TQ.kiwi
OFFICIAL
PUBLICATION OF

TIPS FOR TAUPO FROM THE

ISSUE 03 • SPRING 2023

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Beginner’s
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2023 WTCS
Report Cards
North Harbour
Triathlon Club
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38

On the cover

Dan Plews has hung up his tri suit as the
Kona AG course record holder and owner
of the fastest Iron distance AG time ever.
Now he’s devoted to making you faster

ISSUE 03
SPRING 2023

GO TO CULTURE

Start List

10 Warm Up

76

2023 WTCS
Report Cards

4

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

GO TO SPOTLIGHT
12
14
16

Deep Blue
Elevated Vistas
Eagles Soar

GO TO INSIDER
20
22
24
26
27
28
30
32
36
38
44

Triathlon Summer Series
World Triathlon Global Calendar
Patrick Johnson is Tickled Ink
Max Attack
They said it…
3 Kiwis & a GOAT
11 Questions for Tamara Reed
Dr John Hellemans: In Seine?
Heather Neill: Leap of Faith
Super League Season V
Lachlan Haycock

GO TO GEAR+TECH
54
56
62
64

What’s in Brea’s Kit Bag?
Beginner’s Gear Guide
ASICS Summer Shoe Showcase
Elevate Your Training

62

118
98

56

WORLD BEATER
Crush your Taupo
70.3 goals with
Dr. Dan Plews

46

12
GO TO RACING
66
70
76
88

PTO v Ironman
Nice and Kona in focus
2023 WTCS Report Cards
The Big Race: Auckland Duathlon

GO TO TRAIN+FUEL

GO TO TRIBE

94 Zone 2 Training
98 I ate Radix for 30 days.
Here’s what happened…
100 Taking nutrition offshore
102 Ainsley Thorpe: Drilled in speed

106
108
110
116
118

NATION

Huge Payne Gains
Tri NZ Suzuki Series
North Harbour Triathlon Club
Tri NZ Club Guide
Lisa Shingleton

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

5

Dive In

• SPRING 2023

BACK TO START LIST

NZ to the World

F
KENT GRAY
@triathlonnz
@triathlonnz
kent@triathlon.kiwi

CONTRIBUTORS
DR DAN PLEWS
The world’s fastest
age grouper on Zone
2 training from p94
and our Taupo 70.3
cover feature (p46)

JOHN HELLEMANS
Erin Baker, Kris
Gemmell & Andrea
Hansen are but a few
of the Chch coach’s
success stories (p32)

HEATHER NEILL
The Napier vet has
a new string to her
bow. Find out how
her step up to pro
tri has begun (p36)

KIM ABBOTT
That jug and iron
in your hotel room
aren’t just for tea
and nicely pressed
slacks (p100)

6

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

rom the Wilde (and co.) start in New
Plymouth to the weird finish in Vina del
Mar, the 2023 World Triathlon Cup was
an emotional rollercoaster ride spanning
eight months, 13 countries and 14 utterly
unpredictable events.
The World Triathlon Championship Series
(WTCS) might be the global governing
body’s preeminent circuit but the personal
endeavour - and storylines - at the second tier
were no less compelling. They were also closer
to home, both geographically initially and
then metaphorically for those young Kiwis
striving to reach the rarified air in which
Hayden Wilde currently operates.
For starters, how about Gwen Jorgensen?
The 2016 Rio Olympic champion started
her comeback to the sport (via Oceania Cup
Taupo) with 14th place in New Plymouth and
ended it with four golds and a silver in her
last five World Cup starts. After a seven-year
hiatus from triathlon post Rio, it could be
the humble World Cup rather than the glitzy
WTCS that propels the American to Paris.
How about the Wilde-Tayler Reid, Nicole
van der Kaay-Ainsley Thorpe one-two
double, double in New Plymouth? The
early Kiwi medal rush was a pointer of the
year to come where Wilde would become
World Sprint champion in Hamburg, mostly
unlucky in short course races thereafter and
ultimately the winner of Melbourne 70.3.
Reid scored a gritty Super League medal, van
der kaay ended her year as an asterisked lock
for Paris (nothing is certain in sport) and
Thorpe almost so.
New Plymouth also hinted at the rise and
rise of Dylan McCullough who was a close 4th
at home, repeated that placing in South Korea
seven months hence, and then nailed a World
Cup medal in Miyazaki a week later. Three top
10s in as many weeks in Asia, capped with the
silver in Japan, is lovely momentum to take
into the New Year.
Talking of positive outlooks, how good
is 2024 shaping? Napier is the new New

Plymouth, set to open the fresh World Cup
season with a Mixed Relay twist in February.
By the time we get to the 70.3 Worlds in Taupo
come December 2024, we’ll know if Wilde
can add Paris gold to Tokyo bronze and his
Birmingham Commonwealth Games silver.
And if anyone can live with his pedal power
and foot speed once the Olympic pressure
valve has been released and he’s racing for
the people of his birthplace at the global
70.3 showpiece.
There will be many highs and lows at home
and abroad in between no doubt, perhaps
even in your own racing. Here at TQ, we
remain committed to assisting you every step
of the way which is why we’ve enlisted the
world’s fastest Iron distance age grouper ever,
Dr. Dan Plews, to help you nail your own
Taupo 70.3 goals over the next 13 months.
Even if your objectives are over shorter
distances or much less ambitious than making
a world championship, we trust you’ll find
ample inspiration within the pages of TQ3.
Whatever you do, just don’t get lost (or
was that led down the garden path?) like the
leading four women eventually DQ’d in Vina
del Mar. The leading quartet mistakenly ran
down the blue carpet – instead of adjacent
to it – on the first lap of the run in Chile,
ultimately promoting Jorgensen to her
least favourite gold in an increasingly
impressive season.
We told you it was weird ending to 2023.
Here’s to a Wilde-ly (and co.) successful 2024.
Happy reading.

Kent Gray
Managing Editor

TRIATHLON NEW ZEALAND/GRAY MATTER MEDIA
AUT Millennium, 17 Antares Place,
Rosedale, Auckland 0632
Email info@triathlon.kiwi

Join the TQ
conversation
@triathlonnz
#TQmag

TQ.kiwi
triathlon.kiwi
@triathlonnz
@triathlonnz

EDITORIAL
Managing Editor Kent Gray
Communications & Marketing Manager, Tri NZ
kent@triathlon.kiwi

ADVERTISING
Enquiries Justine Jamieson
Business Development Manager, TQ
TQ@triathlon.kiwi

PRODUCTION
Editorial/Video Gray Matter Media

ADVERTISING
Weston Design Limited
westondesign.co.nz

ISSUE 3 CONTRIBUTORS
John Hellemans, Heather Neill, Kim Abbott, Hamish Collie, Scott Taylor,
World Triathlon, Ironman Oceania Group, Super League Triathlon,
Professional Triathletes Organisation, Challenge Family, Dan Plews,
Christian Petersen/Getty Images, Sean Haffey/Getty Images,
Bartlomiej Zborowski/Activ Images, Donald Miralle, Sylvain Thomas/,
AFP, Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images

NEXT TIME IN TQ
January 2024

TO PARIS WITH LOVE
LICENSING & SYNDICATION
TQ New Zealand is available for licensing and syndication. For more
information, please email: kent@triathlon.kiwi.
TQ is published quarterly by Triathlon New Zealand in association with
Gray Matter Media.

The Fine Print
TQ New Zealand is published by Triathlon New Zealand
in association with Gray Matter Media. Reproduction in
whole or in part of any photograph, text or illustration
without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited.
Due care is taken to ensure TQ Insider is fully accurate but the
publisher and Triathlon New Zealand cannot accept liability for
errors or omissions. TQ and Triathlon New Zealand logos are
copyrighted. All other content in this magazine, plus associated
content shared on the TQ.kiwi and Triathlon.kiwi websites, is jointly
owned by Triathlon New Zealand and Gray Matter Media, or used
under license from third parties. All Rights Reserved.

8

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Partners Nicole van der Kaay and Tayler Reid
on the highs and lows of an Olympic Games
campaign shared

TAUPO 70.3
TQ will be in Taupo to report on the dress rehearsal
to the 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships

35th TAURANGA HALF
We preview the Mt. Festival of Multisport
incorporating the first Tri NZ Suzuki Series
event of 2024

Out early 2024. Stay tuned to TQ.kiwi

TAG YOUR
PICTURES

#TQGram

BACK TO START LIST

Let’s Get Social

@Triathlonnz

@lucycharles93

@samlaidlow

The moment you achieve your dream…
Still in disbelief Ironman World
Champion!!!

Mum, Dad, Jake… WE DID IT

@kieranmcpherson_triathlete

@kylesmithnzl

@heather.neill96

11th Xterra World Championship.
Physically the best season of my life while
mentally being the most challenging.

I’m back in NZ, Back in Taupo and back
to work.

Ironman 70.3 Langkawi. As per usual, my
swim exit photos beautifully capture my
best monkey impersonations...

@fotorunners.es

@professionaltriathletesorg’s

@canterburytriathlon

Shooting with @taylerreidnz for
@asicsrunning

“I was 1cm away from winning the US Open”
@kristianblu moved his saddle back and won
the Asian Open after cramping in Milwaukee.

Fun CTC Board meeting last night as
we got to catch up with @triathlonnz
CEO Pete de Wet. Some great tri chat!...

🥹

🤯🥲

@bradencurrie
I’ve spent a few years resisting the latest
cycling trend. But my new Felt BREED is
now the source of my current cycling inspo.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

9

CULTURE

BACK TO START LIST

Warm Up

Super Blindsided
Here at TQ, we’re still smarting about that Toulouse
transition and the Neom short chute, or lack thereof,
that cost Hayden Wilde a Super League title repeat. It
seems the beneficiary on both occasions and eventual
champ Léo Bergere didn’t see that coming either!

A quick spin around the
swim, bike, run world

Currie Powder
Is Braden Currie eyeing the US$200,000 bonus for
winning the inaugural Ironman Pro Series? Five full
distance starts in 2024 suggests so. Lock in the IMNZ (March
2), the North American (Texas) and European (Frankfurt)
Champs either side of Cairns and IMWC in Kona.
Pacy Parry
Sam Parry, just 20, ran a sharp 32:25 to place 7th in
the senior men’s race at the Athletics NZ Road Race
Championships in hometown Palmy North in Sept.
Canty Uni’s Daniel Balchin won the 10k in 30:27
Explosive Poddie
Young Great Brit Max Stapley might be barely ranked
inside the world’s top 100 but has made quite the impact
of late, offering damning verdicts on short course
triathlon’s current standing and doping in the sport.
More on the revelations in TQ Insider here.
Tramadol Banned!
Common painkiller Tramadol is out, while the
ban on blood plasma donations by athletes has
been lifted. Race over to Drug Free Sport NZ for
WADA’s updated ‘Prohibited List’ which
comes into force on Jan. 1, 2024.
Taupo Twice Over
Sunshine Coast-based Kiwi Amelia Watkinson had
already punched her ticket for the Taupo 2024 Ironman
70.3 World Championships but made doubly sure with a
last gasp win at Ironman 70.3 Melbourne as we went to
press. Not bad after a recent bout of COVID-19
Wilde Prediction
Hayden Wilde will also race the 2024 70.3 Worlds in his
birthplace after waltzing to a nearly 8 minute victory in
Melbourne. We’re betting the 3:52:39 he clocked the last
time he raced Taupo in 2019 will be comfortably
eclipsed next December

GO FIGURE Triathlon in numbers

75

9:34:27

$1.7m

30

Age group + 15 extra
‘Women for Tri’
qualification slots on
the line for the 2024
Ironman 70.3 Worlds
in Taupo at the dress
rehearsal this Dec. 9.

Melbourne-based
Kiwi Vanessa Murray’s
35-39 age group title
clinching time at
the VinFast Ironman
World Championships
in Kona.

The bonus pool of
the new Ironman
Pro Series. Read
our Ironman v
PTO feature in
Racing on p66.

July, 2024, the men’s
triathlon at the XXXIII
Paris Olympics.
The women race the
next day with the
Mixed Relay on Aug. 5.

10

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

13
Nov. 2027, the date of the
next Rugby World Cup
final. Nothing to
do with tri but it’s
good to have goals.
Congrats to all you
Triboks!

SPOTLIGHT SWIM

“In looking beyond traditional qualifying slot allocation, we will recognise
exceptional skill, ability, and dedication, while also maintaining the
integrity of the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship as the ultimate
stage for the fastest and most competitive athletes in the sport”
–Andrew Messick, Ironman Group CEO & President

12

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

Deep Blue
The scaly residents of Kailua Bay
had the best seats in the house as
age groupers set off on the 3.8km
swim at the 2023 VinFast Ironman
Women’s World Championships in
Kailua-Kona, Hawai`I on October
14. Among the washing machine
were 62 Kiwis, elites Hannah Berry
and Rebecca Clarke among them,
who enjoyed the first standalone
women’s worlds at the spiritual
home of Ironman. The Ironman
Group has announced additional
slot allocations for 2024 when
the women (Sept. 22) and men

(Oct. 26) swap Kona for Nice and
vice versa. They include more than
30 qualifying races worldwide,
Ironman NZ in Taupo on March 2
included, and selected 70.3 events
– the May 5 Ironman 70.3 Port
Macquarie closest to home. There
will also be 10 “invitational” slots
open to any top 10 finisher in Kona,
great news for Melbourne-based
35-39 age group champion Vanessa
Murray and fellow Kiwis Natajsa
Barclay and Sue McMaster who
finished 2nd and 8th in the 50-54
and 60-64 categories respectively.
Donald Miralle/IRONMAN

HAWAII

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

13

SPOTLIGHT BIKE

Elevated Vistas
Athletes take in the charming
rooftop villages of Hinterland Nice
as they begin the descent back to the
city of Nice during the 2023 Vinfast
Ironman Men’s World Championship
on September 10. There was much
hue and cry when The Ironman
Group announced it was to alternate
the men’s and women’s races
between the sport’s spiritual home
in Hawaii and France but it was
hard to argue with vistas like these.
In addition to elites Braden Currie
(16th), Ben Phillips (23rd) and Mike
Phillips (DNF), 17 Kiwi age groupers
tackled the demanding elevations
of Nice with Mike Trees and John
Reynolds achieveing noteworthy
top 10s. Tree’s was 4th in the 60-64
category in 11:17:06 and Reynolds
7th in the 70-74 race in 16:56:10.
The fastest Kiwi age grouper? Jason
Dobson’s whose 10:51:31 effort was
good for 48th in the uber competitive
25-29 division.
Donald Miralle/IRONMAN

FRANCE

14

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

15

SPOTLIGHT RUN

16

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

Eagles Soar
Aussie Eagle Matthew Hauser hams
it up for the cameras on the eve of
the Super League Triathlon decider
in Neom in late October.
The Saudi Arabian desert is one
of the most dramatic triathlon
destinations on earth and made
slightly eerie by the rusting WWII
era seaplane that served as a
backdrop to this preview snap. It
belonged to American industrialist
Thomas W. Kendell who embarked
on a round-the-world voyage in the
PBY Catalina in 1959. He landed the
behemoth in what would become
its final resting place on March 22,
1960, lured by the sparkling waters
below where the Gulf of Aqaba
meets the Rea Sea. What Kendell
didn’t realise at the time was the
heightened tension in the area
between Israel and Egypt. Nervous
Saudi tribesman, fearing invading
aircraft, responded by firing 300
rounds into the seaplane upon its
discovery the following morning.
Kendall, family and friends returned
to the U.S. unharmed. Check out
our pictorial tribute to the three
Kiwi SLT Scorpions from page 38.
Superleaguetriathlon.com

SAUDI
ARABIA

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

17

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Insider

TQ.Kiwi • SMART TRI STARTS HERE

BACK TO START LIST

Hosts with
the Most
Elite Oceania
summer revealed
GO TO PAGE 20

Brand(ed)
A life-changing tattoo
GO TO PAGE 24

Going Pro
No regrets racing
GO TO PAGE 36

Super Frustrating
2023 SLT Review
GO TO PAGE 38

SIX

WTCS dates confirmed
for 2024, the first half
of them before the
XXXIII Paris Olympic
Games qualification
window closes.
GO TO PAGE 22

“This promises to be a
summer full of great elite
racing as our athletes
work towards the Paris
Olympic Games. ”

Lucky
Escape
Lachlan
Haycock’s
season off to
scary start
GO TO PAGE 44

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

19

INSIDER

TRIATHLON SUMMER SERIES

SORTED
A new home and Mixed
Relay upgrade for NZ’s World
Triathlon Cup stop headlines
a busy elite summer on both
sides of the Tasman Sea

M

ontreal’s loss has become Napier’s
huge, talent luring gain. Not only
is the home of art deco, world class
wine and rugby’s Ranfurly Shield
now also the surprise new host of New
Zealand’s premier swim, bike and run race,
World Triathlon Cup Napier will also include
a Mixed Team Relay (MTR).

20

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

The global governing body needed to find
a new MTR date in its calendar after Quebec
wildfires forced the cancellation of the relay
tagged onto World Triathlon Championship
Series (WTCS)-Montreal in late June.
Tri NZ, in collaboration with Napier City
Council, were only too happy to oblige with
the MTR to be staged on the second day of
the February 24-25 festival. As it turns out,
WTCS Abu Dhabi’s on-again, off-again MTR
is back on again a fortnight after Napier,
meaning there will now be two relay
opportunities before the MTR qualification
window for the Paris Olympic Games
closes. The boon for Kiwi fans is likely to be

even deeper fields than usual for the World
Triathlon Cup season opener as nations still
on the cusp of qualifying via the MTR, and
individual stars keen on a pre WTCS Abu
Dhabi shake down, head Down Under.
Oceania was already looking appealing as
an early season training and race destination
for European and North American hopefuls
given Wollongong is also set to host a World
Cup, in addition to a number of Oceania
races on both sides of the (hopefully) sunsoaked Tasman Sea.
Napier has replaced New Plymouth, which
has hosted 10 of the 16 World Cups staged in
New Zealand since 1995, in a three-year deal.
Headquartered out of Ahuriri Beach,
World Triathlon Cup Napier will also include
the Oceania Junior (U19) Sprint and Relay
Championships, plus the NZ Age Group
Sprint Championships, part of the Tri NZ
Suzuki Series.

PHOTOS: KIRSTEN SIMCOX

Summer

BACK TO START LIST

30

Tri NZ’s new Women and Girls lead,
Tamara Reed, looks ahead with TQ

36

Our ‘weekend warrior’ columnist has
imposter syndrome and loves it

2024 Triathlon
Summer Series

OCEANIA TRIATHLON
SCHEDULE 2024
7

Australia
1
6

4

1. February 4
Oceania Para Championships
Stockton, NSW
2. February 16
Oceania Cup Wanaka
(Sprint)
3. February 24-25
World Cup Napier
(Sprint + MR)
4. March 16-17
Oceania Sprint & Relay Championships
Devonport, TAS
5. April 13
Oceania Standard Distance Championships
Napier
6. April 20-21
World Cup Wollongong
(Standard)
7. May 3
Oceania Super Sprint Championships
– Gold Coast, QLD
2
*Schedule subject to change

It shapes as an exciting new race venue for
age groupers and a timely tourism boost for
Napier in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Tri NZ CEO Pete De Wet is pleased to
lock the New Zealand component of the
wider Oceania schedule into the World
Triathlon calendar.
“We are delighted to launch our
‘Triathlon Summer Series’ which includes
the exciting new World Cup Napier. This
promises to be a summer full of great elite
racing as our athletes work towards the
Paris Olympic Games,” De Wet said.
“We’re really thrilled to partner with
Napier City Council to give New Zealand’s

February 16
Oceania Cup Wanaka
February 24-25
World Cup Napier
March 21-22
NZ Schools Championships
– Tauranga
April 13
Oceania Standard Distance
Championships – Napier

World Cup Napier 2024
February 24

3,5

• Elite Men’s and Women’s
individual races
• Oceania Junior (U19)
Championships - Men’s and
Women’s individual races

February 25

New
Zealand

round of the Triathlon World Cup a new
home for the next three years and our
age group community an exciting new
venue to race and experience. Not only
does Hawke’s Bay boast a strong triathlon
community, it’s also great that our sport
will be contributing to a region that has had
some real challenges in the aftermath of
Cyclone Gabrielle.”
World Cup Napier is the showpiece of
Tri NZ’s newly branded ‘Triathlon Summer
Series’. The four-event series begins at
Oceania Cup Wanaka (Sprint Distance)
on February 16, the weekend proceeding
Napier. It also includes the NZ Schools

“...our sport will be contributing to a region
that has had some real challenges in the
aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.” – Pete De Wet

• Tri NZ Suzuki NZ Age Group
Sprint Championships
• World Cup Napier Mixed Relay
• Oceania Junior (U19) Mixed
Relay Championship

Championships on March 21-22 in Tauranga
and the Oceania Standard Distance
Championships, back in Napier, on April 13.
The Oceania Standard Distance
Championships will be the final domestic
stop before New Zealand’s Olympic hopefuls
decamp to Europe ahead of the XXXIII
Olympiad in Paris.
The course for the 750m swim, 20km bike,
5km run at World Triathlon Cup Napier was
still being signed off as TQ went to press but
will feature a beach start with the possibility
of light surf on the entry/exit.
Race Director Shanelle Barrett then
anticipates fast and furious action.
“The final course is still to be finalised,
but it will be flat and fast racing with some
technical elements compared to New
Plymouth. Both the run and cycle will be flat
and over multi laps to keep the action right
in front of spectators,” Barrett said.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

21

INSIDER GLOBETROTTING

Paris pinch points

All roads lead to Paris – and then Malaga – in the just
released World Triathlon global calendar

T

hree dates you won’t easily find on
World Triathlon’s updated 2024
calendar loom large for those with
Paris Olympic and Paralympic
Games ambitions.
A change of date for the sport’s showcase
World Triathlon Championship Series
(WTCS) season opener in Abu Dhabi on
March 8-9, including an on-again, offagain, on-again Mixed Team Relay (MTR),
was noteworthy when the global governing
body went public.
The switch from New Plymouth to
Napier for the start of the World Triathlon
Cup on February 24-25, with a Mixed
Relay upgrade, had already been signalled
to fans across New Zealand. Napier, it
later transpired, is one of six new stops
on the second-tier circuit, joining Hong
Kong, France (Lievin, indoors), Australia
(Wollongong), Uzbekistan (Samarkand)
and China (Weihai).
But with all eyes on Paris 2024, it’s the
March 25 cut-off of the MTR qualification
period, the May 27 deadline for individual
Olympic rankings and July 1 for the
Paralympic rankings that will be the
laser-like focus of High-Performance
teams furiously planning across the global
federation network, Tri NZ included.

