Multisport: Race to be king attracts top names

Many of New Zealand's leading sportsmen and women will break out of their comfort zone to contest three high-profile events next month.

The King of the Harbour surf ski World Cup race, the King of the Bays ocean swim and the inaugural Cape Brett Challenge - a rugged 35km off-road running race - have attracted some the country's highest-profile contestants.

The field for next Saturday's Nutra-Life-sponsored surf ski race over a new-look course of 25km or 27km - depending on wind direction - is headed by world champion and Olympic silver medallist Ben Fouhy.

He will be joined on the start line, either at the Matiatia Wharf on Waiheke Island, the Eastern Viaduct or Gulf Harbour by defending champion Dawid Mocke (South Africa), 2003 winner Mike Walker and 2002 runner-up Lewis Laughlin (Tahiti).

Steven Ferguson, Fouhy's partner in the K2 1000m at the Athens Olympics last year, will also start, along with this year's surf ski series champion Paul Wilford.

Katie Pocock will defend her women's title and can expect tough challenges from South African Nikki Mocke and top Australian Yanda Nositter.

The men's open race has an $8000 prize pool spread over the top 10 finishers while the top three women will chase $2000.

The Sovereign King of the Bays 2.8km swim from Milford to Takapuna on April 17 will be more sedate but just as competitive for the 300-plus field.

First swum last year, the race has attracted most of New Zealand's Athens Olympic swim team including Moss Burmester, second behind Cory Hutchings a year ago. With Hutchings opting for the commentating-only role, Burmester will be the one to beat. He can expect to be pushed all the way by Dean Kent and Corney Swanepoel.

Olympian Rebecca Linton will defend her title and will face Athens team mates Hannah McLean, Helen Norfolk and Alison Fitch among others.

Rosie the dog will be back again, as will 75-year-old Dave Blackie, a 10-time Ironman finisher who has 10 titanium screws in his knees.

The toughest of all promises to be the gruelling out-and-back run to the tip of Cape Brett on April 23.

From the start at Rawhiti, about 15km east of Russell, the field, restricted to 100 runners, will negotiate 1700m of climbing on a rugged course which climbs beyond 300m at one point.

The early stages take in the track which goes by the Whangamumu Whaling Station before hitting the out and back Cape Brett track which gives some spectacular views.

So rough in some places and with the danger posed by the cliff edge, contestants will be slowed by short compulsory walk sections.

The field is likely to be headed by Ross Rotherham who has twice been fastest over the run section of the Coast to Coast multisport race. His biggest challenge in the battle for the lion's share of the $2000 prize money could come from multisport regular Heath Begarnham.

Organisers expect a winning time of around five hours for the 35km race. There is also a shorter loop race of 15km starting and finishing at Rawhiti.

BIG THREE

King of the Harbour 25-27km surf ski race,

April 2, 12.30pm

Start/finish: Matiatia Wharf or Eastern Viaduct or Gulf Harbour (depending on conditions).

King of the Bays 2.8km ocean swim April 17, 11am Milford Beach to Takapuna Beach

Cape Brett Challenge 35km off-road run April 23, 9am Rawhiti (near Russell) out and back also 15km Whangamumu Wonder