Richard Ussher. Photo / Getty Images
Nelson's Richard Ussher relished near perfect racing conditions to win the 254km Coast to Coast one-day multisport event in Christchurch.
It is the fourth time Ussher has won the event.
His 10h 41min 12s time was a shade over six minutes behind the record set in 1994.
Wanaka's Dougal Allan
took second in 10h 55min 59s, with Methven PE teacher Glenn Currie third in 11h 7min 10s.
Ussher, who took a break from competing in the past two Coast to Coast races, said it was good to be back.
"The build-up was pretty relaxed so I had to have a measured race. I was hoping to finish strong," he said. "I was in good shape but not really specific shape, so I couldn't just really go for it on the run like I normally would.
"I was pretty unco-ordinated on the run - I was slipping and sliding everywhere. I was falling on my face, falling in the water, so I just had to back off a bit and run consistently."
Ussher controlled the final cycle into Christchurch, but pushed hard in search of a new race record.
"I was going pretty hard for the last 20km, just trying to get under 10h 45min. There was quite a good tailwind, but it was a tough day at the office."
Sophie Hart from Nelson won the women's one-day event, crossing the finish line at Sumner with a time of 12h 10min 31s. Hart, beat home last year's winner Elina Ussher of Finland, who finished nearly nine minutes behind in 12h 19min 27s. Third-placed Emily Miazga clocked 12h 19min 27s, then announced her retirement from the gruelling event.
"I had the best race ever but I just didn't have the legs," she said. "I had zero dark moments, I was smiling all day ... but this was my last."
Miazga has contested the race eight times, winning in 2008 and 2009.
- NZPA