22

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

The convoluted Mixed Relay qualification
system will be sorted first with Napier and
Abu Dhabi the final chances for nations to
qualify for Paris, save for a date NZL will
want to avoid – May 19. That’s the day set
aside for what World Triathlon are calling
‘Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Event
Huatulco, MEX’. In simpler language, it’s
the last chance qualifier for nations who
haven’t already secured a MTR spot for the
Olympics – with two male and two female
spots for the individual Olympic Games
races as a result. Team NZL, currently 4th
behind already qualified GBR, Germany and
France, should be safe but won’t be taking
any chances and will be glad for hometown
advantage in Napier, an event sure to attract

plenty of big names and desperate racing as
a result of the looming deadline.
The May 27 individual rankings cut-off
means the Kiwis still chasing the secondary
qualification criteria – everyone other than
Hayden Wilde and Nicole van der Kaay who
have achieved the 2 x Top 8s at WTCS level
– will get a further three chances in Abu
Dhabi (March 8), Yokohama (May 11) and
Cagliari (May 25).
A strategic scramble for ranking points at
World Cup level may also play out. There are
seven World Cups before the cut-off: Napier
(February 24), Hong Kong (March 23-24),
Lievin (March 30), Wollongong (April 2021), Chengdu (April 29), Samarkand and
Huatulco (both May 17-19). Interestingly,
Chengdu and Samarkand are the first World
Cups over the standard distance with their
higher value ranking point offering which
could see an entry influx from athletes on
the cusp of Paris qualification.
The World Triathlon Para calendar
includes 10 events – seven of them before
the July 1 Paralympics qualification cut-off.
It will be interesting to see how many, if any,
of the events Kiwi hopefuls Maria Williams
and Kurt Peterson can secure starts in to
keep their Paris ambitious alive.
Whatever transpires, there is one
guarantee. The start of a fascinating
Olympic year begins in Napier and the
racing is set to have more edge than usual
from the get-go. Bring it on.

BACK TO START LIST

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5 7
5

3

10
6
13 3

9

4 4
9
5 2
3

8

8

12

6

11
16

5
2

7

4

1
1

2

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3

14
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WTCS
1 Abu Dhabi (UAE)
2 Yokohama (JPN)
3 Cagliari (ITA)
4 Hamburg (GER)
5 Montreal (CAN)
6 Malaga (ESP)

MTR
1 Napier (NZL)
2 Abu Dhabi (UAE)
3 Huatulco (MEX)
4 Hamburg (GER)
5 Montreal, (CAN)

WC
1 Napier (NZL)
2 Hong Kong (HKG)
3 Lievin (FRA)
4 Wollongong (AUS)
5 Chengdu (CHI)
6 Samarkand (UZB)
7 Huatulco (MEX)
8 Tiszaujvaros (HUN)

9 Karlovy Vary (CZE)
10 Valencia (ESP)
11 Weihai (CHN)
12 Rome (ITA)
13 Tangier (MAR)
14 Brasilia (BRA)
15 Vina del Mar (CHI)
16 Miyazaki (JPN)

Para
1 Abu Dhabi (UAE)
2 Devonport (AUS)
3 Yokohama (JPN)
4 Samarkand (UZB)
5 Besancon (FRA)

1

1

OLYMPIC RINGS
Paris Olympics &
Paralympic Games

6 Swansea (GBR)
7 Montreal (CAN)
8 Tata (HUN)
9 Long Beach (USA)

WT AG
1 Townsville (AUS)
2 Zofingen Switzerland
3 Malaga (ESP)

The Year of Triathlon
2024 WORLD TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
March 8-9 Abu Dhabi, UAE (Sprint distance & Mixed Relay)
May 11 Yokohama, JPN (Standard distance)
May 25 Cagliari, ITA (Standard distance)
July 13-14 Hamburg, GER (Sprint distance & Mixed Relay)
Sept 14-15 Montreal, CAN (Sprint distance & Mixed Relay)
Oct 17-20 WT Championship Finals Malaga, ESP (Standard distance)
MIXED RELAY
Feb 25 Napier, NZL
March 9 WTCS Abu Dhabi, UAE
May 19 Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Huatulco, MEX
July14 WTCS Hamburg, GER
Sept 15 WTCS Montreal, CAN
2024 WORLD TRIATHLON CUP
Feb 24 Napier, NZL (Sprint)
March 23-24 Hong Kong (Sprint)
March 30 Lievin, FRA (Indoor)

April 20-21 Wollongong, AUS (Sprint)
Apr 29 Chengdu, CHI (Standard)
May 17-19 Samarkand, UZB (Standard)
May 17-19 Huatulco, MEX (Sprint)
July 6-7 Tiszaujvaros, HUN (Super Sprint)
Sept 7-8 Karlovy Vary, CZE (Standard)
Sept 21-22 Valencia, ESP (Sprint)
Sept 27 Weihai, CHN (Standard)
Oct 5-6 Rome, ITA (Sprint)
Oct 12-13 Tangier, MAR (Sprint)
Oct 26-27 Brasilia, BRA (Standard)
Nov 2-3 Vina del Mar, CHI (Sprint)
Nov 9-10 Miyazaki, JPN (Sprint)
2024 PARA TRIATHLON
March 8-9 Para Cup Abu Dhabi, UAE
March 16-17 WTPS Devonport, AUS
May 11 WTPS Yokohama, JPN
May 18-19 Para Cup Samarkand, UZB

June 15-16 Para Cup Besancon, FRA
June 22-23 WTPS Swansea, GBR
June 29-30 WTPS Montreal, CAN
July 13-14 Para Cup Tata, HUN
July 20-21 Para Cup Long Beach, USA
Oct 17-20 WT Para Championships Malaga, ESP
OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
July 30*-31** & Aug 5*** Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Sept 1-2 Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
*Women **Men ***Mixed Relay
2024 WORLD TRIATHLON/AGE GROUP
Aug 15-25 WT Multisport Championships Townsville,
AUS
Sept 8 WT Powerman Long Distance Duathlon
Championships Zofingen, SUI
Oct 17-20 WT Championship Finals Malaga, ESP

NB: The World Triathlon calendar is not final, with more events to be announced.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

23

Tickled Ink
Triathlon has turned Patrick
Johnson’s life around to
such a degree that he’s
proudly stamped himself
with the logo of the sport’s
global governing body.

24

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

R

arely is precious human real estate
offered up to a tattoo artist’s needle
without a deep and meaningful back
story and Patrick Johnson’s latest
piece of body art is no different.
The 38-year-old construction industry
project manager celebrated representing
New Zealand at the World Triathlon
Multisport Championship in Ibiza by

having the global governing body’s logo
emblazoned on his left bicep for perpetuity.
A peculiar choice over, say, the Silver
Fern? Not when you discover Johnson’s
journey to Spain where he attained ‘legend
status’ by lining up in all five of the events
open to him.
“I chose the World Triathlon logo because
it represents so much to me, not only my
first overseas racing experience representing
New Zealand, but also triathlon itself which
literally saved my life.”
That answer begs, if you are comfortable
to elaborate Patrick, the obvious question.
“A few years back I was going through
a real low point in my life, I was quite

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

INSIDER BRAND BELIEVER

BACK TO START LIST

38

The highs and lows of Super League
season V through a Scorpions lens

overweight, had terrible eating habits,
constantly over drinking and stuck in
a job I didn’t like,” Johnson reveals.
“As a result I was depressed, unmotivated
and not exercising at all.”
Fortunately, it proved the catalyst
to discovering the tri life whereupon
“everything started falling in place”.
“Since then, I’ve just been living and
breathing the sport. It was a 180-degree
change in my lifestyle, and I like to believe
that triathlon saved my live, or at least
extended it by a few years that’s for sure.
“The world champs in Ibiza were such
an amazing, life changing experience that
I had to commemorate it accordingly.”

“It hurt more than my
first tattoo but it’s a
weirdly enjoyable pain,
similar to racing. It
certainly hurts but you
somehow enjoy it!”

28

Three Kiwis and a legendary German
gave us all the feels in (T)Q3

What do your tri mates think? And we
bet it takes a bit of explaining to those not
consumed by the swim, bike and run life?
“All my tri mates think it’s quite cool. So
many people have IM tattoos but I haven’t
seen anyone with the World Triathlon logo
so it’s pretty special I reckon. And it’s such
a cool logo too, it really incorporates all
three sports so well plus you can really
feel the motion… I just love it.
“As for my non tri friends, I do have
explain to them what it means but to keep it
simple I usually tell them it’s the symbol of
triathlon and they all get it straight away.”
Any other ink?
“My first and only other tattoo is on my
right forearm and it’s a text that reads:
“Nosce Te Ipsum” which means “Know
yourself” in Latin. It reminds me that I
can always push harder if I want to but
also to know when to take a break and
rest and recover to allow my body to cope
with all the training.”
And yes, Johnson admits for the record,
that last needle work did smart a little.

“It hurt more than my first one but
it’s a weirdly enjoyable pain, similar
to racing. It certainly hurts but you
somehow enjoy it!”
Johnson represented Auckland City
Tri Club in Ibiza but has since relocated
to Tauranga where he’s loving the
more relaxed lifestyle. He’s signed up
for the Suzuki NZ Standard Distance
Championships at Tinman on November
19 and beyond that will target Ironman
70.3 Taupo in December and the Tri NZ
Suzuki Series Tauranga Half in January.
“I’ll also do a couple of the Barfoot
& Thompson People’s Tri races, great
series,” he said.
“To date, I’ve only participated in the
Ibiza world champs as I’m fairly new to
the sport but I’m super stoked to have
already qualified for the 2024 World
Triathlon Multisport Championships in
Townsville next August. Let’s show the
world what the Kiwis are made of!”
With his new tattoo, he certainly
won’t go unnoticed.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

25

INSIDER
OUT ON A LIMB?

Max
Attack
Rising British star
Max Stapley hasn’t
held back on two
of triathlon’s hot
button topics

O

ne podcast, two damning verdicts. Or
perhaps Max Stapley’s thoughts on
the current standing of short course
racing and doping in the sport aren’t
that shocking after all?
The young Brit went refreshingly filter
free when asked for his hot takes on the two
subjects in a recent Talking Triathlon podcast.
The influx of capital into middle- and
long-distance racing – think the planned
expansion of the PTO and Ironman’s
surprise new 2024 Pro Series with an
additional US$1.7 million in prize money
– had Stapley thinking out loud about the
attractiveness of short course triathlon for
athletes, and as a entertainment product.
“I’m not going to pull any punches, at
the end of the day a lot of short course
triathletes won’t say what they really think
because you are at the mercy of World
Triathlon to go to the Olympics.
“If you want to go to the Olympics, you
go to World Triathlon and if you want to
make money, you race Super League, PTO
or French Grand Prix events.”
Stapley said he’d long dreamed of racing
at WTCS level but was left underwhelmed
when he made start lines in Sunderland
and Pontevedra this season.
“When you get there, though, you sit
back and just think, is this it? Is this really
it? You just think, I’m killing myself 28-30
hours a week and racing on a pay-per-view
broadcast, like who do we think we are, the
UFC? Who is going to pay for that?
“There’s shaky camera quality coverage,
it’s horrific and the prize money hasn’t
evolved since 2009. In 2013, the prize
money for a win was $20,000, whereas
now it’s $18,500.

26

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

“I’ve done the maths, $20,000 to win
in 2013 is the equivalent of $26,000 today,
whilst $18,500 today is the equivalent of
$14,000 in 2013. You are under earning
$12,000 for a win and that’s the state of
economics in World Triathlon.”

“…the objective fact
is that short course
triathlon is in trouble.”
Stapley tempered his concern by noting
there “are a lot of people who work really
hard within World Triathlon and the
federations… but the objective fact is
that short course triathlon is in trouble.
“It’s in trouble from a viewership
perspective, an athlete perspective and a
sponsor perspective. Everyone racing is so
good and everyone trains so hard, but what
do you get? $700 for seventh place at the
[Paris] Test Event? What are we doing?”

In light of the Collin Chartier doping
scandal, Stapley didn’t hold back either.
“I think it’s very, very naive to think…
we are comprised of the three biggest
doping sports in the world and you put
them together and we’re clean? Give me
a break,” Stapley said.
“I think we are racing a lot more people
than we think who are dirty. If you look at
some people’s progression, their body types
and just their demeanour, the way they race
and their career progression, it just doesn’t
make sense.”
Stapley said it was up to the athletes to
take a stand.
“When someone has an incredible
progression, when they look like the
Incredible Hulk at the finish line, with veins
popping out of their shoulders having been
so skinny a few years ago, if you don’t say
these things to the relevant authorities,
then I think you’re failing in your duty
to other athletes who are clean.”

BACK TO START LIST
KEEP IT CLEAN

Triathlon is fun, but it’s more fun when it’s fair
THAT’S WHY anti-doping
rules apply at all levels
of sport, and to all roles,
from players to coaches
and beyond. The rules keep
sport fair for everyone in
sport. They protect the
health of those who play
and make sure we all meet
on a level playing field.

They said it…
“Gave it the beans
and finished as 12th
pro yesterday at @
ironmanoceania 70.3
Sunshine Coast, just
45 seconds off the top
10. Solid race all round
and probably my most
complete race yet.”
– Thomas Somerville doing Canterbury proud
on the other side of the ditch

“Notably, all of my nutrition went down, and
none came back up.” – Somerville again
“A grab everything at every aid station style
run, roadside monkeys, punchy hills, and,
mostly excited to see my 4.30am swim squads
already paying dividends”. – Amelia Watkinson
on her P2 at Ironman 70.3 Langkawi

“The way we’ve structured the series it’s likely
the main male and female winners will be

athletes who probably do three, [full]
Ironman races. That’s the way the points
arithmetic works.” – Ironman CEO Andrew
Messick on the new 2024 Ironman Pro Series

“If the schedule permits and if it’s around this
time next year, before the Ironman 70.3 World
Championship in Taupō, I think it would
actually be a really good teaser before that
race.” – New course record holder Hayden Wilde
tees up a likely return to the 2024 Garmin Noosa
Triathlon

😍
🤍✨

“Kona where my love of IM began & where
I discovered a part of myself that I never knew
existed
Mahalo
.” – Melbourne-based

🤙🌺

Kiwi Vanessa Murray on becoming a two-time
Ironman World Champion in 09:34:27.

“I know it was within me to have my best world
champs race but it wasn’t meant to be,” – Braden
Currie on his littering penalty, DQ and then reinstated
16th place at the VinFast Ironman Worlds in Nice

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

27

INSIDER APPRECIATION SOCIETY

3 Kiwis
& a GOAT

A

ussie Gold

The back end of the short course
season proved a challenge for Hayden
Wilde, what with his Paris bike crash,
that poor swim at the World Triathlon Finals
in Pontevedra and Super League setbacks in
Toulouse and Neom that we’re still struggling
to comprehend. Class is permanent though
as the Kiwi No.1 showed with his record
setting 1:41:57 victory at the 40th Garmin
Noosa Triathlon on November 5. And his
runaway Ironman 70.3 Melbourne victory

28

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

the following weekend. What we loved most
was Wilde in full aero send mode where he
quickly made up a 42 second deficit out of the
water and cracked the 100kmh barrier on one
fully tucked decent in Noosa before averaging
46:31km/hr over the 90km’s of St Kilda. The
non-draft bike legs, and his foot speed off
his slick TT Canyon, is an exciting pointer to
next year’s 70.3 Worlds in Taupo and, it seems
likely, an inevitable step-up to the longer
distances once his Olympic ambitions have
been realised.

“I see why Ash [Noosa women’s champion
Ashleigh Gentle] has come to long course
because, I dunno… I just love ripping it and
just hitting every single discipline hard and
knowing I’ve done everything to deserve the
win instead of hiding in the group. I think
that’s what is really nice about long course is
you do most of the work yourself and when
you cross the line you do feel real proud
because you’ve hit the swim hard, you’ve
done all the biking yourself and you’ve
obviously finished off with a run…”

PHOTOS: KORUPT VISION; JANOS SCHMIDT; CHRISTIAN PETERSEN

Memorable race
debuts, a World Cup
breakthrough and a
legend farewelled
gave us all the
feels in (T)Q3.

BACK TO START LIST
on intuition and banked much intel for next
time. “Running’s not really my strong point so
I’m kind of new to knowing what to do with
attacking and stuff. It was pretty comfortable
for the first five k and I could see Hugo and
4th placed at the time] Tyler Mislawchuk and
a few others running up pretty quickly and I
was feeling good and I knew I had to attack
which I did just after 5km.
“I got a bit of a gap and just ran as hard as
I could and, yeah, unfortunately lost it with,
what, 750m to go or something but still
super happy to silver today.” After his 9th
in Chengdu and 4th in Tongyeong the two
weeks prior to Miyazaki, McCullough had
every reason to be chuffed with the sign
off to a season which has been ignited by
another World Cup 4th in New Plymouth.

Sayonara Silver
Dylan McCullough’s gritty run to silver at
World Cup Miyazaki on October 28 was
more than a podium breakthrough on
World Triathlon’s second tier circuit, also an
invaluable lesson in race craft you only get by
putting yourself in the frame for victory. The
22-year-old Aucklander did that with another
trademark swim-bike combo in a stacked
field in Japan to set up a solo break halfway
through the 10km run. He lasted till the final
750m before being hauled in by Brit Hugo
Milner and Portugal’s Richardo Batista and
eventually took second as Batista had to serve
a penalty. McCullough admitted he attacked

faster – highlighting a day of record-breaking
speed at the Big Dance on the Big Island
headlined by British winner Lucy CharlesBarclay. “The field here was really strong this
year, people were saying it was probably the
strongest female field they’ve had here in
Kona so to come away with 11th on debut
feels pretty amazing. Absolutely stoked.”
Berry will round out her year at the
November 18 Queenstown Marathon and
the December 9 Ironman 70.3 Taupo. It will
be fascinating to see how her 2024 schedule
stacks up given her Kona bow, the fact the
women will race in Nice next year. There’s
also the Ironman 70.3 Worlds in Taupo
to consider.

Berry Nice
Rarely does a result outside the top 10
merit column inches but Hannah Berry’s
11th on debut at the VinFast Ironman
World Championships in Kona is worthy
of an official TQ exception. The Tauranga
33-year-old has endured a tough 24 months
with the pandemic and then injuries
delaying her bow in Kona by two editions.
Berry more than made up for lost time
with a strong swim, controlled bike and
PB marathon split of 3:08:39 to finish the
226km test in 8:53:45 – her first sub 9 hour
Ironman. Fellow Kiwi Rebecca Clarke was
20th, three places lower than her own
debut effort 12 months ago but 20 minutes

GOAT worthy Goodbye
It wasn’t quite the fairytale ending we’d all
hoped for but the fighting qualities of one
of triathlon’s GOATs, if not the Greatest
of All Time, was there for all to see at the
VinFast Ironman World Championships
in Nice. Jan Frodeno was well off the pace
after the mountainous Cote d’Azur bike leg
but showed the heart of a true champion
by completing his final Ironman marathon
injured, hobbling off into the sunset with
a time of 8:48:42 and 24th place. The
42-year-old German departed with one,
final, epic quote too. “It’s been such an
incredible journey, and yeah, going in with
the gladiators, the last time the lion got me.
But that’s alright, I died doing what I love
so I’m a happy guy.” As the first triathlete
to win Olympic gold (Beijing 2008) and the
Ironman World Championship, Frodeno
deserves his place in triathlon’s always
subjective G.O.A.T debate. With a total of
three Ironman titles in Kona - in 2015, 2016,
and 2019—and his 2015 and 2018 70.3 World
titles, TQ is even ready to call it. Happy
retirement Jan, triathlon’s GOAT.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

29

INSIDER MEET THE TEAM

11 QUESTIONS FOR…

Tamara
Reed
Tri NZ’s Women and Girls Lead on the new role, how triathlon
can be more inclusive and her dream composite triathletes

H

ow important is a dedicated
women’s advocate for triathlon in
NZ? Making a positive difference to
our sport, in people’s lives and for women,
in particular, is something I’m very excited
about. It is all about understanding different
perspectives and creating a learning
environment so we can grow. Women are
five times more likely to speak to someone
who they know and will advocate for them.
What are your short, intermediate, and
long-term aspirations for the role? In the
short term, it’s all about researching and
developing a cadence of targeted initiatives
to provide better support for female athletes
and their coaches. It’s critical we research
the key influencing factors that contribute
to performance. The intermediate goal is
to develop an all-rounded pool of female
athletes capable of consistently competing
and winning on the world stage. After that
it’s to support a Kiwi female to a medal at
the Olympic Games.
How can clubs help get more women
into triathlon? Family friendly events
focusing on enjoyment, participation and
learning about our sport. Families are
often challenged with time and want to do
things together that are achievable, cost
effective and that don’t take the whole
weekend up. Events that can break these

30

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

barriers down and bring families together
will be winners. Having a “club captain”
whose role is to welcome and support
newcomers is critical too, helping them
to find ways to participate and, most
importantly, enjoy their new sport.
What does triathlon need to do to make the
sport more inclusive, not just for women?
The national participation rate of all sports
is declining. If we look specifically at young
women compared to young men there is a 17
percent gap at the age of 16, and 28 percent
gap at the age of 17. Why? Time pressure

“Events that can break
these barriers down and
bring families together
will be winners.”
and lack of confidence mean they gradually
participate less and drop out of the structured
activity. There’s some great reading on this
topic on the Sport NZ website here. They’ve
established #ITSMYMOVE to explore factors
like judgement, lack of confidence, and
the fear of failure that are barriers to our
young athletes especially females. Inclusion
comes from understanding. Learning about
what our people need and understanding
their perspective.

How did you get into triathlon and what
is the addiction? When I was 15 years old,
I entered New Zealand’s longest running
women’s triathlon event in Blenheim. Mum
and I won the mother/daughter category.
From there, I loved travelling to some
amazing places around the country and the
world with likeminded people who enjoy
sport for life.
And coaching? Supporting Shane Reed,
my late husband, towards the end of his
career and retirement, this planted the
coaching seed for me. It took me a further
seven years to have the confidence to
pursue it with the mentality off, if you
don’t give this dream a crack, you will
never know. Of course, Shane was my
biggest supporter.
Your favourite triathlon moment?
When Shane successfully pulled off his
domestique role for the NZ team at the 2008
Beijing Olympics. Shane was one of those
rare athletes who understood the bigger
picture of sport and was prepared to assist
the performance of others.
Tell us about an athlete you’ve coached
whose progression gives you particular
satisfaction? Shaz Dagg, New Zealand’s
first para-triathlete. I coached her when
she was able-bodied and after her accident
where she lost her arm. Her positively,
humour and can-do attitude despite being
challenged, and in constant pain, has never
stopped her from striving high and opening
the doors to others.
If you could magically combine three
athletes into one super triathlete, who
would your swimmer, cyclist and runner
be? My super male would start with
Shane Reed in the swim. Why? Watch the
coverage of the 2008 Olympics! Hayden
Wilde gets the bike with his power and
unpredictability and Alistair Brownlee, a
two-time Olympic gold medallist runs us
home. The consistency and skill of Loretta
Harrop makes her my female swimmer,
with Taylor Knibb’s confidence and
willingness to take risk a potent force on
the bike. My super female runner? Nicole

BACK TO START LIST

van der Kaay. She’s gutsy and best of all, we
haven’t seen the best of her run yet.
Who is your triathlon or sports hero?
Lorraine Moller, a true pioneer for women’s
sport and running. I read her book On the
wings of Mercury. She’s an amazing woman

who raced in an era where she could have
received a lifetime ban for competing in
the world’s first openly professional road
race. Lorraine continues to give back to
sport through coaching and co-founded
The Lydiard Foundation in memory of her
coach, Arthur Lydiard.

