than double last year's field), of which all but two finished, was a triumph for Foster and his navigational skills.

"I knew the course well and although I was battling to keep up with the likes of Dean Kent, it was that knowledge which got me through," said Foster, who completed the course in 33 minutes and 52 seconds, just outside Cory Hutchings winning effort in last year's inaugural race.

Euan Acket, 17, was a surprise fourth place finisher with 13-year-old Harry Dillon also claiming a share of the glory in seventh.

Gibson and Burmester came unstuck when they missed the second-to-last marker buoy and were disqualified.

Norfolk was outstanding in heading another North Shore swimmer, Melissa Ingram, by 36 seconds in recording a time of 34 minutes 48 seconds.

"I just wanted to keep ahead of the pack and swim my own race at my own pace," said Norfolk. "That strategy worked and I'm really happy to take the title."

Ying Jie Ow was third woman home ahead of Rebecca Clarke and Alison Fitch, who headed defending champion Rebecca Linton who finished sixth.

Rosie, the golden Labrador, again completed the distance finishing in 355th place in a time of 57 minutes and 43 seconds.