Gemmell beats teams for top tri spot

STRONG FINISH:Wanganui's Rob Gemmell (right) about to win the New Zealand Masters Games triathlon on Saturday. PHOTOS/LEWISGARDNER070215WCLGMASTER4

HE DID the work of three men but none could head Wanganui triathlon stalwart Rob Gemmell in the pre-eminent multisport race of the Southern Trust New Zealand Masters Games on Saturday afternoon.

Competing amongst 20 individual males out of a total of 48 competitors - including seven teams of males, females or mixed - Gemmell led comfortably coming out of the 750m swim down the Whanganui river for the bike transition.

Despite one of the men's teams, consisting of three members, closing in on him, Gemmell would maintain that advantage for the 20km cycle leg of two laps out from Anzac Pde to Riverbank Rd, followed by the 5km run of two laps towards Kowhai Park.

Starting shortly after 4pm, Gemmell had the distance on a leading group of four coming out of the water, with swimming being one of his strongest disciplines.

A number of riders had the rubbery legs trying to get their bikes in gear, including one woman competitor who ended up lying on the verge after the rider ahead veered into her path, although he did stop to help her up.

By 4.45pm, Gemmell was jogging the bike back into the transition at the Whanganui Multisport Club, with the gap to the team coming behind him closing to about 20 seconds.

A good fight was also developing in the women's individual grade between locals Margaret Tyson and Tonia Nesbitt, with Tyson having a solid lead coming off the swim in fifth place overall, only to find Nesbitt riding her down and overtaking before the run.

But Gemmell had nothing but daylight ahead as he would extend his 12-second run advantage over the final 2.5km lap, coming home in one hour, 1.38 minutes.

It was satisfying to be first one over the line despite being chased by the fresher legs of team competitors.

"That was a bit of a target for me, so I could stay ahead.

"Not too bad [a finish time] for me.

"[He] was catching me, the team rider."

Having also competed in the swimming and mountain biking during the week, Gemmell was pleased to have had such a strong triathlon given the sun made it a hot competition, whereas he prefers overcast.

Nesbitt would ultimately finish in 1h 10.12m, with Tyson unable to pull time back on the run.

"Margaret and I usually battle it out on the cycle," said Nesbitt, who had been a little worried about her staying power.

"The triathlon's my favourite, but I decided I wanted to do the time trial [cycling on Friday].

"The wind got up a bit, but that's expected at this time of the year."