Best piece of triathlon advice you’ve
ever received? Enjoy the journey and
celebrate every accomplishment big
and small. Share the good, bad and the
ugly with others. You will be surprised
how many others will laugh and cry
with you.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

31

INSIDER OPINION

In Seine?
DR JOHN HELLEMANS
@hellemansjohn

32

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

B

ienvenue à Paris, the city of light, known
for its cuisine, history, architecture, and
romance, where the Seine River winds its
way gracefully through the heart of the city.
Imagine strolling along the Seine’s banks,
the Eiffel Tower winking at you from afar, and
the Notre Dame Cathedral chiming in as if it’s
sharing the latest gossip. The Seine, with its
elegant curves, flaunting its charm to all who
pass by. The Seine is not just a river; it’s a liquid
work of art that brings life and poetry to Paris.
So, grab your beret, order a café au lait, and let
the Seine sweep you away in its timeless embrace.
C’est magnifique!
Yeah right.
While the Seine may symbolise Parisian beauty,
one must acknowledge its quirks. Swimming in
the Seine, you ask? That’s like attempting to eat

escargot with a spoon - possible, but not
exactly recommended.
You see, beneath the picturesque surface of
the Seine lies a secret: the occasional infusion of
sewage. The river says, “I may be elegant, but I
have a mischievous side.” At inopportune times,
when you least expect it, the Seine can transform
into a not-so-fragrant adventure.
To swim or not to swim is the question we
soon found out when we arrived in Paris with
the New Zealand team for the duel Olympic Test
Event-World Triathlon Championship Series.
The Seine, like a capricious lover, needs help to
make up its mind when it comes to bacterial
counts. Fear not, for the event organisers have a
solution as ingenious as a freshly baked baguette hourly monitoring! It’s like having your personal
immune system bodyguard.

PHOTOS: WORLD TRIATHLON

To swim or not to swim, that is the question. Fingers crossed
a duathlon won’t be the answer to the vexed issue that is
next summer’s Paris Olympic Games triathlon

BACK TO START LIST
Just a few weeks before the triathlon test event,
the World Aquatics Open Water Championships
scheduled for the Seine were cancelled because
the poo count was well above the allowed
threshold, leaving the triathletes contemplating a
duathlon. But on the first day of the competition,
the women’s swim was given the green light.
Despite its unpredictable mood swings, the
bacterial count played nice - even if the water
temperature rose faster than a soufflé in the
oven! The Seine’s temperature was measured
at 18.5 degrees at 6 a.m., well below the cutoff temperature of 20 degrees to allow for a
wetsuit swim. While the women were hoisting
themselves into their wetsuits, there was a sudden
announcement that the water temperature had
miraculously risen to 20.5 degrees within a very
short time and the confirmation that it would
now be a non-wetsuit swim. Let’s be kind and
blame French flair: C’est la vie.
As the race began, it became clear that the
stronger than expected current would play a
major role. The swim pack shot downriver at a
speed sub one minute per 100 metres, keeping the
swimmers in a tight cluster. In this case, what goes
downstream must come back upstream, and the
return leg proved a tad slower. Drafting behind the
leading swimmers who broke the current for the
rest of the field became doubly effective.
Our top-ranked woman, Nicole van der Kaay,
got caught in the Seine’s rush hour traffic and
missed the front pack on the bike. Ainsley Thorpe
and Brea Roderick led the Kiwi charge, having
made the front pack counting 24 athletes, finishing
in a respectable 17th and 24th place with a fastfinishing van der Kaay two places back in 26th.
The sequel to our aquatic adventure unfolds
with all the drama of a French film noir. On day

two, it was the men’s turn, and
trouble was afoot, or “afloat,”
upstream. Paris’s finest sewage
effluent had decided to embark
on its own Seine-side vacation,
causing quite the ruckus
among the race organisers.
This time, we could not blame
French flair for the mishap;
it was more likely a matter of
notorious French bureaucracy,
where different departments
choose not to communicate
with other departments as
that is too much bother.
Unbeknown to the race
organisers, the management
of a poo-holding reservoir
upstream had decided that it
was time to off-load the sewage
into the Seine. They must have
been blissfully unaware of the
Olympic triathlon test event
downstream. When nearby
testing sites picked it up, it was
too late; the damage was done.
The race organisers worked through the night,
trying to calculate the exact moment when this
not-so-delightful effluent would join the swim
course. Athletes were warned with a message at
4am to be prepared for a possible duathlon.
But loo and behold, the Seine played its
unpredictable tune once again. The men were
given the green light for the swim, but only just,
as they had to swim fast to avoid a collision with
the fast-approaching sewage. And swim fast they
did, creating a déjà vu moment of tight racing,
much like the women’s race.

“So, here’s to a
triumphant 2024
Olympic triathlon
in Paris, where
the Seine behaves,
the athletes shine,
in particular ours,
and the world
watches in awe.
Vive la France, and
Vive le triathlon!”

OPPOSITE PAGE: The women get set to
go under the early morning shadow
of the Eiffel Tower
TOP: Nicole van der Kaay finished
with a trademark strong run
LEFT: What a ride from Hayden Wilde,
bruised hip and all

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

33

INSIDER OPINION

BACK TO START LIST
It turned out that the effluent, the persistent
character in our story, was taking its time to pass
along the swim course.
But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining;
in this case, every effluent has a blessing in
disguise. It had become clear that some of our
para-athletes might have struggled against the
Seine’s unruly current on the homeward leg of
the swim, potentially ending up in the Atlantic
Ocean. For them (and the organisers), the
duathlon format came to the rescue
On day four, the stage was set for the grand
finale, the pièce de résistance of our Parisian
triathlon saga - the mixed team relay, a crowdpleaser that has taken the world by storm since
its Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021. Against
all odds, there was a glimmer of hope that the
Seine’s waters would magically transform into a
swimmable paradise, but the river had its own
stubborn agenda.
So, with a sigh and perhaps a dash of French
resignation, the duathlon format was embraced
for the second day in a row. It was still a thrilling
spectacle, reminiscent of a Parisian high-speed
chase through the city’s enchanting streets. It was
not good for Team NZL. We needed that swim,

“Swimming in the Seine, you
ask? That’s like attempting
to eat escargot with a spoon
- possible, but not exactly
recommended...”
TOP: Dylan McCullough battled with
the after effects of food poisoning
ABOVE: While the Seine may
symbolise Parisian beauty, one
must acknowledge its quirks

34

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Our wonder boy Hayden Wilde, on whom we’ve
come to rely to do the business repeatedly, faced
a rather unusual challenge. A pre-race bike crash
in the dark on the way to the race left him with a
bruised hip. Despite coming out of the water nearly
a full minute behind the front group, within a few
laps, Hayden did the Wilde thing for which he
has become known: biking up to the front group.
Unfortunately, he dragged most of the field with
him, resulting in a massive peloton, making life a
tad tricky for his compatriots Dylan McCullough
and Tayler Reed, hiding in the small lead group.
Having been weakened by a good old chunder
just before the race started, Reid fought gallantly
to a 25th-place finish. Dylan McCullough was still
dealing with the after effects of food poisoning
a couple of weeks before the Paris event; he
finished 49th. Wilde limped off the bike and tried
to run but was forced to withdraw. Merde!
Our Parisian triathlon tale continues with the
third act (day three), featuring the para-triathlon.

like a baguette needs its cheese, and our dreams
of glory on French soil were dashed as we crossed
the finish line well back in 13th place.
The prospect of a triathlon in the heart of Paris,
with the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe
as a backdrop, is a spectacle that could steal the
show at the 2024 Olympic Games. That is, as long
as Paris can get its sh*t sorted. Then there is the
small matter of the Seine’s current to contain on
the day the Para-triathlon will be held...
So, here’s to a triumphant 2024 Olympic triathlon
in Paris, where the Seine behaves, the athletes shine
(in particular ours), and the world watches in awe.
Vive la France, and Vive le triathlon.
Dr John Hellemans has coached some of the
biggest names in Kiwi tri, Erin Baker, Andrea
Hansen, Kris Gemmell and Dylan McCullough
among them. The Christchurch-based sports
medicine specialist founded Tri NZ’s HP program
in 1996 after immigrating from Holland in 1978.

We all want clean sporting competitions in
which the best athlete wins. Working together,
we can achieve it.
Keeping sport clean takes a community and we
all have a role to play. It’s time to discover
yours.

Discover your role at
drugfreesport.org.nz/myrole

INSIDER OPINION

Leap of faith
Our ‘weekend warrior’ columnist is battling imposter syndrome and loving it

Y
HEATHER NEILL
@heather.neill96

36

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

ou don’t have to be great to start but you
do have to start somewhere to have any
chance of being great.
I’m clinging to that mantra as I reflect
on my professional debut at September’s Ironman
70.3 Sunshine Coast. It was a surprise for some
because I purposely kept my decision on the down
low leading into the Mooloolaba half, unsure I was
ready. If I’m honest, I’m still not sure despite the
overwhelming support I’ve received since.
It was amazing to be able to watch New
Zealand’s own Rebecca Clarke top the
professional women’s field in a zippy 4:13:43.
While my own result was significantly slower,
and brought up the rear of the field, it is good
to have a baseline to improve from.
The intimidating switch from weekend warrior
to part-time pro came in my first race of the
season and first ever start in Australia. It was

strategic decision, factoring in the barriers and
mandatory stand down period a return to age
group racing will require if things don’t work out.
I realise I won’t be young forever and might as
well take a risk before the opportunity passes.
Graduating to this next level still seems like
a gigantic leap, one of those things that you’re
not ready for until you’re there in the moment I
suppose. Rolling with the “you miss 100 percent
of the shots you don’t take” cliché, I thought I’d
try to be brave and give it my best shot.
While I could only get enough annual leave to
make this a short ‘business trip’, the change of
scenery was very refreshing. The temperature was
ideal – a bit warmer than New Zealand but not
too warm that heat acclimatisation was an issue.
The ocean swim had more swells than any of
the races I’ve completed in New Zealand and it
was both better and worse than I had expected.

BACK TO START LIST
Better because I wasn’t the last female out of
the water and I didn’t drown. Worse because I
thought I could swim faster than I did, not helped
by face-planting in front of the cameras upon
entering the water off the start line. Swim entry
gracefulness is on my improvement list for the
next race with a beach start.
The bike had a delightful tail wind on lovely,
smooth highways with a few rolling climbs to
keep it interesting. Until it wasn’t. I was riding
really well until the turnaround where the
tailwind became what seemed to me to be the
mother of all headwinds and it felt like I was
riding a bike with square wheels made of lead.
I spent most of the 90km riding alone.
Likewise, the half marathon was beautiful and
scenic and yet simultaneously soul-destroying.
The undulating two-lap run course continued
along the Mooloolaba Esplanade with postcard
views out to sea and was mostly downhill for the
first 6.5kms. The uphill segments seemed much
steeper and slower in comparison and I felt like
my pace degraded to a trudge.
In all honesty, the imposter syndrome is pretty
real and while I’m still swimming, cycling, running
and loving what I am doing, it is different in the pro
field. I haven’t quite discovered all the differences

“It was surreal to have
the athletes I’d watched
and admired on television
talking to me on the start
line in Mooloolaba.”
yet but now that I have the first race under my belt,
I’m more excited and motivated for the next one.
I’ve accepted the fact that the next season, at least,
is going to be a steep learning curve.
It was surreal to have the athletes I’d watched
and admired on television talking to me on the
start line in Mooloolaba. Little old me. They’re
way out of my league, right? It was a humbling
but also heart-warming position to be in.
It is easy to forget that everyone on the
professional start line is a real person just living
their life. At some stage, they have all had to
confront their first amateur and pro debuts
too. Like me, many pros have educations and
alternative careers. There are so many cliches that
seem cringe-worthy but are actually quite accurate.
So, for the record – and my boss at Taradale
Veterinary Hospital – there is no fear of me
chucking in my role as a companion animal
surgeon anytime soon. While the full-time hours

are exhausting, it can be so rewarding. Still, it is
extremely exciting be able to add “professional
triathlete” to my resume.
Let’s face it, I may never be great but as long as
I can be better than I once was, I’ll be happy with
that. On to the next one.
Heather Neill raced Ironman 70.3 Langkawi in
early October, finishing 8th in 4:59:06. “Whilst it
wasn’t my best performance numbers-wise...
the goals of having fun and finishing the race
accomplished!”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: ‘Swim: Midway
through the ‘I’m struggling to take
my wetsuit off’ dance”; “Run: It
started so well...; “The Finish: I didn’t
really have any expectations and
this next chapter of my sporting
life is just about experiencing and
learning”; “Bike: Going out on the
first lap with a tailwind and still
feeling good. It was a pretty lonely
experience though.”

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

37

INSIDER SLT SEASON V REVIEW

Oh Chute!

Love the format or not, Super League Triathlon (SLT) was a rollercoaster ride for New
Zealand’s three Scorpions. We recap season V with a visual symphony from West India
Quay in London to the shifting sands and elusive short chutes of Neom, Saudi Arabia.

38

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

second in the teams’ championship despite struggling
to recover from the crash and eventually finishing 15th
overall individually.
A rapid-fire wrap of the season can’t possibly do justice
to all the Kiwi nuisance during each of the four rounds
in 2023. Instead, we’ve opted to play visual tribute to the
whole-hearted effort the trio of Kiwi Scorpions put into
SLT V. Enjoy. Oh, and as Wilde said after finishing second
in Neom and second overall to Léo Bérgere, “…we did all
we could and we keep fighting and we come back next
year harder.”
STL can’t say it hasn’t been warned. And we can’t hide
the fact we still love the world’s fastest triathlon series.
Roll on 2024!

ABOVE: Chaos
reigns in Toulouse
for Hayden Wilde

PHOTOS: WOUT ROOSENBOOM

I

t started magnificently, got ugly fast before descending
into chaos, peaked again and then ended controversially.
Super League season V again overdelivered on its highoctane remit although it was often a head-scratching
watch through a Kiwi lens.
From Tayler Reid’s maiden podium in London, to Nicole
van der Kaay’s scary crash and that transition bungle in
Toulouse involving Hayden Wilde, to Wilde’s masterclass
retort in Malibu and ultimately to the head-scratching
finale in Neom, there was never a dull moment.
In the final wash-up, history will show Wilde came
up just short of repeating as SLT champion, that
Reid finished a career-best 8th and that NVDK also
contributed to the Bahrain Victorious Scorpions finishing

BACK TO START LIST

SLT London
(AUGUST 27)
Reid - 3rd
NVDK - 9th
Wilde - DNS
RACE NOTES: Coming off his
fighting 25th at the Paris Olympic
test event, Reid relished the enduro
format to finish third behind
GBR legends Alex Yee and Jonny
Brownlee at West India Quay. There
was a trademark post-race puke
and then an TV interview for the
ages. Combined with van der Kaay’s
top-10, the season was off to a
great start even though Wilde
sat London out as a precaution
following his slow speed bike
crash/hip injury in Paris.

PHOTOS: THAT CAMERAMAN; JESPER GRONNEMAR

It was Tayler
Reid’s day in
West India Quay, a
maiden SLT medal
signed, sealed and
delievered with
an epic post race
interview

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

39

INSIDER SLT SEASON V REVIEW

SLT
Toulouse
(SEPTEMBER 3)
Wilde - 4th
NVDK - 11th
Reid - 21st
RACE NOTES: NVDK’s face plant
in a crash that blew up Instagram
and Reid’s sliding exit in a corner
taken too hot should have been
enough drama. But then Wilde,
riding his way to at least a P2, rode
right through the final bike to swim
transition in a bell lap that wasn’t
really a bell lap bungle. The Kiwi was
penalised five seconds, Léo Bérgere
was not and went on to win despite
making the same transgression.
It sadly wouldn’t be the last
“frustrating” Wilde-Bergere moment.

PHOTOS: THAT CAMERAMAN; WOUT ROOSENBOOM; TOMMY ZAFERES

Wilde’s confused look after the
transition bungle says it all...

40

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

SLT Malibu
(SEPTEMBER 30)
Wilde - 1st
Reid - 11th
NVDK - 11th
RACE NOTES: Following his DNS in
London and that confounding 4th
in Toulouse, Wilde needed a second
counting result to get back into
the series and didn’t disappoint in
California. “Really since Paris I’ve
been on a downward slope, just with
unfortunate mishaps and mistakes
on my behalf as well, so it’s just nice
to actually put a race together that
I know I’m capable of and stoked
to do it again here in Malibu.”

Kiwis love a bit of
surf and Malibu
didn’t disappoint

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

41

INSIDER SLT SEASON V REVIEW

SLT Neom
(OCTOBER 21)
Wilde - 2nd
Reid - 7th
NVDK - 14th

Van der Kaay
battled on
through injury
and illness

PHOTOS: THAT CAMERAMA

RACE NOTES: Even now, we still
can’t make any sense of the decision
of Scorpions’ assistant manager
Michael Gilliam to deny Wilde a
short chute in Neom, a short cut the
Kiwi No.1 had earned and thoroughly
deserved with the finale essentially
a winner takes all drag race between
Léo Bérgere, Jonny Brownlee and
Wilde. Bérgere’s bosses at the Eagles
didn’t make the same mistake and
the Frenchman capitalised on the
short chute to be crowned Super
League champion a year after
winning the WTCS title. Brit Kate
Waugh captured the women’s title
while Reid’s fighting finish to the
season was sadly overshadowed by
the Wilde controversy.

42

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

FINAL
THOUGHTS

WILDE
Obviously coming over the finish
line I was a little bit frustrated
but it was actually a great day out there
as I’ve been struggling with a cold. There
were actually a few mistakes in transition
where the shoes were still in the box and a
few other things. But I asked for the short
chute because I wasn’t feeling too well at
the end and didn’t get it. But we did all we
could and we keep fighting and we come
back next year harder.”

REID
After a few weeks battling with
my health I didn’t have high
expectations for my final race of the
season. Huge surprise to have the body
show up when in counted and battle it
out with the highest quality field I’ve ever
raced in @superleaguetriathlon. A season
accurately described as a roller coaster
from being on the podium to crashing
and facing elimination.”

NVDK
Sometimes sport gives,
sometimes it takes. Not my day,
not my few months. My body hasn’t been
playing ball with me since the crash
in Toulouse. From missed trainings to
illness, it’s been a downward spiral since
‍ Nevertheless, proud of the team &
grateful for the privileged opportunity to
live a life chasing dreams & travelling the
world. For now, I can’t wait to get home
to recharge!”

🥺❤🩹

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

43

INSIDER GEN X/MARRA TINMAN

E

verything was going swimmingly for
Lachlan Haycock until it suddenly
wasn’t, a year of steady progress
quite literally turned on its head and
violently so.
Home in Tauranga after a whirlwind 13
race season, Haycock was just back into
training following a well-deserved break
and slowly building towards to a full circle
moment at the upcoming Gen X-Marra
Tinman Triathlon.
The 12 months since he’d won the 2022
iteration of the Tri NZ Suzuki Series event
and fronted the TQ cameras to articulate
his goals for the upcoming European
campaign had positively whizzed by.
There was plenty of learning on the
international stage, of course, but
ultimately satisfaction that he had
performed with 19th place on debut
at September’s World Triathlon U23
Championships in Pontevedra. Career
goal duly ticked off in Spain, albeit
with plenty of wiggle room for

The defending Tinman
Triathlon champion hopes to
quickly put a scary start to
the season behind him

Lucky
Escape
44

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

PHOTOS: PETKO BEIER; BEN LUMLEYW

improvement as he leaves the cradle of U23
competition and takes the “big, big step” up
to elite only racing.
So, back on the TT bike it was in
anticipation of the November 19 Tinman,
the Suzuki NZ Standard Distance
Championships for age groupers and a great
training hit out for the likes of Haycock and
Kiwi teammate Hannah Knighton. What
happened next though sadly seems to be
a scary rite of passage for many triathletes
and road cyclists in Aotearoa.
“I was riding along and a French lady
was driving towards me and decided to
pull across the lane in front of me. It was
her first day driving in New Zealand,”
Haycock lamented.
“I just had nowhere to go and T-boned
the car and went over my handlebars and
hit my head on the ground.”
Haycock was admitted to Tauranga
Hospital but had miraculously escaped with
no broken bones.
“A few grazes on a knee, knuckles, wrist
and shoulder, but got off pretty lucky. Think
it was because I’d already hit the car and
lost all my speed before hitting the ground
so didn’t get too many friction burns.
“Yeah, I was on my TT bike and going 3637km/hr when I hit the car so very lucky it

wasn’t worse. Just gotta make sure my head
is ok now.”
Haycock still hoped to defend his Tinman
title but in the immediate aftermath of
accident was taking things cautiously as he
monitored for concussion symptoms.
He’ll most definitely be back for another
Triathlon Tauranga favourite, the Eves
Surfbreaker on December 27. Thereafter it’s
all about building up to the Oceania elite
season and kicking on in Europe.
The 23-year-old raced four World Cups
last season, highlighted by 27th place in
Valenci, but never quite pieced together a
complete swim, bike and run performance
to escape the mid pack.
“I’ve raced a lot of World Cups and highgrade races this year and that’s kind of what
this year has been about, just getting in
with those big boys and seeing what level I
need to get to,” Haycock said.
“Every year I’ve come over and done
these races, I’ve just learnt so much. Now
I know what I need to do, where I need to
get to, where my strengths are, where my
weaknesses are, what I can do in training to
get to that level.
“So, I’m exited to put all that into training
and into action and get some results.”
A real eye-opener throughout his

“Now I know what I need to do, where I need to get
to, where my strengths are, where my weaknesses
are, what I can do in training to get to that level.”

