Multisport: Richmond takes Half Ironman

Nathan Richmond runs along the Mount Maunganui beachfront during yesterday's Half Ironman competition. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Nathan Richmond took one of the biggest victories in his career yesterday, winning the Tauranga Half Ironman which also doubled as the New Zealand Long Distance Triathlon Championships.

Breaking away from last year's runner-up Kieran Doe, with just a few kilometres remaining, Richmond crossed the line in 3h 47m 54s, beating the course record by 14 seconds.

The 17th annual running of the ever-popular event was based around Mount Maunganui and held under crystal-clear skies with a slight breeze - ideal for an exciting race.

During the opening 2km swim in Pilot Bay, a group of six swimmers, containing Doe and Richmond, established a healthy lead over the chasing field.

Emerging from the water together to begin the 90km cycle section, Doe, Richmond and Stephen Sheldrake soon pulled ahead, opening up a massive gap to fourth spot. After two hours of riding, the trio were inseparable as they began the 21km run.

Featuring an undulating gravel path, the run proved decisive. In rising temperatures Sheldrake was soon left behind, leaving Doe and Richmond to fight for victory.

To tumultuous applause, it was Richmond who ran down the finishing straight a full 1m 25s ahead of Doe. Sheldrake was third in 4h 10s.

"In the past I've made a massive mistake at not being patient in this race," said Richmond, "They [Sheldrake and Doe] put in attack after attack on the bike. I kept with them and was feeling strong on the run."

A confidence-boosting win after his non-selection for the Commonwealth Games in March, Richmond intends to keep racing and training over long distances. "I don't think I'll be doing the New Zealand Ironman but I'm looking ahead to Beijing's Olympics in 2008."

Doe was philosophical about his second place. "It is the best I have ever felt here," he said. "I thought I could break him on the bike and thought he was hurting on the run."

Previous record-holder, 42-year-old Walter Thorburn finished in fourth but was happy with his race. "The record had to go sometime. I've held it for 10 years and I'm stoked for Nathan."

New Zealand's top Ironwoman, Jo Lawn, stomped around the course in a time of 4h 14m 39s to win her first Tauranga title. Although Lawn was seeded number one, most obsevers agreed she would have her work cut out against a class field which included Fiona Docherty, Evelyn Williamson and Karyn Ballance.

However, it was unseeded Aucklander Sue Mellsop who raced into the bike section in first postion, closely followed by Lawn. Mellsop pulled ahead over the first 20km of cycling, before paying for her efforts and allowing Lawn to overtake her.

Lawn continued to ride strongly and had an almost unassailable lead going into the run section after Fiona Docherty received a two-minute penalty for drafting. Lawn made no mistakes, however, and finished over four minutes ahead of Docherty.

"I knew I had some fast runners coming up behind me," Lawn commented afterwards, "I had to work at a fast pace the whole way."

Team Rehab won the teams section in a time of 3h 46m 34s, upsetting the crack Team Nike combination of Cameron Brown, Olympic champion Hamish Carter and Olympian Dale Warrander.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY