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There were extraordinary scenes at the end of the women's race yesterday, and it wasn't just because of the surf that swamped the finish line at Sumner Beach and forced organisers to move inland.
Emily Miazga, who won the race in 2006, finished only 44 seconds ahead of
defending champion Fleur Pawsey, who was herself only two minutes ahead of third-placed getter Rachel Cashin.
Race organiser Robin Judkins was left stroking his long, white beard in thought but it was believed to be the closest race in Speight's Coast to Coast history.
Miazga made up huge chunks of time on the final bike leg after starting in third, eight minutes behind Pawsey, and finally passed her rival at the Christchurch Yacht Club with only 2km of the 243km race to go. She jumped across the line in joy and then turned to greet Pawsey in second with a hug.
"I can't believe I pulled through in the end to get it," a breathless but ecstatic Miazga said.
"I thought I might be running out of time but when I came on to the causeway [near Sumner Beach], I could see her and I knew I would get her. It was a pretty good feeling passing her. I passed her in front of my friend's house in Redcliff, so that was pretty cool."
It was heartbreaking for Pawsey but she was philosophical in defeat. She had wanted to prove her result in last year's result wasn't a one-off and easily achieved that goal.
"[Being passed by Miazga] wasn't as upsetting as I thought it would be because I couldn't go any faster," she said. "I gave it everything I had.
"I wished I could have held her off but I was doing the mental calculations in my head and I knew I was running out of time."
Unlike the men's race, there was no clear favourite in the women's field. Emily Ussher, Richard Ussher's wife, was the first to fall off the pace after she punctured only 10km after yesterday morning's start and gave up too much time.
Anna Bertheslen emerged from the mountain run in front but was overpowered by Pawsey on the kayak and rapidly slipped out of contention.
It then looked like Pawsey would defend the title she surprisingly won last year but the fast-finishing Miazga dashed her hopes, despite the fact she had to stop at traffic lights at one stage in Christchurch. Cashin also powered her way through the field but simply left her run too late.
For Miazga, yesterday made up for the disappointment of 12 months ago, when she entered the race as defending champion but was forced to withdrawal through injury. "I had unfinished business so I am really happy I came out on top," she said.
Other winners yesterday were Dougal Allan in the men's two-day event, Cath Kelly in the two-day women's event, while Paul Massie and Robert Loveridge won the team's event.
But none could match the excitement of the women's race.