European campaign was how aggressive
the early swim mosh pits proved. A case in
point came in Valencia in early.
“Feel like I’ve been swimming really well
lately but just got beaten up in the water.
Pace felt super chill during the swim but it
was too physical to move forward,” Haycock
told TQ at the time.
“Went into this race with the goal to
nail my swim-bike as the first five minutes
of the bike has been where I’ve been
struggling during the last few races.”
Encouragingly, a big block of bike
training paid off as Haycock, in tandem
with Kiwi team-mate Saxon Morgan,
dragged the chase group up to the leaders
to ultimately help him nail a World Cup
best result.
“We had 3-4 people come up to Saxon
and I after the race and saying that without
us two, the chase would not have caught.”
Still, Haycock knows there is ample
untapped potential.
“Definitely the race results, I don’t think
have indicated a level that I am at,” he said.
“I definitely feel there is more in there so
I’ve just got to be patient and wait for that
race where I can get that result I know I’m
truly capable of. Until then, we just knuckle
down, we keep training hard and we wait
for those results to come.”

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

45

Cover
Story

Tips for
Taupo
Doctor,
Doctor,
give me
the Plews…
He’s the coach with the most
extraordinary CV, complete with a
stable of celebrated athletes and
a personal race record beyond
compare. If ever you wanted
someone to help you nail your
Ironman 70.3 Taupo goals
over the next 13 months, it’s
Endure IQ Applied Sports
Scientist and age group
superstar, Dr. Dan Plews.
With Kent Gray

BACK TO START LIST

AMERICAN CHELSEA SODARO,
who won the 2022 VinFast Ironman
World Championship on debut and
just 18 months post-partum, calls
him coach. He’s proven a dab hand
in Kona himself, setting the age
group course record of 8:24:36 in
2018. He won the overall age group
title at a wild and woolly Ironman
NZ (8:50:12) last December on the
back of just eight weeks training
and repeated the trick at the Taupo

OPPOSITE PAGE:
Note the steely
focus during the
90km bike leg in
California.
BELOW:
Plews celebrates
with wife Kate
and children,
Bella, 6, and
Jake, 4.

70.3 (4:04:18) in March. He went
on to win his age group at fabled
Challenge Roth (8:18:01) in June – on
debut – and then left the best to last,
that astonishing 7:56:56 victory at
Ironman California in October.
Indeed, it’s not so much what you
can learn from Dr Dan Plews, fastest
Iron distance age grouper ever,
more so that what he doesn’t know
(or isn’t committed to researching)
probably isn’t worth knowing.
Set out below are a series of tips
to help age groupers qualify for and
then nail their 2024 Ironman 70.3
World Championships goals. But
before we get to Taupo, including
advice for as soon as this December
9, lets delve a little deeper into
Plews’ historic Ironman California
performance. There’s a gem or three
in there outlining the North Shorebased Brit’s performance philosophy
if you listen carefully.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

47

Cover
Story
WORK-LIFE/TRIATHLON
BALANCE? YEAH, NAH
Target your race, prep wholeheartedly and execute on the day.
Easily said, not so easily achieved
but that, in a nutshell, sums up
Plews’ year-long return to the sport
following a four-year sabbatical post
his record setting race at the 2018
World Championships in Kona.
“After 2018, I stopped to focus on
work and family,” he told Triathlete
recently. “But I turned 40 last year and
had the urge to come back because I
hadn’t posted a time on a fast course.
I’d done Taupo [Ironman New Zealand
four times] and Kona [twice] and
thought I’d regret it if I didn’t try to
get a fast time while I could.”
He was tempted to hang up his
trisuit for good after Roth, a race he
wasn’t entirely happy with after being
hampered by injury during the lead
in. But wife Kate knew that would
never do. She didn’t want her man

BELOW:
Plews knocked
out the marathon
in California in
2:48:48.

to bow out with any regrets;
cue California.
“I picked California because it
had all the ingredients for a fast
course and was easy travel from
New Zealand,” Plews said. ”I steadily
accumulated training throughout the
year and became fitter and fitter. I’ve
always had consistent performances
and don’t really have bad days.”
October 22 in Sacramento was
no exception as he knocked off the
downstream 3.8km swim in 36:27,
the 180km bike leg in 4:23:27 (with a
lifetime best 277 watts average), and
the 42.2km marathon in 2:48:48. Not
bad for someone two days post their
41st birthday.
“Obviously, it comes with an
asterisk because of the swim,” Plews
told Triathlete. “I knew it was going to
be fast, but never expected it to be so
fast. I’d see a buoy, take one arm pull
and would go flying past. But while
the time will get a lot of kickback

because of the swim, the run did
measure 42.6km and transitions also
took eight-and-a-half minutes in total
because the run from the swim exit to
T1 was almost 1km.”
Plews’ overarching message? If you
want to perform, to achieve something
truly extraordinary in Taupo or races
elsewhere, then that has to be your
primary focus for a period of time.
“People often talk about worklife balance, but I don’t believe in
balance. To achieve anything to any
magnitude you can’t be balanced.
Instead, I go through phases where
I have a goal and aim to hit it, but
I don’t have the same focus year-in,
year-out. It might be family, or
my training platform, Endure IQ,
or performances like this year. It’s
not to say it’s at the expense of
everything else, but other areas may
have to be maintained rather than
developed.”
More on that in Plews’ eight,
Taupo-specific tips beginning here:
Not long now until the December
9 Ironman 70.3 Taupo. I’m a long
way advanced with my training
so what should I focus on now?
The closer you get to an event, the
more specific your training needs
to become. Now, as we’re inside a
month, you’ve got to get away from
the training that’s really far away
from what you’re going to be doing
on race day, that might be the really
high intensity intervals and the really
short speed work. You need to be
going into your paces and powers.
For an Ironman or a 70.3 it can be
a period of higher training loads just
because of the nature of the event
because it is a reasonably long event
at reasonably high intensity. That
means you’re homing in on training
more at and around race pace and it
means things need to become a little
more specific. That might mean you’re
including a few more runs off the bike
or trying to get into the open water for
the first time. Also, if you are new to
it, you might want to do some sessions
where you are specifically practicing
pre-race nutrition.

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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST
Fast forward to December 9, race
day, and my target is to qualify
for the 2024 Ironman 70.3 World
Championships. Your advice?
When it comes to anything like
this, it’s all about controlling the
controllable. I often see age groupers
getting a bit worked up about how
many slots there are, who is in their
age group and who is going to be in
front of them. But these are things
that you can’t have any control over
so I always think it is best to focus on
what you can control which means
that you’re really dialing in on your
own powers and your own paces and
working with coaches and experts
to have a realistic idea of what that
actually looks like and have a clear
race plan with that. That’s the most
important thing. I always say that in
a lot of sports, 98 percent of the stuff
is done in training but with a sport
like Ironman 70.3, race execution
is such a massive part of the event
itself. You can guarantee that 50
percent of the competitors will stuff
up the race execution even though
they’ve had great training. So you
don’t want to neglect that second
part where you are really clear on
what you neerd to do come race day.
What about Taupo specific things
I should be aware of?
One thing that catches people out,
particularly if they are coming
from overseas, is the roughness of
the roads. The road can find people
out, that vibration through the legs
and through the body. It’s even
worse over the 180k but it can still
be quite hard enduring over the
90k and people can often get quite
tight and sore in the shoulders and
neck. Another thing with Taupo,
especially in December, it actually
can be quite cold so especially at
the start of the bike, it’s one thing
to be aware of. You might want to
consider having some arm warmers
or something extra for the start,
some way you can keep a little bit
warm at least. I remember one time
I did it in December it was so cold
coming out of the swim, I tried to

grip my bike bottle and I couldn’t
actually grip it, just dropped the
bottle on the floor. And also, the run
is long, so get ready for that as well.
The run is actually 22k!
Whether I qualify for the 2024
Worlds or not, what should my
race debrief look like?
When it comes to racing, you often
get more from the races you do bad
than the good races. When you have
bad races there is more evaluation
to be had, more to be gained from
that. But whether it is good or bad,
you can always find things you could
have done better and I think you can
look at that from both a building
(training) perspective and a racing
perspective and making sure those
mistakes don’t happen again.
If you haven’t qualified, then this
could be the opportunity to look at
the performance gap and say okay,
where does the work need to be
done? You may not have qualified
because of a weakness in the run or a
weakness in the back half of the run
or swim so then you can really start
to refocus your training and be more
specific to what needs to be done.

ABOVE:
Having a clear
game plan from
the get go is vital
if you want to
perform to your
best ability.

What if I didn’t qualify. How do
I go about targetting another race?
It’s two fold. Obviously certain
courses suit different people’s
strengths but also you can be quite
smart and look at the depth of field
and number of qualification spots
when you’re making those decisions.
It’s a fact that some areas of the
world, if you are willing to travel, do
seem to be weaker. You often find
that South East Asia races generally
have a bit of weaker field but if you
do go over there, you’ve got to make
sure you are well equipped to deal

When you really,
really enjoy the
training and you’re
not too caught up on
the end goal all the
time, the rest tends
to take care of itself.”
TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

49

Cover
Story
to anything in triathlon, the thing
that has the biggest bang for buck is
training, it’s absolutely everything.
Triathlon is such a trainable sport
and the devil is in the detail when
it comes to getting that bit right so
I’d definitely look at getting expert
help, like joining the Endure IQ
squad for example, that would be a
good idea, or finding a good coach
that can help you.
To go through a whole year’s plan
here, that’s a bit difficult because
it is dependent on the individual,
what they’ve got in terms of work
commitments, family commitments
but consistency is key. You need to
find training that you can do weekin, week-out without going through
the big peaks and troughs. That’s the
thing I’d look at first and foremost
when you are planning your year.

with the heat, for example, so it’s
not just as simple as finding a weak
field and going for it. You still have
to do the work. If you really want to
qualify for Taupo 2024 and you are
quite a way off, you’re really going
to have to do your research and try
and find a place that is giving you
the opportunity. If you’re a little
way off and you know you’re off
because you had a not great day in
Taupo, then I think you can probably
target another race not too far down
the line which might be…I mean
Tasmania is not that far away, there’s
also another one in Geelong, so you
could nip over there and have a crack
but of course the competition in
Australia is something to be aware of.
I’ve qualified and now have a year’s
runway to ensure I perform well
at the Worlds. What sort of racing
and training would you advise in
the interim?
The first thing you’ve got to do
if you want to do well is to get
yourself a coach or, minimum, get
into a program that’s going to give
you the best chance of performing
to your potential. When it comes

50

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

And racing. How many 70.3s
should I be targeting in the
countdown to Taupo ’24?
It depends on the athlete. If you’re
someone with very limited racing

You can guarantee
that 50 percent of the
competitors will stuff
up the race execution
even though they’ve
had great training.
So, you don’t want to
neglect that second
part where you are
really clear on what
you need to do come
race day.”

experience, then you might want to do
a few more than someone who has a lot
of racing experience. People who have
been racing for years and years, they
won’t get that much more from races
because they’ve done it so many times
but I think in the early days, when
you are new to the sport, you learn a
lot from racing so its definitely worth
doing two or three 70.3s before you get
to Taupo. If you’re a New Zealander,
you could do the Tauranga Half in
January, then you could do the 70.3
at Ironman NZ in March, that would
be a really good one to do because it
is on the same course, you could do
Tasmania or Geelong and even Cairns

BACK TO START LIST

Ironman has a 70.3 attached to that as
well, so you could consider all those
races around this area.

Finally, give me a few nuggets
of advice that have helped you
become the fastest Iron distance
age grouper ever?
I think having too much advice
from too many people at once is a
danger. I think having one source
of truth when it comes to advice
is really important because people
often get caught up in details that
they don’t really know when they
don’t have one trusted resource. You
have all these angles, people giving

different advice and unfortunately
we live in a world where a lot of the
advice isn’t true and it can be very
confusing for athletes.
The other thing is you have to enjoy
the process. When you really, really
enjoy the training and you’re not
too caught up on the end goal all the
time, the rest tends to take care of
itself. That’s something I’ve learned,
just enjoy doing the training, doing it
well, with good intent, that will see
you through a lot.
Another thing. People always strive
for balance but I tell my athletes there
is really no such thing as balance if
you want to do anything right. There is

ABOVE:
Plews averaged a
lifetime best 277
watts en route to
a 180km bike split
of 4:23:27.

such a thing as balance and counterbalance. If you really want to do well
at something, you have to have that
as your primary focus. So If you want
to do well at the 70.3 World Champs,
that is going to have to be your focus
for a period of time, whether that be
six months or whatever. If you want
to do well you’ve got to focus on it
with knowing that you can then
swing the pendulum the other way
and focus on the things you didn’t
focus on before. That’s always the
approach I’d encourage people to
take because you try and balance
everything and do everything to the
best, you’ll just burn out.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

51

TQ.Kiwi • SWIM | BIKE | RUN KIT WE LOVE

BACK TO START LIST

Pro Gear
Brea Roderick’s kit bag
GO TO PAGE 54

Summer Kicks
ASICS Shoe guide
GO TO PAGE 62

Beginners
Guide
Get into tri
on a budget
GO TO PAGE 56

Ticker Trackers
Heart rate monitors
GO TO PAGE 64

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

53

GEAR+TECH WHAT’S IN MY KIT BAG?
2
1

3

STAR

BILLING
B

It might surprise you that all the
kit and kaboodle Brea Roderick
has lugged around the world
en route to becoming one of
triathlon’s hottest young
prospects is self-funded. It’s
not the latest carbon this
4
and high-tech gadgetry
that either. Therein lies
an opportunity…

rea Roderick figured 2023 would
be another year full of learning at
continental and World Cup level,
a virtual travelogue of Oceania,
European and African racing adventures.
Indeed, if you’d offered her a decent result
or two on World Triathlon’s second tier
World Cup circuit, she’d have snapped
your hand off and declared her global short
course apprenticeship another year well
advanced there and then.
How things actually transpired, of course,
has been the stuff of dreams, the 21-yearold ending her season as one of the hottest
U23 prospects on the planet.

7

5

6

9

54

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

You can read more about Roderick’s
giddy progress in our ‘WTCS Report Cards’
feature in Racing. In a nutshell, know that
the Cantabrian earned an unexpected start
at World Triathlon Championship Series
(WTCS) Montreal in June, finished 34th
and literally swam, pedaled and ran with
her good fortune – all the way to a thus
far career highlight 24th place at the duel
WTCS/Paris Olympic Test Event in August.
As TQ went to ‘print’, Roderick was
ranked 89th in the world, 48th in the
cumulative WTCS standings, 8th best in
Oceania and No.3 Kiwi behind Nicole van
der Kaay and Ainsley Thorpe.
Roderick first caught the eye by holding
her own for much of a foot race to second
behind noted runner van der Kaay in
Wanaka in February and capitalised on her
swim prowess to be a provocateur on the

bike in a number of other starts. A more
fiercely competitive young triathlete you’ll
struggle to find too, marking Roderick as one
of New Zealand’s most promising talents.
We’re proud to have TQ.kiwi
emblazoned on all the Team NZL race
suits but Roderick, like any number of her
team-mates, is otherwise sponsor free.
That makes her suit a blank canvas for
brands looking to promote their wares on
the coattails of an aspirational young Kiwi
already performing at triathlon’s top table.
Nothing in sport is guaranteed but, on the
evidence of 2023 at least, ample airtime
looks increasingly likely next year and
during any number of Commonwealth
and Olympic Games cycles beyond.
TQ is happy to make introductions to any
of NZ’s short course elites. In the meantime,
let’s take a look at the gear Roderick uses.

BREA’S KIT LIST
1. WATCH
Garmin Forerunner 745
2. GLASSES
Oakley Radar EV Path
3. HEART RATE MONITOR
Polar Verity Sense
4. RACESUIT
We’re lucky to race the World Triathlon
circuit in Z3R0D trisuits featuring the
French company’s ‘Water Wear Weapon’
fabric. It’s proven a pretty lucky for me in
2023 and there’s plenty of space left for
personal sponsors logos. Just saying!
5. RUNNING
I travel with three pairs of ASICS shoes,
my orange Meta Speed Edge shoes for
racing and a pair of Gel-Nimbus 25 (black)
and Glideride 3’s for training. Love ‘em!
6. NUTRITION
My nutrition is fueled almost exclusively
by SiS (Sport in Science) products. I use SiS
Rego Rapid Recovery Powder for recovery
and refueling after training and races and
their Go Electrolyte Powder and SiS Go
Isotonic Energy Gels during training and
races. I pop SiS Hydro Electrolyte Tabs into
my water bottle throughout the day even if
I’m not training.
7. BIKE TRAINER
Tacx Flux S Smart Trainer

8

8. BIKE
I’ve had my Specialized S-Works Tarmac
SL7 for three years now and love how
comfortable and responsive it is to ride. It
has Shimano Di2 Dura-Ace componentry.
My helmet is an S-Works Evade and my
bike computer a Garmin Edge 1030 Plus”
9. WETSUIT
“This is the fifth Blue Seventy Helix
triathlon wetsuit I’ve owned. It’s the only
brand I’ve ever used.”
10. POOL BUOY
The pink Funkita Pull Buoy
11. PINK PADDLES
Finis Agility Paddles are always in my
bag for the pool. I also get a lot of use out
of my MP (Michael Phelps) Focus swim
snorkel and Arena Powerfin Pro fins.

13

12. GOGGLES
I have two pairs of Speedo Opal goggles.
If the sun is low and there is glare, I wear
the tinted mirror ones. If it is dark or
foggy, out come the clear lens option. My
swimming cap? Whatever I get at races.

12
10

11

13. TOGS
I use a mixture of Funkita and Jolyn
swimming togs for training

PHOTO: BILL IRWIN

14

14. BIKE SHOES
I race in Sidi T-4 Air Carbon Composite
cycling shoes and do all my training miles
in a pair of Sidi Wire 2 Carbon road shoes.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

55

GEAR+TECH NEWBIE INTEL

Want to give this triathlon lark a lash
but don’t really know where to start
with all the kit? TQ has your back.

S

tarting your journey in triathlon is an exciting
time but getting your head around all the gear
needed can be overwhelming.
Here’s the thing – you don’t need to go crazy
to become a fully-fledged triathlete. Getting started in
the sport can be as inexpensive as dusting off that old
mountain bike gathering dust in the corner of the garage
and adding a pair of googles and a swim cap to the togs
you inevitably already own. We bet you’ve got a pair of
running shoes with plenty of tread left on them in a
cupboard somewhere too; just don’t use a pair of gym
shoes or sneakers meant to be worn with jeans!
The key for beginners is to focus on having fun and
skill building as you progress. Once you’re addicted – and
we bet you will be after crossing your first finish line –
you can reassess and gradually invest in higher-quality
gear as your experience and race goals evolve.
Triathlon is a life-long obsession for many and the
right gear will undeniably enhance your enjoyment.
Who doesn’t like splashing out on a hobby? But rather
than shelling out thousands early on, seek the advice
of experienced triathletes to up the fun factor from the
get-go – for free. They’ll help you avoid expensive gear
pitfalls, demystify training myths, walk you through the

56

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

inevitable first race nerves and might even have some
preloved kit they’re happy to lend or even gift you to get
going. Triathlon is a very inclusive community.
We thoroughly recommend joining a Tri NZ-affiliated
club for that reason. It’s inexpensive and the training
advice and comradery will be far more valuable
(and motivational) initially than shiny bit of kit you’ve
eyed online. We also encourage you to check out the
Tri NZ Suzuki Series. There’s events up and down
the country and don’t be intimidated by the ‘national
championship’ component to these races; Suzuki Series
events are open to all and most event organisers have
shorter races incorporated into the day as a stepping
stone. In short, there is a race and pace for all abilities
and we guarantee you’ll be swept up in the fervor of
the occasion with fellow competitors and spectators
willing you on.
In this beginner’s gear guide, we’ve come up with a
handy list outlining what you need to get started and,
just as importantly, what you don’t. We’ve found some
bargains online and there’s even a few pearls of wisdom
to help make you faster right out of the gate.
Just remember, you don’t need to spend thousands or
buy new to get started, have fun or even get faster. Don’t
believe us? Try looking online after the big Ironman
races in Taupo each December and March. We guarantee
you’ll find bargains on bikes and the likes from finishers
looking to upgrade themselves. There you go, you’re first
bit of handy insiders intel.

PHOTOS: HAMISH COLLIE

Beginner’s
Gear Guide

BACK TO START LIST

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

57

GEAR+TECH NEWBIE INTEL

• Trisuit
A trisuit is not essential to get started
with togs perfectly acceptable.
Newbies often feel a bit selfconscious donning a trisuit initially
but there is a reason everyone else is
wearing them; triathlon is all about
getting from start to the finish line
as fast as possible and a trisuit is
specifically designed to be worn the
entire race, saving time changing
into running shorts and singlet. They
fit closely to your body to resist drag
while swimming but won’t cause
discomfort or breathing restriction
during the bike and run. And, just
quietly, everyone else is too buggered
to worry about what you look like!

• Wetsuit
Like a trisuit, you don’t necessarily
need a wetsuit – although they are
mandatory for safety reasons if the
water temperature dips below 16
degrees. What a wetsuit will aid is
buoyancy, helping you stay level on
the water and ultimately freestyle

58

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

faster. There are lots of tri specific
wetsuits on the market; they’ll
feel tight and slightly restrictive
initially but that should improve
in the water. Vaseline or baby oil
will assist you getting the neoprene
on and off. Some even cut off the
legs to calf level but seek advice
from an experienced athlete before
you take scissors to that new suit!
Don’t dismiss, either, that old
bodyboarding wetsuit you’ve stored
in a box for years to get started.
Whichever way you go, be sure to
test your wetsuit before race day.

• Goggles
We recommend getting two pairs –
one clear for swimming at indoor
pools or under cloudy race day
conditions, the other tinted to help
with glare and buoy sighting on
sunny days. Choose anti-fog and
UV-protected goggles and ensure a
perfect fit. These might be a tiny bit of
kit but not something to skimp on.

• Swim Cap
A silicone or latex swim cap reduces
drag and keeps hair out of your face.

NEW STARTER KIT

We get it. Sometimes only new will do when it
comes to your kit. Interspersed herewith, then,
is a sample of (mostly) budget-friendly gear we
found online worthy of consideration. Perhaps
mix and match with kit you already own or gear
you can source on the preloved market.
2XU Women’s Core
Sleeved Trisuit
RRP $209.99

VOLARE
V2 Mens Tri Wetsuit
RRP $419.00

HUUB
Varga II Race Goggles
RRP $45.00

BLUE 70
Silicone Swim cap
RRP $15.20

PHOTOS: HAMISH COLLIE

SWIM

BACK TO START LIST

BIKE
• Bike
To complete a triathlon, you’re going
to need a bike. What you don’t need
is one of the latest carbon weapons
you see at big races like Ironman
NZ, a dizzying array of steeds
adorned with ‘must-have’ aero
componentry that come with oft
eye-watering expense. You can invest
(that includes a professional bike
fitting) in a quality road or triathlon
specific TT (time trial) bike in time
and/or add the likes of aero bars to
your road bike if you get into longer
distances. But for now, the important
bit is to get going. If you’re starting
out in the local sprint triathlon,
your mountain bike or old alloy 10
speed will more than suffice. If you
don’t have a bike, check out TradeMe
and Facebook Marketplace and get
an experienced cycling/triathlon
friend to help with size and standard
componentry selection. What is
non-negotiable is good maintenance,
perhaps even a service from a good
bike shop mechanic if you haven’t
ridden your old Penny Farthing for a
while. Your local bike shop will also
help you with a water bottle and a
way to stow it on your bike. It’s also
important to sort an under-saddle
bag containing a spare tube, tyre
levels and mini pump. You need to
know how to use these tools because
nothing will deflate your enthusiasm
on a training ride or ruin your race
quite like a flat tyre.

help you slip into them on the go
out of T1. But for starters, there is
nothing stopping you riding in your
running shoes. The bonus is you’ll
save time in T2 – and money too!

• Bike Shorts
We can’t recommend a good pair of
bike/bib shorts highly enough. You
can train and race in general gym
shorts but not for long before the
chafing becomes unbearable. And
just in case you’re secretly wondering
– this is most definitely a no undies
zone. The pad—or chamois— in bike
shorts helps with padding while the
special microfibers of the lycra move
smoothly against the skin, preventing
chafing. Go commando and ask an
expert about chamois cream!

NEW STARTER KIT
CANNONDALE Caad
Optimo 2 Black Pearl
RRP $1,499.00

BELL
Avenue Helmet
RRP $99.00

SHIMANO Men’s RC300
E-Width Road Shoes
RRP $151.99

• Helmet
No, you don’t need an aero helmet.
What you do need is a ‘brain bucket’
that meets standardized safety
specifications. Your local bike shop
is a great place to start searching for
this mandatory piece of kit.

• Shoes
Clip-in or cycling-specific shoes
offer better power transfer. An
experienced triathlete will also show
you how to rig up rubber hands to

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

59

GEAR+TECH NEWBIE INTEL

NEW STARTER KIT

RUN
• Running Shoes

• Apparel

Visit a specialty store for a pronation
analysis and the right pair of running
shoes. The expense of a good pair
of running specific kicks is relative;
you’re not going to enjoy triathlon
if you’re constantly injured. Look
for discontinued or older models if
budget is an issue. Consider elastic
laces for ease and speed in T2.

Moisture-wicking clothing for comfort
and chafing prevention will be your friend
during training. So too a hat and glasses
to protect your swede and eyes in training
and on race days. You’ll want a race belt to
hold your race number during the run leg
and use a small towel to dry off, clean your
feet, and set your gear on in transition
areas for longer distance races.

60

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

ASICS
Noosa Tri 15
RRP $260.00

HUUB Triathlon
Transition Bag
RRP $169.00

BACK TO START LIST

TRAINING AND TRACKING
• Watch
A sports watch and/or GPS device for tracking your training and races is
very motivational and the data can assist with managing your training and
workouts. It isn’t necessary to get going but there is nothing like knowing
your swim, bike and run splits to compare your times and see how you’re
progressing. Tech and the resulting prices vary and you may soon want things
like heart rate monitoring, GPS and more so don’t rush with this purchase.

• Training Plan
This isn’t a piece of kit per sa but hiring a coach or using a triathlon-specific
training plan could be your smartest investment in your new sport. There are
ample in person and online resources available in New Zealand and a good place
to start is via your local club, many of whom have Tri NZ-sanctioned coaches.

NUTRITION AND
HYDRATION

PHOTOS: HAMISH COLLIE; ADOBESTOCK

Good pre, in and post-race nutrition and hydration is
a subject you’ll find no shortage of literature on, be it
in books or online. Again, a good coach will help you
demystify this vast subject (or at least point you in the right
direction) so you can find what works for you. For shorter
races, a nutritious breakfast and on course aid stations
will get you through but for training and longer distance
races, you’ll need to find things like energy gels and bars
that you can stomach. Good nutrition doesn’t come cheap
so don’t discount making your own bars. TQ Nutritionist
Kim Abbott produced an couple of excellent “Bike Bites”
options in her excellent TQ Issue 2 column here.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

61

GEAR+TECH ASICS SHOE GUIDE

Get your
kicks
Unleash your summer
stride with these proven
performers from Tri NZ
footwear partner ASICS

A

big summer of racing is
nearly here which means
it’s time to ramp up those
training miles.
To conquer the sun-soaked
pavement, trails, and triathlon
courses, you need the perfect
running shoe. That’s where
ASICS comes in. We’ve curated a
comprehensive Summer Running
Shoe Guide with Tri NZ’s official
footwear partner tailored to the
needs of triathletes at every level.
Whether you’re uber competitive
or a casual racer, our guide will
introduce you to the latest Asics
innovations designed to enhance your
performance. Asics have got your
summer runs covered, ensuring you
stay ahead of the competition and
comfortably reach the finish line.

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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

GEL-KAYANO 30
NZ$320

The GEL-KAYANO 30 celebrates 30 years of innovative stability and cushioning. This
revolutionary iteration of the iconic model focuses on delivering holistic, adaptive stability
with premium comfort underfoot. It is ideal for runners looking for a combination of moderate
support and high cushioning during their run.
The upper knit material in engineered for a comfortable, stable fit and feel. The midsole is
revamped with FF BLAST PLUS cushioning and a 4mm stack height increase, creating cloudlike softness in every step. The new 4D GUIDANCE SYSTEM is Asics’ innovative new take on
stabilising the foot, incorporating midsole geometry and design features including a lateral
decoupling groove, medial convex geometry, a newly designed lateral guidance line and new
midfoot foam that provides comfort for the fatiguing foot.
The new PureGEL™ technology is strategically positioned below the heel for increased
shock attenuation and a smoother ride. It’s 65 percent softer than conventional visible GEL
technology, allowing your distance training to feel surprisingly smooth.

Get the GEL-KAYANO 30

BACK TO START LIST

GEL-NIMBUS 25

GT-2000 12

This neutral trainer is revamped with new materials that create
a softer and smoother running experience.
A soft engineered knit upper comfortably wraps your foot
while supplying advanced ventilation. The GEL-NIMBUS 25’s
updated knit tongue construction provides better flexibility and
extends around the ankle for a more luxurious fit and feel. The
midsole is packed with the most cushioning that the series has
offered to date. By adding more FF BLAST PLUS ECO cushioning
and using Asics’ new PureGEL technology, this trainer creates a
lighter and softer cushioning experience.

The GT-2000 12 is ideal for the runner looking for a lightweight
stable ride with premium underfoot protection. The engineered
mesh upper with the lean back heel design provides a premium
feel and fit. The midsole is updated with a full-length FF BLAST
PLUS cushioning unit with additional foam underfoot, combining
with PureGEL technology in the rearfoot for a more energised
toe-off with cloud-like softness.
The 3D GUIDANCE SYSTEM consists of a wider forefoot base
net, a cradled heel platform and a lateral guidance line for adaptive
stability and a smooth transition from foot-strike to toe-off.

Get the GEL-NIMBUS 25

Get the GT-2000 12

NZ$300

NZ$270

MAGIC SPEED 3

EVORIDE SPEED

The MAGIC SPEED 3 is versatile as a training shoe, for tempo
runs and as a fast shoe for all distances on race day. The design
is inspired by the METASPEED series’ advanced energy-saving
properties. The MOTION WRAP upper made from lightweight
Nexkin material is highly breathable and helps provide a more
supportive reinforcement on the shoe’s platform. A full-length
carbon plate is positioned between two layers of FF BLAST
PLUS cushioning combining to redirect your energy forward for
a more propulsive toe-off and a smooth, responsive ride.

The EVORIDE SPEED shoe is a lightweight trainer that’s designed
to provide more energy savings. This trainer’s updates focus on
stability, a smooth forward roll, and grip.
Key adjustments in the midsole include Asics’ FF BLAST
cushioning. This soft material helps promote softer landings and
a responsive rebound. The Evoride Speed’s AHAR rubber outsole
material offers improved grip on various surfaces.
Pronation refers to the way your foot rolls inward for impact
distribution upon landing. The EVORIDE SPEED is made for neutral.

Get the MAGIC SPEED 3

Get the EVORIDE SPEED

NZ$300

NZ$250

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

63

GEAR+TECH HEART RATE MONITORS

Elevate I
Your
Training
If you want to take your swim, bike
and run training and racing to the next
level, consider a heart rate monitor

64

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

n the world of fitness and
athletic performance, accuracy
and convenience are key. Heart
rate monitors, smartwatches,
and a myriad of training apps have
evolved to deliver precisely that. It’s
no longer just an option; it’s vital to
have one of these devices if you’re
serious about improvement. They are
tailored to meet the unique needs of
athletes, providing comprehensive
health and fitness features that can
profoundly impact your training and
overall well-being.
Heart rate monitors and smart
watches are vital for:
• Real-Time Health Monitoring
24-hour heart rate monitoring keeps
athletes informed about their heart’s
performance, allowing for real-time
adjustments in training intensity to
maximise results
• Progress Tracking By monitoring
your heart rate, you can accurately
assess your progress and setbacks.
Even small changes in heart rate can

signal overindulgence or training
breaks, motivating athletes to
maintain consistent fitness routines
• Workout Optimisation Real-time
feedback is pivotal for enhancing
performance. Smartwatches and
chest monitors enable athletes to
assess the efficiency and intensity
of workouts, making it easier to
fine-tune exercise routines for
better results
• Diverse Training Athletes benefit
from diversified training routines.
Smartwatches with heart rate
monitoring capabilities help users
set specific heart rate zones for
different sports, ensuring safe yet
effective pushing of limits
• Comprehensive Health Insights
Beyond heart rate, much tech
offer additional features such as
sleep tracking, blood oxygen level
measurement, guided relaxation
breathing, and hydration reminders,
serving as complete health and
fitness companions

BACK TO START LIST

Compare these 4 heart rate monitor choices

The Fitbit Sense

Polar H10

• Precision
The Rhythm+ 2.0 ensures
precision heart rate
monitoring, even in the most
challenging conditions
• All-Day Comfort
Its lightweight, adjustable
armband design guarantees
a secure and irritation-free
fit, from start to finish
• Multi-sport Versatility
Fully waterproof and
compatible with a wide
range of sports devices and
apps, it seamlessly adapts to
every triathlon segment
• Endurance Battery
With extended battery
life, it’s ready for the most
gruelling long-distance races
• Data-Driven
Excellence Analyse heart
rate, heart rate variability,
and more, to elevate your
training game

• Advanced Health Metrics
The Fitbit Sense offers
a comprehensive suite
of health metrics,
including heart rate, EDA
(electrodermal activity),
skin temperature, and SpO2
(blood oxygen) monitoring,
providing a 360-degree view
of your well-being
• Stress Management
With EDA and stress tracking,
the Sense helps you manage
daily stress levels and
practice guided breathing
exercises to find your calm
• Built-In GPS
The integrated GPS allows
you to track your workouts
without needing your phone,
providing accurate pace and
distance information
• Sleep Tracking
Gain insights into your
sleep quality and receive
recommendations for better
rest, helping you recover and
perform at your best
• Smart Notifications
Stay connected with call, text,
and app notifications, and
even access voice assistants,
all from your wrist
• Spa-Like Relaxation
The Fitbit Sense offers
guided mindfulness sessions
and a skin temperature
sensor to help you unwind

• Accuracy
The Polar H10 is renowned
for its precision in heart rate
monitoring, ensuring that
every beat is tracked with
unmatched reliability
• Compatibility
It connects seamlessly with
a wide range of devices,
including smartphones,
sports watches, and fitness
equipment, making it
adaptable to your preferred
fitness ecosystem
• Built for Water
With its waterproof
design, the H10 is perfect
for swimmers
• Versatile Connectivity
Connect via Bluetooth and
ANT+ for real-time data
transfer, allowing you to
monitor your heart rate and
analyse performance on
various platforms
• Advanced Metrics
Beyond heart rate, the H10
offers advanced metrics
like RR intervals and heart
rate variability for a more indepth understanding of your
cardiovascular performance
• Personalised Training
Use the Polar app to access
personalised training plans
and benefit from real-time
coaching, helping you reach
your fitness goals faster

More on the Scosche Rhythm+ 2.0

More on The Fitbit Sense

Key Features

Scosche Rhythm+ 2.0
Key Features

Key Features

Garmin HRM-Tri
Key Features

• Pinpoint Accuracy
The HRM-Tri offers
unparalleled heart rate
accuracy, even in the most
demanding conditions,
ensuring every training
session is optimised
• All-Day Comfort
Designed with a comfortable,
non-slip strap, it remains
secure throughout the swim,
bike, and run, delivering
ultimate comfort in every race
• Versatile Data Integration
Seamlessly pairs with
Garmin’s range of multisport
devices, allowing you to
access and analyse your
data with ease
• Advanced Running Dynamics
In addition to heart rate, it
provides running dynamics
data, offering insights into
your running form
• Effortless Transition
It’s swim-friendly and
designed for quick transitions
between triathlon segments
More on the Garmin HRM-Tri

More on the Polar H10

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

65

TQ.Kiwi • GET YOUR QUARTER OFF TO A FLYER

66

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

An Ironman v PTO arms
race for the future of longdistance triathlon? More
like a mutually respectful
handshake that should be
a win-win for the world’s
fastest pros and eager age
groupers alike

T

he Professional Triathletes
Organisation (PTO) mobilised first on
the sidelines of the Paris Olympic Test
event in mid-August. World Triathlon,
the custodians of short course swim, bike
and run, were sensationally announced
as an ally in the PTO’s new ‘World
Championship Tour of Long Distance
Triathlon’. The title might have been a
mouthful but the surprise collaboration
and the overarching proposition, while
admittedly short on battleground specifics,
was intriguing nonetheless.
Ironman’s riposte two months later was
even more shocking. A new ‘Ironman Pro

Series’, also launching in 2024 and with a
US$1.7 million bonus prize pool tacked onto
the individual event prize purses, came as a
bolt out of a what seemed a new global blue.
The PTO’s proposed five to six “made
for TV” 100km races with an undisclosed
prize purse versus Ironman’s 18 already
designated races which will ultimately offer
US$200,000 season bonuses to both the
leading male and female athletes and nearly
US$6 million in total prize money across
12 months of competition. The war for
long course triathlon’s best talent, and
all those lucrative age group limpets,
had been officially declared.
Expect, none of the organisations involved
see it that way, not publicly at least.
“There’s never been a time when pro
athletes raced with us exclusively,” Ironman
CEO Andrew Messick told Triathlete recently.
“There’s always been Tristar, there’s
always been Rev3, there’s always been
Challenge. Now there’s the PTO. There’s
always been alternatives for professional
athletes, and we’ve always taken the
position that it’s fine.”

2024 IRONMAN Pro Series
Prize Money*
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th

MEN
$200,000
$130,000
$85,000
$70,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000

WOMEN TOTAL
$200,000
$130,000
$85,000
$70,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000

Top 10 Total $650,000 $650,000 $1,300,000
11-50 share $200,000 $200,000 $400,000
Total Bonus Pool		 $1,700,000
*US dollars (Based on Year-End Standings)

2024 IRONMAN Pro Series
DATE
April 6
April 27
May 4
May 11
May 19
June 2
June 8
June 16
June 23
June 30
July 16
July 21
Aug. 18
Aug. 25
Sept. 1
Sept. 22
Oct. 24
Dec. 1
Dec. 14 & 15

EVENT
Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside
Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas
Intermountain Health IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship St. George
Zafiro IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia, Mallorca
IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga
IRONMAN European Championship (WPro)
IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder
Cairns Airport IRONMAN Cairns
IRONMAN 70.3 Mont-Tremblant
IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne
IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz
Athletic Brewing IRONMAN Lake Placid
Mainova IRONMAN European Championship (MPro)
IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship
IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun
VinFast IRONMAN World Championship – Women
VinFast IRONMAN World Championship - Men
IRONMAN 70.3 Western Australia
VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

VENUE
California, USA
Texas, USA
Utah, USA
Alcúdia, Spain
Tenn., USA
Hamburg, Germany
Colo., USA
Queensland, Australia
Quebec, Canada
Vendėe, France
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Lake Placid, N.Y., USA
Frankfurt, Germany
Tallinn, Estonia
Zell am See, Austria
Nice, France
Kona, Hawai`i, USA
Busselton, Western Australia
Taupō, NZ

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

67

RACING

IRONMAN PRO SERIES

Designed to showcase and reward the exceptional talent
of the world’s top professional triathletes, the Ironman
Pro Series will also provide broader year-round interest
and intrigue through deeper pro fields, storylines, and live
broadcasting. So said the official media release. Here is other
important nitty gritty from that release:
The new Ironman Pro Series bonus pool runs in parallel to
and on top of the already established individual event prize
purses at Ironman and Ironman 70.3 pro events bringing the
total 2024 professional prize money and bonus pool on offer
to nearly $6 million. Prize money for individual pro races on
the circuit will remain consistent with past years, with a few
adjustments, including an increase of the Ironman 70.3 World
Championship prize purse to $500K.
Open to all professional athletes, of which approximately
1,000, are eligible and will start on a level playing field to
begin the season. At each of the 18 designated Ironman Pro
Series events, professional athletes will earn points based
on their finish times to count towards a final Series ranking.
A first placed finish earns maximum points - 5,000 points for
Ironman and 2,500 points for Ironman 70.3, while winning the
Ironman World Championship will earn 6,000 points and the
Ironman 70.3 World Championship 3,000 points. Points are
then cascaded based on the time deficit to 1st place. Fast
racing will pay off with one point per second deducted based
on deficit to the winning time, with no points floor.
While professional athletes can choose any combination
of designated races in the series, only the top five race
performances of the year will count towards an athlete’s final
ranking, of which a maximum of three full-distance Ironman
event results can be counted. The Top 10 ranked athletes in
each gender at the end of the Ironman Pro Series will share
$1.3 million in bonus pool, with the top placed male and female
taking home $200,000 each. A further $400,000 in financial
assistance will be paid out equally to athletes ranked 11th –
50th in each gender.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR OF LONG DISTANCE TRIATHLON

•

•

•

Ironman Group CEO Andrew Messick said…
“We wanted to find a way of recognising the exceptional talent
of our top professional triathletes while also giving up-andcoming professionals an opportunity to thrive and make their
mark,”said Messick.
“The events have been carefully selected to ensure that they
are accessible for our professional athletes, but also offer
diverse courses so athletes can select races that are best
suited to their strengths.”

68

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

PTO’s announcement hit the internet on August 16, 2023 and
read: “World Triathlon and the PTO announced today a new
partnership that will recognise the PTO Tour as the official
World Championship Tour of long distance triathlon, using
the ‘made for TV’ 100km distance. The ground-breaking
agreement will see the two organisations working closely
to create a compelling season-long narrative for the world’s
leading triathletes, as the long distance equivalent of World
Triathlon’s successful (WTCS), that will include championship
racing opportunities for both Professionals and Age Groupers.
The key points of the new partnership include:
A points-based competition with pro men’s and women’s
World Championship titles awarded at the end of a seasonlong tour, as well as the planned creation of up to five
Continental Championships at one-off races, including: the
Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Qualification for the Age Group Championships to follow
the existing World Triathlon process of National Federations’
selection, with age groupers eligible to race in each of
the six Championship events, including World and the five
Continental Championships.
World Triathlon working together with the PTO and its
membership on a number of services, including Anti-Doping,
Competition Jury appeals, Safeguarding and Manipulation
of sport competition guidelines, Technical support... and an
extensive Marketing and Commercial collaboration.

•

•

•

PTO CEO Steve Renouf said…
“Given the importance of the Olympics and short course racing
on the traditional federation funding model, long distance
triathlon has largely been left to the ‘private sector’ of forprofit promoters; leading to a fragmented and uncoordinated
calendar for both athletes and fans,” said Renouf.
”In partnering together, [we] are both elevating long distance
triathlon. On the Age Group side, we jointly recognise the
uniqueness that athletes of any age can strive for and qualify
to represent their country in an officially recognised World
Championship. The inclusion of Age Group Championship
racing throughout the PTO Tour will provide ‘bucket list’
racing opportunities for the global Age Group community.”

BACK TO START LIST

Messick’s consolatory tone continued.
“For professional athletes, it’s not an easy
life, and if you’ve got an opportunity to go
make money somewhere, we never want to
be standing in the way of people doing that.
But at the same time, we would like our top
athletes to race with us more, we would like
to have more races with highly competitive
professional fields.”
Talking in the launch edition of TQ, PTO
CEO Sam Renouf (pictured below, right)
trumpeted a similar theme, almost eerily
foreseeing Ironman’s next move when
asked why pros and age groupers should
not simply jump ship to the shiny new PTO.
“As to jumping ship, that’s not the way we
look at it at all,” Renouf said. “Athletes, both
pro and age grouper, have the opportunity to
do both and we very much hope they do.
“Not only can both brands happily
exist, the success of the PTO in growing
triathlon’s profile will be a very positive
force for Ironman’s growth for the simple
fact they have most of the places for these
new triathletes to race.”

New Zealand Implications
So what will the new, long distance
landscape look like? Through a New
Zealand lens, there is early Ironman and
longer-term PTO (potentially) inducements.
The Ironman Pro Series will be decided
by a points system across six full-distance
and nine 70.3 events, plus the annual
VinFast Ironman Men’s and Women’s World
Championships and, critically for Kiwi fans,
the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
That means the 2024 edition of the latter, to
be staged in Taupo on December 14-15 next
year, will see the inaugural Ironman Pro
Series narrative climax in New Zealand.
The PTO’s 2024 scheduled was due to
be revealed in October but so far only
loose details around Singapore (April 1314 ) and Ibiza (Sept 28-29 ) has emerged.

What we do know is that the series is set
to include a global finale after as many as
five Continental Championships in the
Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
TQ understands the Oceania slot has been
offered to Australia in 2024 although could
be put out to tender for 2025 onwards if next
year’s venue cannot be confirmed in time.
As with the current PTO events – in Ibiza,
Singapore and Milwaukee in 2023 - the 20
male and female athletes at each new race
will be made up by the 16 highest ranked
athletes available on the PTO world ranking
list, plus four wildcards. If the PTO-World
Triathlon blueprint comes to pass, these
athletes will come from a contracted
pool of athletes eventually with the PTO
envisioning a future along the lines of
tennis’ ATP and golf’s PGA Tour.

Age Group Glory
In addition to pros, the PTO will offer racing
for age group athletes via qualification races
at national federation level. That will likely
see a 100km race integrated into the Tri NZ
Suzuki Series, incorporating the already
established Tri NZ to World Triathlon
championship qualification process.
Although the pro world championship
title will be awarded through a season-long
points competition, age group titles will
be determined at a single race which will
rotate between PTO Tour locations annually
and provide an opportunity for amateur
athletes around the world to strive towards
100km world championship status.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

69

RACING IMWC EYE CANDY

The men’s
and women’s
2023 VinFast
Ironman World
Championships
in 46
spectacular
pictures

1

2

5

6

9

10

226km
to glory
I
ronman’s decision to split their World
Championship, with the men and women
alternating annually between France
and Hawaii, wasn’t without its critics.
We’re not sure of Sam Laidlow’s stance on
the controversial call before Nice became
the first venue outside the U.S. in Ironman’s
40+ year history to host the VinFast Ironman
World Championships, but we’re confident
there were no complaints afterwards.
The 24-year-old became the youngest ever
winner of triathlon’s ultimate 226km test on
September 10 and the first ever champion,
male or female, from France, continuing
a 10-year streak of European Champions.
In just his third World Championship start
and after finishing a gritty runner-up to
Norway’s Gustav Iden last year, Laidlow won
in 8:06:22 - nearly four minutes clear of
Germany’s Patrick Lange with Dane Magnus
Ditlev third. Enjoy Laidlow’s first ever
triumph over the full Ironman distance and
ample Kiwi and age group epicness in TQ’s
pictorial tribute to Nice 2023.

70

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST
3

4
1. Laidlow won on the Cote d’Azur less
than three weeks after being laid low
by COVID-19. It was the fulfillment of a
childhood dream.

“I keep saying it but I just don’t believe it,
it’s the stuff I have dreamt of my whole
life and I have just surrounded myself with
some amazing people, who have got me to
where I am today. I am just so so grateful.”
2. After setting the pace on the swim,
Laidlow laid down the day’s fastest bike
split of 4:31:28. The Frenchman also owns
the Kona bike course record of 4:04:36,
illustrating just how hilly the Nice ride was.
3. A 2:41:46 marathon split got Laidlow
home with breathing room to spare

7

8

4. Patrick Lange produced the day’s
fastest run split, setting an Ironman World
Championship best run time of 2:32:41 to
run into second place. Gustav Iden won
last year with a Kona best 2:36:15.
5. Kiwi No.1 Braden Currie felt like throwing
in the towel after his penalty for littering
on the bike leg and was eventually DQ’ed
for refusing to serve the resulting stop-go
penalty. On appeal, the penalty and DQ were
overturned, and Currie was reinstated into
16th place, the Kiwi best. Still, it hurt. A lot.
6. Ben Phillips (No.51) enjoyed a brilliant
Ironman World Championship debut,
placing 23rd. Sadly bro Mike Phillips, the
reigning Ironman NZ champion, recorded a
DNF. “Tough day at IMWC - feeling off from
the start, fought with all I had to try and
get back into the race but I just got worse
and worse,” Mike said. “Gutted to not be
firing for the big one, especially after all
the sacrifices made!”

11

12

7. Bronze medallist Magnus Ditlev: “I am
super proud of the way I fought. I kept staying
positive, it was such a hard day, so I am super
proud that I have made it to the podium.”
8. Laidlow celebrates as he makes it down
the magic red carpet along the Promenade
des Anglais to be crowed Ironman World
champion in his home country.
9. Sharing an emotional moment with
Patrick Langer, Laidlow’s achievement
begins to sink in. “It would have taken a
miracle to catch this guy,” Langer said
of Laidlow.
10. One for the scrapbook: Langer, Laidlow
and Ditlev.
11. Continuing the tradition of showcasing
the importance of every finisher from first
to last, Laidlow returned to the finish line to
welcome home the final finishers completing
their journey before the 17 hour cutoff.
12. No explanation required. Ironman
World Champion!

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

71

RACING IMWC EYE CANDY

Cannon to Tape S

he was known as the swimmer
without peer, also as a perennial
bridesmaid with four VinFast
Ironman World Championship
runner-up finishes. The Brit who couldn’t
capitalise on her clear advantage out
of Kailua-Kona Bay, year after year. On
October 14, Lucy Charles-Barclay turned

1

2

3

6

7

8

11

12

13

72

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST
that narrative on its head, not only winning
from cannon to tape but also in a new
course best time of 8:24:31.
After her previous second place finishes in
2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022, Charles-Barclay
put it all together against arguably the
deepest and most talented field in the history
of the Ironman World Championship,

4

finishing three minutes clear of Anne Haug
with another German, Laura Philipp, third.
“It’s really hard to put it into words,”
Charles-Barclay said. “I’ve been wanting
this so badly since I started my career. It’s
taken me five attempts and I’ve finally done
it. I don’t think it’s sunk in whatsoever, but
I’m just over the moon.”

5

1. Husband Reece was at the finish line for
an emotional embrace as Lucy CharlesBarclay became world champion.
2-4. Charles-Barclay’s swim prowess is
summed up in picture 2. She enjoyed a
1min 29sec lead on USA’s Haley Chrua
out of the water.
5. LCB leads the pack onto the Queen
Ka’ahumanu Highway. With as many as
16 professional women eventually going
under 9hrs – the most ever at an Ironman
World Championship race – it meant LCB
could not let up on the bike. A 4:32:29
split proved she didn’t.
6. Anne Haug left it all out on the course,
producing a Kona run course record of
2:48:23 to claim silver. The German beat
the the previous best by over two minutes,
set by Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) in 2014.
7. Germany’s Laura Philipp runs down
Ali`i drive on the final stretch of the
marathon en route to 3rd.

9

10

8. “All of the pro women were cheering
me on, and to have their support even
when we’re all out there suffering just
shows how amazing this sport is.”
9. Fifth time lucky: Crowds line Ali’i drive
to welcome home the new 2023 VinFast
Ironman World Champion
10. Charles-Barclay is just the second
person to win the pro world title after
winning an Ironman World Championship
Age-Group title. She was 18-24 champion
in 2015. Lori Bowden won the 1999 pro
title after claiming 25-29 honours in 1994.
11. Haug, Charles-Barclay and Philipp
celebrate on the podium after starring
in what was regarded as the deepest
women’s field ever.

14

15

12,13. Cheers! LCB was just the second
woman, after American Lyn Lemaire in the
second-ever Ironman World Championship
in 1979, to win from cannon to tape.
14. Tauranga’s Hannah Berry was a
brilliant 11th on debut in 8:53:45. Her first
ever sub 9hr Ironman was capped by a PB
marathon split of 3:08:39. “I had a really
strong day across all three [disciplines]
and just had my best Ironman so can’t
complain.” Indeed.
15. Fellow Kiwi Rebecca Clarke was 20th,
three places lower than her own debut
effort 12 months earlier but 20 minutes
faster – highlighting a day of recordbreaking speed at the Big Dance on
the Big Island spearheaded by LCB.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

73

RACING IMWC EYE CANDY

Nice
Men
F

or the first time in
Ironman’s 40+ year
history, Nice, France
became the first
location outside of the
United States to host the
VinFast IRONMAN World
Championship triathlon
as the men’s field took
on the Côte d’Azur.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
Athletes step on the
pebbles beneath the blue
Mediterranean waters of
Nice’s ‘Baie des Anges’, the
‘Bay of Angels’, during the
3.8km ROKA Swim Course.

PICTURESQUE Athletes take in the stunning views of the Clues de Gréolières while descending the 112-mile FULGAZ Bike Course

FOOTSTEPS The four-loop 42.2km HOKA Run Course spanned end to
end of the iconic Promenade des Anglais, passing alongside the famous
beach clubs, the Chaises Bleues, and the monumental Negresco Hotel,
all with the Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop.

74

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS ‘Top Chef Canada’ winner Dale
Mackey added a new title of Ironman to his list of
accomplishments, finishing in an impressive time of 13:16:51.

BACK TO START LIST

Ladies First M

ore than 2,000 athletes from 73 countries,
regions and territories converged in KailuaKona, Hawai`i, for the women’s 2023 VinFast
Ironman World Championship. October 14 was
an historic day, the first ever standalone women’s IMWC.

KAILUA BAY KICKOFF Women have
been an integral part of Ironman and
the Ironman World Championship
triathlon since the inaugural event
in 1978, from Ironman Co-Founder
Judy Collins helping to make the
first races happen to owner and
race director Valerie Silk moving
the race to the Big Island and
pioneering equal prize money
for professional athletes.

LAVA LOVE From Kailua-Kona to the Hawi
turnaround, returning back along the iconic
Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway, athletes experienced
exposed terrain and crosswinds. Along with
captivating views of lava fields, coastline, and
ocean, the course also featured challenging
climbs with an elevation gain of up to 1772 meters.

AUSSIE BATTLER
Ultra-trail runner Lucy
Bartholomew (above)
became just the
second woman ever
to complete the UTMB
World Series Finals
in Mont-Blanc, where
she finished 10th, and
the Ironman Worlds in
the same year. That’s
nearly 400km just
six weeks apart. The
Australian finished
Kona in 10:43:41 with
a 3:30 marathon.

GIRL POWER Proving that women truly are Wahine Toa,
all 2,097 starters who went into the water, finished the
swim within the cut off. Additionally, the first women’s
standalone race in Kona saw the highest single day
finisher rate of any Ironman World Championship with
2,039 completing the event. That’s an epic 97.23 percent.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

75

World
Triathlon

2023 WTCS

Report
Cards
76

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Men

BACK TO START LIST

Hayden
Wilde

The results don’t lie but
how did our Kiwi elites really
fare this past WTCS season?
We asked their coaches for
an honest assessment.

D

IFFERENT YEAR, SIMILAR HEARTACHE.

That, through a lens focused heavily
on Hayden Wilde, was the main Kiwi
takeaway from another absorbing year
of World Triathlon Championship
Series (WTCS) racing.
A season-opening puncture in Abu
Dhabi, a penultimate round DNF in
Paris you couldn’t possibly script, and
a forgettable finals swim in Pontevedra - made worse
by a penalty for dropping his swim cap - conspired
to see the Kiwi No.1 ultimately finish world No.2.
The flat tyre on Yas Island, bike crash/hip injury in
Paris and the Spanish flop and drop cruelly robbed
Wilde of the world title, just as an untimely bout of
COVID-19 scuppered his 2022 bid at the final hurdle
in Abu Dhabi.
The incidents also overshadowed what otherwise
could be generally categorised as a year of squad wise
progression for the Kiwi elites.
Indeed, World Triathlon’s premier series produced
many highlights from a Kiwi perspective. There were
Wilde’s wins in Yokohama and Hamburg culminating
in a further step up the overall podium from 3rd to
2nd, back-to-back top 8s to help Nicole van der Kaay
seal a Paris Olympics nomination to the NZOC, a
mid-term purple patch for Dylan McCullough and
the exciting emergence of Brea Roderick.
To help put context around the season, TQ enlisted
the help of the coaches of each of the Kiwis who
raced in 2023. How did they rate their athlete’s
season? And what areas have they identified as
needing improvement for 2024?
We’ve focused only on the Kiwis who raced WTCS
races in 2023, not all those who are ranked. For
example, Trent Thorpe finished the year 72nd on
the list, the fourth best Kiwi male, but didn’t line
up in any of the seven WTCS rounds this year. Our
report card also only looks at WTCS races, not the
U23 racing linked to Hamburg and Pontevedra.
Without further ado, here are our 2023 WTCS
Report Cards:

WTCS Ranking 2023:
2nd
WTCS Ranking 2022:
3rd
2023 RESULTS
Abu Dhabi: 46th
Yokohama: 1st
Cagliari: 2nd
Montreal: DNS
Hamburg: 1st
Sunderland: 3rd
Paris: DNF
Pontevedra: 10th

HIGH Wilde’s win in Hamburg (pictured left),
which doubled as the World Triathlon Sprint
Championships, was especially memorable as it was
the first time he’d edged his great British rival, Alex
Yee, in a WTCS race they’d both finished. The Kiwi’s
late surge on the bike and flawless T2 in the final
was a thing of title-defining beauty.
LOW It’s a toss-up between Paris and that early
morning, slow speed bike crash riding to the Olympic
test event venue, or the flat WTCS finals swim in
Pontevedra. At least Wilde gets a shot at redemption
in Paris next summer and will have banked some
important intel, not least the intense River Seine tidal
flow. Sadly, the Whakatane Falcon doesn’t get a do over
in Pontevedra, rather left to rue a swim that meant
another world title had slipped through his grasp.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“The one upside of this season is that hunger lingers
in our campaign. We know Hayden is capable. We’ll
be planning a race schedule with an aim of delivering
a performance in Paris we know he’s capable of. The
ultimate goal is to strike Olympic gold.” – CK

Coach Craig
Kirkwood’s
assessment
For Hayden, 2023 was as
turbulent as flying into
Wellington Airport on any
given day with smooth
wins and podiums mixed
with crashes, penalties,
Super League short
chutes (off topic I
know but frustrating
nonetheless!) and illness.
Complete success was so
close so many times yet
kept out of reach due to
factors that were simply
out of our control. We
knew the fitness, form
and willingness to execute
were there but it just
didn’t come together
when we needed it.
I was proud and impressed
with the resilience
Hayden showed after
each set back. Whenever
he was upset, annoyed or
frustrated, he quickly reset
and turned his attention
to what was next. Now
that the season is over
we can leave the bad
luck in 2023, and turn 100
percent of our focus to
Paris. The wins in Noosa
and at the Melbourne
70.3 certainly bookended
the year nicely.

Two years running, so close yet so far from the world
title. Proud of the effort. Did everything I could on the
bike and run to bring back a poor swim and on top of
that a 15 sec penalty for dropping my swim cap. Really
disappointed as I was proud of where my swimming
form was but showed none of it on the weekend.
– Wilde sums up his topsy-turvy WTCS campaign

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

77

World
Triathlon

Dylan
McCullough
WTCS Ranking 2023:
26th
WTCS Ranking 2022:
111th
2023 RESULTS
Yokohama: 26th
Montreal: 14th
Hamburg: 45th
Sunderland: 12th
Paris: 49th
Pontevedra: 21st

HIGH Sunderland was his career-best WTCS result
but perhaps wouldn’t have happened without the
confidence boost of a Kiwi-best 14th in Montreal.
McCullough’s performance in Canada, where he
produced an eye catching 15:09 5km split after a
hypoxic scare in the swim, proved why the 22-year-old
is one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects.
LOW Falling ill after his 12th in the individual race
in Sunderland, one of 57 athletes left stricken by
the poor water quality off Roker Beach. It meant
he missed the relay, after Quebec’s Forest fires had
previously seen the Montreal MR cancelled. The
reduction of the Paris MR to a duathlon due to the
Seine’s water quality was another blow but not as
disappointing as an individual performance that
didn’t do his 2023 form justice.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“Dylan is an athlete I enjoy coaching as he
communicates well, is honest with his ideas
and feedback and he is prepared to do the work.
Expect more to come from him in 2024.” – JH

78

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

I had a great swim start and was out the front but
unfortunately went a bit hypoxic and lost feeling in
my arms, which meant the swim then turned into
survival mode. – McCullough post WTCS Montreal

Coach John Hellemans’ assessment
Dylan has achieved most of his goals this year, including a significant improvement in his World
and Olympic rankings and putting himself in the mix for possible Olympic selection with some solid
results in WTCS and World Cup events. His running, which has always been his weak discipline, has
gradually come up to a level where he is now competitive. He has achieved this with being able
to train consistently for over a year. Dylan also did a stint of altitude training for the first time
which he felt benefitted him during the second half of the season. Dylan is gradually showing his
potential. We saw a glimpse of his potential as a MTR athlete when he ran shoulder to shoulder
with Alex Yee in the Paris Olympic test event for most of the run off the bike.

BACK TO START LIST

Tayler
Reid
WTCS Ranking 2023:
31st
WTCS Ranking 2022:
70th
2023 RESULTS
Yokohama: 31st
Montreal: 20th
Hamburg: 11th
Sunderland: 18th
Paris: 25th
Pontevedra: 40th

I couldn’t have done anything
else today, I think I raced as
perfectly as possible and
that’s where it gave me today.
I was really happy with how
I executed. – Reid after his
25th placing at the Paris
Olympic Test event

Coach Stephen
Sheldrake’s
assessment

HIGH Reid went within a whisker of joining
Wilde in the Top 10 shootout at the World Sprint
Championships in Hamburg, highlighting again his
threshold for pain and ability to excel in rapid fire
races (aka his London Super League bronze). Perhaps
more important was the Paris standard distance test
where he went from a pre-race puke to Kiwi P1 after
Wilde’s WD.
LOW The 40th in Pontevedra, like McCullough’s
performance in Paris, didn’t do Reid justice. His
buildup was hampered after crashing out of Super

League Toulouse three weeks earlier. Can swim
and bike with the best of them but needs to find
consistent 10km speed off the bike to strengthen
his XXXIII Paris Olympic Games case.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“Tayler will need to lay down a big aerobic block
of training with specific run blocks with better
runners and targeted run events throughout
the New Zealand summer to help him make the
necessary gains with his running, specifically
over the Olympic distance events.” – SS

A season of ups and downs
for Tayler that produced
strong performances
at the New Plymouth
World Cup with a silver
medal, 11th at the World
Sprint Championships
in Hamburg, 25th at the
Paris Test event and world
class performances in the
Hamburg and Sunderland
MTR events. On the other
side of the coin, getting
sick for a lot of April,
a small crash at WTCS
Montreal and a big crash
at Super League Toulouse
did not help his build up to
other important events.
Tayler’s primary goal was
to achieve 2 x Top 8’s at
WTCS events to achieve a
secondary Paris Olympic
nomination, a target he
fell short of. We know
Tayler requires good 6-8
week blocks of training
for a specific event to get
the best out of him so a
very targeted 2024 will be
important to firstly gain
selection to, and then
perform at, the Olympics.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

79

World
Triathlon

Saxon
Morgan
WTCS Ranking 2023:
74th
WTCS Ranking 2022:
NA
2023 RESULTS
Hamburg: 52nd
Sunderland: 33rd

Coach John
Hellemans’
assessment

HIGH After struggling in the individual races in
Hamburg, Morgan responded by helping NZL secure
bronze in the U23 relay championships. A week later,
he produced arguably his finest WTCS performance
in Sunderland. He has better results at the top level –
32nd in Montreal and 25th in Hamburg in 2021- but
both those come with a pandemic period asterisk.
LOW There is still debate whether it was high e.Coli
levels in the water off Roker Beach or a Norovirus.
Either way, it wiped out Morgan and room-mate
McCullough, sucking much of the immediate joy
out of his Sunderland performance.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“I enjoy coaching Saxon. There is trust in our
relationship and we are both working hard to
get him up to his potential. Next year will be
an important year for him.” – JH

80

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Plenty of positives to take
away from the race and great
experience racing at this level.
Big step up racing the World
Series but enjoying racing at the
top level of our sport. – Morgan
after WTCS Sunderland

Saxon had a somewhat
frustrating year, almost
typical for many under 23
athletes, somewhere in
between the juniors and
the big boys. Already a
decent runner, Saxon has
emphasised developing
his swimming and biking
this year. This has blunted
his running progress
somewhat, something
which is not unusual
for developing athletes.
When focussing on one
or two disciplines the
third discipline is at risk
of faltering. He is now
closer to the action after
the swim but on a few
occasions just missed
the front bunch by a
whisker. His world ranking
has improved to the
degree that he now gets
automatic starts in World
Cup events but not quite in
the WTCS.

BACK TO START LIST

Janus
Staufenberg
WTCS Ranking 2023:
111th
WTCS Ranking 2022:
Not Applicable
2023 RESULT
Hamburg: 27th

HIGH Showed true grit to reach the top 30 at the
WT Sprint Championship via the repechage. The
performance capped a busy five weeks in Europe
highlighted by victory at European Cup Holten. We
wonder if Staufenberg could have advanced even
further in Hamburg if he hadn’t raced so much
beforehand. Not in doubt is the that stubborn ability,
underscored with a Oceania Cup silver in Taupo
earlier in 2023.
LOW Like partner Olivia Thornbury, TQ would love to
see Staufenberg race more at WTCS level but get that
both want to nail their time at Otago Medical School.
With his run prowess, watch out when the Wanakalad gets the chance to string a series of races together.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“Janus’ best race was left to a wet and windy day at in
Holten where he won at Conti Cup level after coming
so close in Taupo. His brave performance at the WT
Sprint Championship on the back of five successive
weeks racing showed what he’s capable of.” – ME

Coach Mark Elliott’s assessment
Triathlon in 2023 for Janus and his partner Olivia Thornbury
was always going to be a year of balancing training loads
and a short, intensive European race phase with meeting the
demands of massive medical content for exams in October as
both are third year into their medical degrees.
A block of European racing was slotted in during the mid-term
University break. Racing from immersion in a chilly Dunedin
winter to the balmy warmth of Austria and Hungary was a
challenge as Europe was having a heat wave with temps in the
high 30s. Janus felt strong on bike in a strong start in European
Cup Kitzbühel, making the front bunch and slotting into the top
three with 2km to go on the run. However the heat and jetlag
took its toll over the final stages and top 10 position was
a solid result after less than five days in Europe.

Definitely a big step. Obviously disappointing as it is [to get eliminated], you come here trying
to do the best you can. You’ve got to take the positives away and a positive is just making the
final and being amongst the top 30 in the world, yeah, things are going in the right direction.
– Staufenberg immediately after elimination in Hamburg

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

81

World
Triathlon

Kyle
Smith
WTCS Ranking 2023:
118th
WTCS Ranking 2022:
NA
2023 RESULTS
Abu Dhabi: 30th
Montreal: 46th

HIGH There were high hopes, especially after Smith’s
Oceania Cup form and his Arena Games bronze in
London, of a decent push for Paris. The 30th placing
in Abu Dhabi hinted the Taupo triathlete was finding
his feet back in short course. Sadly, the WTCS opener
proved the best of two chances at the top level.
LOW You can’t fault Smith’s commitment as he
also travelled to World Cups in Mexico and Czech
Republic chasing ranking points. Ultimately, his 36th

in Huatulco and DNF in Karlovy Vary have limited
the Taupo fighter’s chances at the top level.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
It will be fascinating to see if short course racing
figures in Smith’s 2024 plans given a topsy turvy year.
Won Ironman 70.3 Ireland in August and stated on
social media that he wished he could have raced the
full Ironman Worlds in Nice. Perhaps we’ll see Smith
racing the Ironman 70.3 worlds in Taupo in late 2024?

Really tough day for me back In the short course world. Haven’t quite figured it out to be honest.
Terrible swim. Smacked my Achilles on my pedal…. 390wNP for an hour. Started running.
Tumbled backwards and my Achilles was not in a good way so was safer to pull the plug.
Which I hate doing but I’m racing a 70.3 on Sunday so didn’t want to risk it. On to the next one.
– Smith after World Cup Karlovy Vary on Sep. 10

82

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Women
BACK TO START LIST

Nicole
van der Kaay
WTCS Ranking 2023:
19th
WTCS Ranking 2022:
38th

Coach Stephen
Sheldrake’s
assessment

2023 RESULTS
Yokohama: 27th
Montreal: 42nd
Hamburg: 6th
Sunderland: 8th
Paris: 26th
Pontevedra: 37th

HIGH After her perfect 5-5 Oceania campaign, it
was only a matter of time before NVDK showed her
true potential at WTCS level. That moment came in
Hamburg where she also snared relay silver as the
Team NZL anchor. 8th place at Sunderland a fortnight
later meant she had met the secondary criteria for
a Paris ’24 nomination to the NZOC.
LOW Baby oil. Not normally a hazard but it proved
thus in Montreal where NVDK hit a bump on the bike
and crashed spectacularly as her hands slid off her
handlebars. That hurt but not half as much as her
26th and 37th place finishes in Paris and Pontevedra
where her struggles in the water surfaced again.
NVDK doesn’t need telling what the key 2024
work-on is over Christmas.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“Nicole will continue to turn over every stone with her
swimming to make the necessary gains, particularly over

Even on not a great day,
I was still good enough to get
that position so really happy
with that and it takes a bit of
pressure off [meeting the NZOC
nomination criteria] so I can
enjoy the next few months.
– Nicole van der Kaay
after Sunderland

the 1500m to will allow her to be competitive in Paris.
She will be in the gym with a specific S&C programme
that will help with not only her swim progress but allow
her to be a strong, robust athlete.” – SS

At the end of 2022, Nicole’s
world ranking wasn’t high
enough to guarantee WTCS
starts. This was mainly due
to racing the 2022 Super
League and bypassing
the later season World
Cup events, as well as a
sub-par WTCS grand final
in Abu Dhabi due to gastro
issues. This required
Nicole to start racing in
2023 earlier than normal
where a perfect 5-5 in
Oceania events quickly
elevated her ranking.
While Nicole wanted to
have a consistent year
of international racing,
the primary goal was to
achieve the secondary
Paris Olympic nomination
of 2 x WTCS Top8’s, duly
ticked off in Hamburg and
Sunderland. On reflection,
the early start to the year,
which could not be avoided
to a degree, had a bearing
on the later part of 2023,
therefore the start of
2024 will be delayed to
make sure Nicole has the
time to work on areas
of weakness.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

83

World
Triathlon

Ainsley
Thorpe
WTCS Ranking 2023:
36th
WTCS Ranking 2022:
47th
2023 RESULTS
Abu Dhabi: 17th
Yokohama: 43rd
Montreal: 30th
Hamburg: 21st
Sunderland: 42nd
Paris: 17th
Pontevedra: 39th

HIGH Thorpe was so despondent after her 42nd place
in Sunderland that she gave herself a “no stress” pass
for Paris, even admitting she had been targeting the
relay as the priority of her week in the French capital.
It proved less stress, Kiwi best success at the Olympic
Test Event and could well be a cut and paste strategy
moving ahead.
LOW There was disappointment for Thorpe in
Yokohama and Sunderland where she backed up
good races at the previous round with off-key
performances. The upside in Sunderland was her
great leg in Team NZL’s 4th place in the relay the
very next day. The Cambridge-based Aucklander
clearly had a point to prove.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“We will be more specific planning around pinnacle
events and with our lead in to events. A key is closing
the gap to the top 10 swimmers and we’ll also work
on areas outside of triathlon with key support staff.
There’ll be some experimentation with new aspects
of preparation in the second half of the season.” – BH

Coach Bruce Hunter’s assessment
It’s been a season of learning and experimenting with
training and how best to prepare for specific events.
The main focus was to build a season around consistent
training load and being able to find what Ainsley can
tolerate. The purpose for this was to build confidence
leading into 2024 that the work required has been done
and she can continue to develop critical aspects within
all three disciplines. While some of the key races have
gone to plan, others have fallen short with the training
load being too high or intense. The one thing that still
impresses me with Ainsley is her ability to bounce back
from events that haven’t gone to plan and the resilience
she continues to show. It will be a perfect year when
bad luck hasn’t found its way into the season,
so here’s hoping next year will be that year.

I have the confidence that I have the ability to be in the team next year over the individual
and MTR [Mixed Team Relay]. I was more focusing on the MTR this race but the individual went
pretty well so yeah, I’m really happy. – Thorpe post the Paris Olympic Games Test Event

84

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

Brea
Roderick
WTCS Ranking 2023:
48th
WTCS Ranking 2022:
NA
2023 RESULTS
Montreal: 34th
Hamburg: 41st
Sunderland: 28th
Paris: 24th

Coach Bruce Hunter’s
assessment

HIGH When Roderick stepped in as a late
replacement for Olivia Thornbury in Montreal, she
can never have imagined she would get three further
WTCS starts. Her fighting performance in Paris,
given the setting and the depth of field chasing
Olympic qualification, showed NZL has a doggedly
determined competitor with many Games
experiences in her future.
LOW Given her inexperience, it’s hard to pick a poor
individual performance so we’ll defer to her snafu
in the relay in Sunderland where Roderick incurred
a 10 second penalty for inadvertently racking her
bike in an Aussie parking spot. Needless to say, the
Cantabrian won’t mix up the Aussie flag with the
Kiwi one again. We hope!
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“We will continue to take advantage of opportunities
and focus on identified areas of swim, bike and

It was just a shock to even be
able to get on to the start list
this year and to be at the front
with the top girls for most of
the race and to finish up 24th,
I’m absolutely stoked with that,
it’s amazing. – Roderick after
her dream Paris Olympic Test
Event performance

run development. The focus is still long-term
development so not being reactive to what gets
thrown at us. The key is to remain injury free
and enjoying the journey.” – BH

It’s been a massive
season for Brea with the
main objective being to
take every opportunity
and run with it. We were
constantly working off
two plans throughout the
year and having to manage
expectations around
quantity and quality of
races, training load and
travelling. A huge year
of learning which will be
invaluable moving into
2024 and beyond. One of
the most pleasing things
to see has been how
adaptable Brea has been
to the situations thrown
at her. Stepping up onto
the WTCS circuit is a huge
challenge and can be
extremely daunting but
she’s taken it in her stride
and has set herself up
well for next year. Brea
will continue to build a
solid training foundation
to ensure she is in the
best shape possible for
next season. The only
downside has been that
the Australian and New
Zealand flags [MR mix ups
in Taupo and Sunderland]
are very similar. We
might need to do some
geography lessons!

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

85

World
Triathlon
It was awesome to be racing
the best in the world, something
that I didn’t think I would be
doing this year. It’s a great
opportunity to find out your
weaknesses and take that home
to work on. –Goodisson after
the WT Finals in Spain

Eva
Goodisson
WTCS Ranking 2023:
133rd
WTCS Ranking 2022:
113th
2023 RESULT
Pontevedra: 46th

Coach Chris Willett’s
assessment
This year has continued to
be a huge learning curve
for Eva who has been
tested at every turn. Whist
the run is a continuing
project on return from
her back injury injury, Eva’s
swim and bike have dialled
in to the top tier allowing
her to be at the front of
races until T2. We cherry
picked some events early
season to hone race skills
and sharpen the craft
as we built towards the
WTCS Finals in Pontevedra
as a ‘best case scenario’
to be competitive. Eva’s
mental fortitude to ‘stay
in the grind’ should be
commended as she has
worked through such
a huge deviation in
her development.

86

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

HIGH Merely making it on to the start line at the
World Triathlon Championship Finals in Spain was
a win given Goodisson’s lengthy fight back from a
neural back injury. At 6mins 30secs adrift of winner
Beth Potter, there is no camouflaging the 25-year-old
is still off the pace at the top level but she took solace
from being barely a minute behind Kiwi No.1 Nicole
van der Kaay.
LOW Not so much a low, more a slow burning
frustration, has been Goodisson’s running. It’s little
surprise that it is taking longer for her leg speed to

return given pounding the streets is hardly the idea
way to mend a tender back. The upside has been
increased pedal power and swim performance.
Roll on 2024.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“All eyes for 2024 will focus on Eva’s run capacity.
Re-building the neural pathways to run fast will be
challenging but Eva is committed to progressing back
through the Oceania season. Beyond that, we’ll plan
around some Conti and World Cup events in Europe
and Asia before locking in any WTCS starts.” – CW

BACK TO START LIST

Olivia
Thornbury
WTCS Ranking 2023:
NA
WTCS Ranking 2022:
NA
2023 RESULT
Hamburg: 44th

HIGH A WTCS debut is special at any venue but
Hamburg was particularly memorable given the
raucous crowds and the fact Thornbury got to race
not once but twice in the Super Sprint format. The
Otago Medical Student was 24th in her heat and then
13th of 19 in her repechage and knows the power
gains required to compete at the very top.
LOW Like partner Janus Staufenberg, Thornbury’s
performance in Germany left TQ wanting more. It’s
clear the Invercargill flyer has the tools to compete at
WTCS level and it will be fascinating to see her string
a series of races together once her studies allow.
2024 WORK ON AND TARGETS
“Again, my comments are similar here to Janus’
earlier. Both had very similar race outcomes over
the Europe phase and the goals for 2024 are similar.
We’ll build base over early summer with bike racing
and swim/run aquathons in Wanaka and then target
World Cups in NZ and Australia to build on the
lessons from Europe.” – ME

Coach Mark Elliott’s assessment
You could pretty much take my comments on Olivia’s partner Janus six pages back in this WTCS report
and cut and paste them here. They were basically joined at the hip with sport and study in 2023, the
difference being Janus won European Cup Holten and Olivia was 3rd. Olivia was happy with her early
race swim positions coming out close to front, however that’s still a work on at higher level races.
The big learning came via her late slot into the World Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships in
Hamburg. After racing five weekends in a row, it was a tall order to hold form, however both Olivia and
Janus lapped up the racing and performed strongly in the early heats and repechage races to cap off five
races in five weeks. It was then time to head back home for the next challenge and study for exams.

Wow, what an epic five weeks I had in my first taste of racing and touring around Europe!
A mixed bag of results for me but for a first timer experiencing this level of competition,
I’m pretty proud with how it all went. – Thornbury on her intensive European schedule

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

87

RACING

The
Big
Race

AUCKLAND DUATHLON

From Mãngere Bridge to Townsville. That’s the giddy journey a swag of the fastest
performers at the Auckland City Tri Club Duathlon Championships in August are still riding.
By Kent Gray | Photos by Auckland City Tri Club

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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

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A

new venue produced
storylines as inspirational
as ever at the Auckland
City Tri Club Duathlon
Championships in August.
After 13 editions in Pukekohe,
the event was shifted to Ambury
Regional Park and the Māngere Bridge
playground did not disappoint.
Two hundred athletes representing
15 clubs and 43 schools competed
in what doubled as the opening
event of the 2023-24 Tri NZ Suzuki
Series, incorporating the NZ Age
Group, Para and Schools Duathlon
Championships.
Up and down the results sheets,
performances popped out. Triathlon
Tauranga’s Andrew Lloyd claimed
the fastest full course time, ticking
off the 5km run, 20km bike, 2.5km
run in a breezy 56:23 to win the 3034 category.
Canterbury Triathlon Club’s Abe
O’Donnell was only a shade slower
– 56:56 – in capturing the hotly
contested 20-24 title from Tauranga’s
Liam Miller, a Long Distance
Aquabike champion at the World
Triathlon Multisport Championships
in Ibiza, Spain in May.
Townsville will host the next
global Multisport Championships
and O’Donnell is set to be there next
August as a first timer at a World
Triathlon event.
All three of the Miller boys – Liam,
brother Blake and their father Paul –
have also qualified for Townsville. As
a medallist in Ibiza, Liam, like twin
Blake who won the 20-24 Aquathlon
world title, automatically earn slots in
Townsville but Liam doubled down
anyway. Paul was 5th in the 50-54th

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89

RACING

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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

The
Big
Race

AUCKLAND DUATHLON

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race at Ambury but within 20 percent
of the winner’s time - owned by
Tauranga clubmate Grant Clifton - so
also punched his ticket to Australia.
New Zealand is set to send a
big team to Townsville after the
remainder of the Suzuki Series plays
out this summer and it will include
AJ Cornwall and his daughters
Hayley and Tayla.
AJ won the 45-49 title at Ambury,
Tayla was 6th in the U16 schools
race while Hayley, also representing
Palmerston North Girls’ High School,
was runner-up to Mt Maunganui
College’s Lulu Johnson in the senior
girls (U19) race.
Finnley Oliver made it a senior
double for Mt Maunganui College
when he captured the U19 boys’
title from Marlborough Boys’ Ryan
Marfell and Westlake Boys’ High
School’s Jett Curteis.
Auckland City Triathlon Club’s
Lisa Cross produced the fastest0
female time of 1:05:10 to win the
40-44 title from Tri NZ Community
Advisor and North Harbour
Triathlon Club’s Anna Russell.
Promising Auckland City junior
Charlotte Brown also shone with a
time of 1:06:12 to capture the 16-19
title and day’s second fastest time.
Steve Donnelly (BV2), Kurt
Peterson (PTS4) and Fiona Southorn
(PTS5) won para titles in impressive
times of 1:26:31, 1:24:24 and
1:19:53 respectively.
The next Tri NZ Suzuki Series
events are the NZ Standard Distance
Triathlon Championships at Gen x
Homes/Marra Tinman in Tauranga
on November 19, and the NZ Mid
Distance Triathlon Championships at
OxMan in Oxford, North Canterbury
on November 26.
OxMan serves as the main Mid
Distance qualifier for Townsville
while Tinman is a qualifier for the
2024 World Triathlon Age Group
Championships in Malaga, Spain
next October.

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91

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HOURS OF ARCHIVE AND ALL NEW
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Abu Dhabi | Yokohama | Cagliari | Montreal |
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Train + Fuel
TQ.Kiwi • YOUR GUIDE TO A FITTER, FASTER & TASTIER TRI LIFE

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Faster
for longer
More run speed?
Tokyo Olympian
Ainsley Thorpe
has three tips
to fast track
that dream.
GO TO PAGE 102

Low Intensity

Brand Believer

Foreign Foodie

Dr. Dan Plews on the
myths and benefits
of zone 2 training

What happens if you
eat Radix Nutrition
for 30 days straight?

Toastie sandwiches
prepped with a hotel
room iron?

GO TO PAGE 94

GO TO PAGE 98

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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

93

TRAIN+FUEL MYTH BUSTING

Zone 2 Training
What’s all the fuss about?
World renowned endurance sports scientist, coach and Ironman age group record breaker
Dr. Dan Plews dispels some of the myths around Zone 2 training and explains how large
volumes of low intensity work can be a game- changer came race day.

94

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

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T

hose of us on social media can’t get
away from the hype and discussion
around so-called “Zone 2” training.
Like many discussions oline, you
might easily be mistaken for thinking
that “Zone 2” training is a brand-new and
somehow magical training construct and
the only way to achieving your endurance
training goals. While that is not the case,
training in Zone 2 is one of the core pillars
of my training philosophy when working
with endurance athletes and long-distance
triathletes in particular.
In this article, I’ll clear up some of the
confusion around Zone 2 training and offer
my rationale for why accumulating
a large volume of low-intensity training
is important.

“...I offer my rationale for why
accumulating a large volume of
low-intensity training is so important.”
What does “Zone 2” mean?
Before discussing why Zone 2 training
might be important, we need to nail
down what it means. In zone 2 training,
athletes and coaches use a five-zone

model of exercise intensity. Zone 1 is
very easy, recovery intensities, and the
transition defines the top of Zone 2 from
physiologically moderate to heavy intensity
exercise. This boundary, which is used
to define the threshold between Zones
2 and 3, is referred to by various names
and estimated using different methods,
e.g., the first ventilatory threshold (VT1),
the lactate threshold (LT or LT1), the gas
exchange threshold (GET), or even the
aerobic threshold (AeT). In science, we
consistently muddy the waters with our
inconsistent terminologies!
So, from a physiological perspective, Zone
2 exercise refers to moderate intensities
characterised by low and stable blood
lactate concentrations, well-controlled
ventilation, and low(ish) perceived effort.
When exercising in Zone 2, you should be
able to hold a conversation relatively easily,
so we might also refer to Zone 2 exercise as a
“conversational” pace. For more information
about establishing the aerobic threshold (the
top of Zone 2), read our previous blog here.
We routinely estimate the power outputs,
running speeds, and heart rates achieved
by individual athletes at this moderate-toheavy intensity transition using the VT1 and
LT methods. One of the fundamental
reasons we do this is to define the upper
intensity of Zone 2, so we can programme
training and monitor the training load
accordingly. Overleaf is an example curve of
blood lactate concentration plotted against
power output obtained from a standard
incremental exercise test with a cyclist. We
identified the power output at the lactate
threshold – the first rise in blood lactate
concentration versus baseline values – and
then used this to define the power outputs
we consider to be in Zone 2.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

95

Blood lactate concentration
(mmol L-1)

TRAIN+FUEL ZONE 2 TRAINING

7

“Maximum metabolic
steady-state”
estimate

6
5
4

“Lactate threshold”
estimate

3
2
1
0
0

50

100

200

200

250

300

350

400

Power (W)
Zone 1

Why train in Zone 2?
A question I am often asked and have asked
myself is, “What is so special about Zone
2?” Why is there such hype around Zone 2
training? This is a good question, and I will
do my best to offer my perspective here.
As an applied exercise physiologist,
I do come straight back to physiology.
We know that when working in the
moderate-intensity domain under the
lactate threshold, and therefore in Zone
2, the physiological stress generated
is characteristically different from the

Zone 2

physiological stress generated above it. For
example, we know that the autonomic
stress generated is lower, reducing the
recovery required following the session
compared to exercise in the heavy or
severe-intensity domains above the
lactate threshold. This was borne out in
a controlled laboratory study of athletes
by Prof. Stephen Seiler. Marco Altini and I
recently demonstrated the same effect in
a big data study of HRV4Training users.
Therefore, regulating and controlling a
significant portion of our training hours

“If the rationale for Zone 2 training is only
about managing stress, why not just rest
between your high-intensity workouts?”
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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Zone 3

Zone 4 Zone 5

below the lactate threshold in Zone 2
facilitates the accumulation of a larger
overall training volume, as these sessions
do not require significant recovery periods.
This is the key rationale behind polarised or
pyramidal training intensity distributions,
discussed by Prof. Stephen Seiler here.
If the rationale for Zone 2 training is
only about managing stress, why not
just rest between your high-intensity
workouts instead? We know intuitively
that accumulating a large overall training
volume is likely to be a good thing, and
we have physiological data to support
this. A recent meta-analysis found that
adaptations to mitochondrial protein
content – the sites of aerobic metabolism
inside cells – is linked to training volume.
More mitochondria will likely allow us to
achieve higher power outputs and running
speeds at the physiological thresholds and,
therefore, faster sustainable paces for our

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endurance events. More mitochondria
also allow us to metabolise fat at faster
rates during exercise. So, accumulating a
large overall training volume, which we
can achieve via careful intensity discipline
whereby a significant amount of training
is performed in Zone 2, likely helps us
generate some of the key adaptations we
seek in our training programmes.
An outstanding study published last year
allows us to put even more meat on the
bone. The study led by McMaster University
in Canada found that 12-week blocks of
low-intensity and sprint interval training
enhanced mitochondrial protein content
in fast-twitch type II fibres, increased
mitochondrial protein content in slow-twitch
type I fibres was only observed after the lowintensity training block. This data, therefore,
suggests that lower-intensity training is
somehow inherently favourable for inducing
mitochondrial adaptations in slow-twitch
fibres and so needs to be included in the
training programme of endurance athletes,
where the performance of slow-twitch
muscle is critical for performance.

It’s not all Zone 2
Hopefully I have demonstrated on the left
why I think accumulating a significant
portion of your training week – perhaps
70-85% - in the so-called “Zone 2” might
be beneficial for endurance athletes. It is

“It is important to recognise here that
in the build-up to an event, we will need
some training at higher intensities...”
important to recognise here that in the
build-up to an event, we will need some
training at higher intensities above the
lactate threshold in Zones 3-5. Highintensity training is great for disturbing
homeostasis, inducing significant stress,
and driving adaptations – some of
which are important and distinct from
the adaptations that occur with Zone 2
training. For example, the meta-analysis
I mentioned above showed that training
intensity is linked to adaptations to
mitochondrial respiratory function. So,
while training volume seems important
for building mitochondrial protein, the
intensity may be important for tuning them
up to work most effectively.
The types of higher-intensity sessions we
perform will vary depending on the goal
of the session and the training block. We
discuss how to programme high-intensity
training at length on our courses and
provide sessions and programmes in
line with my training philosophy in the
Endure IQ Squad.

Summary
Hopefully, you can see why Zone 2 training
– close to but below the lactate threshold
– is a core component of the training
programmes I put together for endurance
athletes, but not the only intensity we use.
Zone 2 training induces relatively little
physiological stress and therefore helps
facilitate the accumulation of a large
overall training volume.
Training volume appears to be linked
to positive adaptations to mitochondrial
protein content, which is some of the
key objectives of endurance training.
Lower-intensity training appears
favourable for building mitochondrial
protein content in the slow-twitch, type I
fibres we rely on in endurance sports.
Higher-intensity training generates
other key adaptations and should
be carefully included within our
training programmes.
Below I have included a series of
Zone 2 training sessions you might
use in your training.

•
•
•
•

If you have VT1 (or LT)

If you don’t have VT1 (or LT)

6-9 sets of 2 min at 85% of VT1 power/
pace, 8 min at 95% of VT1 power/pace

2 min intensity should be easy
8 min intensity should still be
‘conversational’, but require
concentration (~75-85% of FTM)

Long outdoor runs/rides with a HR cap
of VT1

Use the ‘talk test’ – you should be able
to talk in full sentences relatively easily

90+ min at 95% of VT1 HR, including sets
of 7+ x 5 min at 70-75 revs-1

Use the ‘talk test’ – you should be able
to talk in full sentences relatively easily

Get more training tips and individualised plans from Dr. Dan Plews at Endure IQ

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

97

TRAIN+FUEL NUTRITION

I ate Radix for 30 days.
Here’s what happened…
Tri NZ CEO Pete De Wet
decided to put his mouth
where Radix Nutrition’s R&D
money is. What happened in
the month-long experiment
living the brand of Tri NZ’s
Mixed Relay team sponsor?

A

meeting at Radix Nutrition HQ
in Horotiu near Hamilton got
me thinking. The overview of
the pioneering Kiwi company’s
development, and how its products are
helping some of sport’s biggest names
compete on the international stage from
founder and CEO Mike Rudling was
convincing. But how would this translate to

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an average ‘Joe Punter’? How could Radix’s
scientifically-formulated, 100% natural,
freeze dried meals, recovery smoothies
and protein powder assist the humble
weekend warrior, that band of incredible
folk who turn up each week to participate in
triathlon? I knew a guy, one suffering from a
little imposter syndrome, willing to find out.
For the record, it is officially a stretch
to refer to myself as a weekend warrior. I
haven’t been out participating since the Tri
Taranaki Festival in March, the one where
I underestimated the benefit of training
before doing a triathlon. So maybe, I should
rather go with ‘Average Joe’.
Still, the seed had been sown and in
the car on the way back to Auckland, we
hatched a plan. I would attempt to eat
nothing but Radix meals for 30 straight

days. That was going to be 90 freeze
dried meals. Ambitious? Yes, especially
since I was just about to attend the World
Triathlon Congress and WTCS Finals in
Pontevedra, Spain. But hey, what better
way to demonstrate how easy it is to get a
healthy, balanced meal three times a day,
even when travelling to the other side of the
world? All I needed was a jug to boil some
water. How hard could it be?
Back at the office, I duly completed an
order form for 90 meals - with half timed to
arrive before my trip and the balance when
I got back. And here’s where the genius of
Radix and their product began revealing
itself. The very next morning, a courier
dropped off a sturdy box full of product –
less than 24 hours after I placed my initial
order. An impressive start.

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“I did get some strange looks on my
initial Singapore Airlines flight when
I went back to the galley to request
some boiling water for my dinner,
Radix’s tasty Indian Curry…”
Hola Nutrition
Bags packed, I headed off to Spain, a
journey that took 76 hours door to door
due to a number of delayed connections.
Fortunately, I had easy access to a healthy,
nutritious and easily preprepared meal
whenever I needed one.
I did get some strange looks on my initial
Singapore Airlines flight when I went back
to the galley to request some boiling water
for my dinner, Radix’s tasty Indian Curry
which remains my favourite of all the meal
flavours. The flight attendants happily
provided the water but the strange looks I
got when I asked if I could just eat it at the
back with them made me realise it was not

a place where crew wanted to hang with
passengers. But that was ok, the meal in
a bag was still piping hot when I returned
to my seat. With that, I was able to have a
Radix meal at 30,000 feet with very little
fuss. I was now one day in, three meals
down, 87 to go. Easy…
Well, not so much, despite the relative ease
of preparing the meals. Rather, a number of
delays and long hours in the airport meant I
was a little grumpy and preferred to have the
food on offer at the airport, and a cheeky G&T
to help improve my travel weary mood.
Once I arrived at my hotel in Pontevedra,
I was back on track - albeit without a jug
in my room which meant I had to prepare
a few meals with hot water out of the tap.

This worked well for the breakfasts but the
other meals really needed boiling water. Fear
not, for across the road from the hotel was a
general store where I was able to purchase a
collapsible travel jug. No more excuses.

The results
At this point you’re probably going, oh no,
how many more of the remaining 80 odd
meals do we need to read about? Well,
none actually.
I didn’t quite succeed in my attempt to eat
90 Radix meals in 30 days - I fell 13 short.
The results were remarkable nonetheless and
what I found most pleasing was the way I
felt. I was never hungry. I liked most of the
flavours – save for the Falafel option - and was
able to drop 6kgs all up in 30 days. Bonus.
So will I continue to eat Radix meals? Too
right I will. The breakfasts are delicious and
so easy to prepare and the other meals are
easy to pop into your work bag and prepare
on the go.
They’ve helped me shed some of my
winter baggage and so as I prepare to move
from Average Joe to fully (ahem) fledged
Weekend Warrior, Radix is the perfect
partner to help me do that. Give Radix
Nutrition a try. You don’t have to go all-in
like I did but from my experience, even a
little Radix will make a huge difference to
your well-being and performance.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

99

TRAIN+FUEL NUTRITION

Targeting an international event such as a World
Triathlon age group championship or ‘bucket-list’
Ironman, Challenge Family or PTO race? Take
these simple nutrition tips with you.

T

ravelling overseas to race is exciting but
it can also present some challenges.
There are many things to organise;
event registration, transporting
bikes, booking accommodation, flights and
transfers. There may also be language barriers
to navigate. You will want to arrive at your
destination healthy, well-nourished, wellhydrated and well-rested, so you are ready to
perform at your best. Planning your nutrition
will be a key to success.

Prepare for the Journey
Travelling to your destination often
interrupts your usual training routine,
as well as disrupting your normal eating
and sleep patterns. Understand your flight
schedule, including flight travel times and

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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Kim Abbott
is Tri NZ’s Lead Performance
Nutritionist and works as a
Performance Nutritionist at
HPSNZ. She is a NZ Registered
Dietitian and Accredited
Sports Dietitian

length of any stopovers. Check on-line what
foods are available at airports. Airport food
and water can be very expensive, so packing
your own snacks for the flight and stopovers
is a great idea. Be prepared for the time
spent clearing customs on arrival, the travel
time of transfers to your accommodation
and unexpected delays.
Some snack ideas include:
» Freeze-dried meals. Radix Nutrition
has a great variety of breakfasts,
meals and smoothies
» Muesli bars, nuts, dried fruit,
trail mix, bliss balls, pretzels,
beef jerky, pita crisps, crackers
» Small cans of creamed rice,
chickpeas, tuna
» Flavoured milks, juices

Be sure to check what food products you
cannot take into the destination country.
You can find links on the MPI website.
The dry environment of a plane cabin
can lead to dehydration, particularly on
long haul flights. Also, the confined space
increases the risk of exposure of airborne
germs. Saliva contains many antimicrobial
properties that help you fight off airborne
germs. Staying well hydrated, with regular
fluid intake throughout the flight, helps
maintain good saliva flow. Aim to drink
one cup of water for each hour of the
flight. Limit your intake of alcohol and
caffeinated drinks. Carry a personal drink
bottle throughout your journey. Fill it up
every chance you get, particularly prior to
boarding the plane.

PHOTO: ADOBESTOCK

Taking
nutrition
offshore

BACK TO START LIST
Developing a gastrointestinal illness
before the race could impact your ability
to train and compete. If you want to take
leftover food back to your accommodation,
ensure it is refrigerated within 2 hours of
being cooked. If the food is sitting at room
temperature for longer than this, don’t
risk it and throw it away. Know whether
it is safe to drink the water and any other
food hygiene recommendations relevant
to the country. You can find additional
information HERE.

Manage hotel living

Aim to arrive at your destination well
ahead of the race, so you have time to recover
from the travel and acclimatise to your new
environment. Eat and sleep at local times
as soon as possible to help you adjust to the
new time zone. Avoid caffeine after 3pm,
even if you are tired from the journey, as this
may impact on your ability to sleep later.
Eating a high carbohydrate snack before bed
may help you sleep at night.

Know your destination
If you are travelling to an unfamiliar
location, do your research before you
travel. Familiarise yourself with the local
cuisine of the country, particularly the main
carbohydrate and protein food sources. If
you have “go-to” fueling or recovery foods,

pack a supply in your luggage if there is even
a chance it may not be available in the race
country. Investigate what sports foods will
be provided at the race aid stations. Are the
products available in New Zealand so you
can trial them in training before you depart?
If not, take tried and tested products with
you. Do not trial a new product on race day
and risk stomach upsets.
Research what grocery stores are near
your accommodation, along with their
opening hours. If there is nothing close by
or you have limited transport options, look
for an on-line order and delivery service that
can deliver groceries soon after you arrive.
Locate nearby cafes and restaurants and
check out their menus on-line, particularly
if you will be relying on eating out.

“Familiarise yourself with the local
cuisine, particularly the main
carbohydrate and protein food sources.”

Choosing accommodation with a full
kitchen is a great option. Having the
freedom to cook for yourself gives you more
control over your food choices, reducing
the reliance on eating out and convenience
foods. If you are staying in a hotel room,
check what food storage and cooking
facilities will be available. Will the room
have a fridge, microwave, or kettle? Check
this information on the hotel website or
contact the hotel directly if it isn’t clear.
Knowing what you will and won’t have
access to can help you plan any extra items
to pack in your luggage (e.g., a breakfast
cereal bowl, cutlery, keep cup).
Hotel breakfast buffets often provide
a wide variety of options. Aim to eat
only familiar foods prior to the race and
enjoy the unfamiliar local foods once the
competition is over.
If you prefer to prepare your own race
day breakfast, but have limited cooking
facilities, try these inventive ideas:
Use the kettle to boil eggs
Place eggs carefully in a kettle (you need
a kettle without a coil on the bottom). Fill
the kettle with water to ~2.5 cm above the
eggs. Turn the kettle on to boil. Ensure the
kettle turns off as soon as it starts boiling.
Leave the eggs in the kettle for ~10 minutes.
Remove the eggs and place them in cold
water. Peel and eat.
Use the iron to make toast or toasted
sandwiches
Wrap bread in tin foil. Heat the iron to
the highest temperature setting (use a
dry setting, not steam). Place the iron on
top of the tinfoil package and apply light
pressure. After ~3-4 minutes, repeat on the
other side. Unwrap the toast and add your
favourite toppings. This method can also be
used to make toasted sandwiches.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

101

TRAIN+FUEL TIP

102

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

Drilled in speed
Ainsley Thorpe has Oceania Cup, World Cup and World Championship mixed relay silver
medals to show for a 2023 campaign that underlined her steady all-round progression on
the world stage – and highlighted plenty of untapped potential besides. You don’t podium
in elite sprint races without foot speed but the Auckland 25-year-old knows the secret to
close out races isn’t simply a matter of pounding the pavement and racking up the training
miles. Specific drills focused on technique, explosiveness and stamina, vital for when
fatigue inevitably sets in late in important races, is key to unlocking speed. Here Thorpe
shares three drills she regularly works on to help you take your running to the next level.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

103

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Talent Pool
The importance of Birkenhead Leisure
Centre in the rise and rise of NHTC
GO TO PAGE 110

104

Payne Gains

Race Guide

Clydesdale to
OxMan

Tri NZ Suzuki
Series bible

GO TO PAGE 106

GO TO PAGE 108

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Technically
Speaking
Unsung hero
GO TO PAGE 118

PHOTO: SCOTT TAYLOR/SCOTTIET.COM

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TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

105

TRIBE NATION OXMAN PREVIEW

HUGE
Payne
Gains
From Clydesdale to OxMan to
Ironman and onwards, Matt Payne’s
story is a calling card for the
benefits of the healthy tri – and club
- life. The Canterbury Triathlon Club
member shares his inspirational
journey with Kent Gray.

“The thing is, when
you are like really
heavy, you don’t
even realise how
bad you felt.”

t’s no surprise Matt Payne’s training has been a
little “inconsistent” in the countdown to OxMan,
what with him being in the final throws of a PhD in
bioengineering. If he’s honest, it’s been a little tough
getting going again too after all the sacrifice that
went into hearing those immortal words, “You are an
IRONMAN!”, at Taupo in March.
Still, all being equal, the 37-year-old won’t be last in the
5th edition of New Zealand’s newest long course triathlon,
all 115km of it on the outskirts of the picturesque North
Canterbury farming town of Oxford. That’s not meant as a
slight, rather a contextualised doff of TQ’s cap to one most
inspirational triathletes set to line up in the November 25 half.
You see, when Payne committed to racing his first OxMan
not long after the South Island came out of lockdown in early
2021, he tipped the scales at a hefty 136kg. That’s 21½ stone
in old money or 300 pounds in the U.S., where, in 2014, USA
Triathlon cleverly adopted a dedicated ‘Clydesdale’ category
for men over 220 pounds (100kg), alongside a ‘Athenas’
division for females over 165 pounds (75kg).
Fast-forward to today and the former bricklayer turned
adult University of Canterbury student has slashed 30kg en
route to two OxMan medals, a never-to-be-sneezed at time
of 13:25:47 at Ironman New Zealand and a much, much
happier way of life.

“Oh yeah, I feel so much better,” Payne told TQ.
“The thing is, when you are like really heavy, you don’t
even realise how bad you felt. When you lose the weight,
you realise how good you can actually feel…like you don’t
have to stress out if you have to go up three or four flights
of stairs at Uni and stuff like that.
“It’s so nice to go out on a bike ride for four hours where
you could never do that before. Now it’s a really do-able
thing, I can go out and do a really nice ride around the bays
and enjoy the views, whereas before it wouldn’t have even
of been an option.”
The bike leg was the thing Payne feared most ahead of
his 2021 Oxman debut. By the time he been cajoled into
entering the race by pal Chris Cameron, they’d already
been swimming to help Cameron nurse his way back from
a back injury, and then stepped it up with spin classes.
Payne had also run in his early 20s before everyday life –
chiefly helping with the Christchurch rebuild and settling
down with his partner - kept him out of sport for the best
part of 15 years.
That meant he wasn’t overly fazed by the 21.1km run
either but the bike cutoff of 3½ hours was a worry given
he was clocking best efforts of 3h 40min in training.
Payne needn’t have fretted. He knocked the 92km out in
3:26:09 en route to an overall time of 6:52:03 – good enough

I

106

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST
for 71st of the 72 finishers. His placing was irrelevant, the
finishers’ medal a badge of glorious Clydesdale honour.
Having a training partner has been huge in Payne’s
triathlon journey, an intimidating sport permeated with
lithe whippets whizzing with body mass indexes that must
make those with ‘IM’ tattoos even more painful to ink.
The decision to jump on Cameron’s coattails when he
sought out coaching advice was also a masterstoke. The
coach they chose was John Newsom who just happens to
double as OxMan Race Director.
“For me, I think it was having people to go out [and train]
with because I probably wouldn’t have gone on my own,”
Payne says when asked for his advice to others built big.
“You get out and start doing these things and then you
start to realise it’s not that bad and no one really cares what
you look like anyway.
“The next step was having to train under John [Newsom]
because suddenly I felt accountable to someone, like I
had to get the things done. That really helped me to be
consistent and also John was talking a lot about how losing
weight would help so I also felt, maybe not pressure, but I
wanted to lose weight to make it easier.”
Easy it wasn’t, not initially at least. In fact, it never is but
that’s half the fun.
“I had a lot of injuries at the start because I run in a weird
way too, I don’t even put my heels down. So my calf was
taking loads of strain, I had constant injuries, a lot of time
out where I could only do swimming and cycling, then start
bringing walking back in and physio.
“But since the weight has come down, I haven’t had anything
like that. It was hard at the start but it’s all good now.”
Joining the Canterbury Triathlon Club has helped Payne
fast-track his progression to the point where he went from

BEFORE

AFTER

the big guy in the slow lane at the pool to an Ironman.
“They’ve got their spin session and, oh, I’ve got to say
their swimming lessons were awesome too. I learned heaps
so that’s another thing, having that support from Craig
Moore who runs their swimming sessions, just getting
tips every week, every week you get something to work
on. I saw my swim times get way better after six months
of those [sessions].”
That became glaringly and gloriously obvious when
Payne finished last year’s Oxman in 5:36:50. The mammoth
1h 15min difference in 12 months were made up of swim,
bike and run splits that were 5min 10sec, nearly 32mins
and 40mins 40secs slicker respectively. Huge Payne gains
in more ways than one.
Payne describes his decision to turn his back on
bricklaying to study engineering as an early “mid-life crisis”.
His PhD could well end up being lifesaving as he’s specialised
in making low-cost versions of medical equipment that
already exists to make them more accessible.
There aren’t many employment opportunities in that field
in NZ which might eventually necessitate a move to Australia
or even further afield. Mind you, Payne is loving the tri life in
Canterbury and why not with events like The Oxman and the
Sea2Sky Challenge to look forward to each summer.
Full circle back to OxMan then, what’s the goal this
year, Matt?
“To be honest, I’ve been a little inconsistent with training
this year but I’d like to at least maybe match my 5h 36min
time but it might not happen. Since Ironman I’ve been pretty
on and off, I’ve only really picked it up for the last six or seven
weeks consistently. Anything under six hours would be good.”
The Hornby resident has nothing to prove but we’re
guessing he’ll go so again anyway.

“…you start
to realise
it’s not that
bad and no
one really
cares what
you look like
anyway.”
TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

107

TRIBE NATION AGE GROUP ECO-SYSTEM

TRI FOR YOUR COUNTRY!

Don’t dream of wearing the Silver Fern offshore, get to a Tri NZ Suzuki Series race and
make it happen! Our guide to the Tri NZ – World Triathlon eco-system explains all.

NZL World Champs
Selection Info

2024 World Triathlon
Selection Nomination Form

Special Circumstances
Application (SCA)

TAP HERE

TAP HERE

TAP HERE

World Triathlon Age Group Championship

World Triathlon Multisport Championship

World Triathlon Age Group Championships

Pontevedra, Spain – Sept. 22-24

Townsville, Australia – August 14-25, 2023

Malaga, Spain – October, 2024

Pontevedra disciplines Standard Distance
Tri (Non draft), Sprint Distance (Non draft),
Standard Distance Aquabike (Non draft).

Townsville disciplines Aquathlon, Cross
Triathlon, Duathlon Sprint, Duathlon
Standard, Mid Distance Triathlon, Cross
Duathlon, Mid Distance Aquabike

Malaga disciplines Standard Distance
Triathlon, Sprint Distance Triathlon,
Standard Distance Aquabike, Mixed Relay

›› GO TO OFFICIAL WEBSITE

›› GO TO OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Tri NZ Suzuki NZ Qualifying Races
Tinman Triathlon (Nov. 20, 2022)
– Standard Distance Tri RACE REPORT
Canterbury Classic (Jan. 29, 2023)
– Standard Distance Tri RACE REPORT
Kinloch Triathlon Festival (Feb. 11-12, 2023)
– Standard Distance Aquabike RACE REPORT

108

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

›› OFFICIAL WEBSITE TBC

Tri NZ Suzuki Series Qualifying Races
Tri NZ Suzuki Series Qualifying Races
Auckland Duathlon (Aug. 13, 2023)
– Sprint Duathlon AG + Schools
Sprint Distance Tri CLICK HERE
Oxman (Nov. 26, 2023)
– Mid Tri CLICK HERE
Mt Festival of Multsport (Jan. 20, 2024)
– Mid Tri, Mid Aquabike CLICK HERE
Challenge Wanaka (Feb. 17, 2024)
– Cross Tri, Cross Duathlon, Mid Aquabike
CLICK HERE
Kinloch Triathlon Festival (Jan. 20, 2024)
– Aquathlon CLICK HERE

Tinman Triathlon (Nov. 19, 2023)
– Standard Tri CLICK HERE
Kinloch Triathlon Festival (Jan. 20, 2024)
– Standard Aquabike CLICK HERE
World Triathlon Cup Napier (Feb. 25, 2024)
– Sprint Distance
Canterbury Classic (Jan 28, 2024)
– Standard Distance Tri CLICK HERE
Need Help?
If you have any questions or need more
information, contact Tri NZ Community Manager
Mel Saltiel at mel.saltiel@triathlon.kiwi

BACK TO START LIST

TRI NZ SUZUKI SERIES

Tri NZ Suzuki Series
Your Best Year EVER!
1.

The Tri NZ Suzuki Series has a race for athletes of all ages and every stage
of triathlon. It doesn’t matter if you are racing for the first time, a PB or World
Triathlon Age Group Championship selection, you won’t regret getting involved.
The 2023-24 series features triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, cross
triathlon and cross duathlon races for 18 national titles (at each age group
level), spread across 10 events and 11 race days from August 2023 to late
March 2024. Here you’ll find all the info you need including 2024 World
Triathlon Age Group Championship qualification requirements.

Auckland Duathlon Championships
August 13, 2023 (Ambury Regional
Park, Mangere Bridge)

2024 World Triathlon
Multisport World
Championships
Townsville, Australia
(August 14-25)

Suzuki NZ Sprint Duathlon
Championships (Townsville)
Suzuki NZ Sprint Duathlon Schools
Championship (Townsville)

1

QUALIFYING INFO

2

Suzuki NZ Sprint Duathlon Para
Championship
ENTRY INFO

5

2.

34
6
7

Gen X/Marra Tinman Triathlon
November 19, 2023 (Pilot Bay,
Mt Maunganui)
Suzuki NZ Standard Distance
Triathlon Championships
(Malaga)

ENTRY INFO

8
9

3.

Fulton Hogan Mt Festival
of Multisport
January 20, 2024 (Pilot Bay,
Mt Maunganui)

10

Suzuki NZ North Island
Mid Distance Aquabike
Championships* (Townsville)

9.

The OxMan
November 26, 2023 (Oxford, North
Canterbury)

4.

6.

Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand
March 2, 2024 (Taupo)

Seven Oaks Kinloch Triathlon
Festival
February 10-11, 2024
(Kinloch, Taupo)

Suzuki NZ Long Distance
Triathlon Championship

Suzuki NZ Aquathlon
Championships (Feb 10th/
Townsville)

7.

ENTRY INFO

The Canterbury Classic
January 28, 2024 (Corsair Bay, Lyttelton)

ENTRY INFO

REGISTER HERE

Suzuki NZ Standard Distance
Aquabike Championships
(Feb 11th/Malaga)

8.

Suzuki NZ South Island Standard
Distance Triathlon Championships*
(Malaga)

Suzuki NZ North Island
Mid Distance Triathlon
Championships* (Townsville)

5.

QUALIFYING INFO

Eligibility Requirements

Suzuki NZ Para Sprint Triathlon
Championships

RHCNZ NZ Schools
Championships
March 21-22 (Mt Maunganui)

2024 World
Triathlon Age Group
Championship Finals
Malaga, Spain
(October 2024 TBC)

ENTRY INFO

World Triathlon Cup Napier
February 25, 2024 (Ahuriri
Beach, Napier)
Suzuki NZ Sprint Distance
Triathlon Championships (Malaga)

Suzuki NZ Mid Distance Triathlon
Championships (Townsville)

On selection race day you
must be:
• A citizen or permanent resident
of NZ or have been residing in
NZ for minimum of 12 months
• A current member of Tri NZ (join
TRIBE HERE) One Day and Social
member excluded, or
• Be a current member of a Tri
NZ Affiliated Club
• Nomination forms must be
submitted within 48 hours
post qualifier

Slot Allocation
One qualifying event: 16 spots
per age-group, per gender
and 4 Special Circumstances
Two qualifying events: 12
spots per age-group at the
NZ Championship, *6 spots
at the North or South Island
Championships and 2 Special
Circumstances

ENTRY INFO

10.

Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka
February 17, 2024 (Glendhu Bay,
Lake Wanaka)
Suzuki NZ Mid Distance Aquabike
Championships (Townsville)
Suzuki NZ Cross Triathlon
Championships (Townsville)
Suzuki NZ Cross Duathlon
Championships (Townsville)
ENTRY INFO

Qualification Standards
At the qualifier, you must:
• finish within 20% of the
gendered age group winners time
• finish within the number of
allocated slots (based on AG
finished position)
The exception to the 20%
threshold is where the winner
finishes 5/10/15 minutes or more
ahead of second place. In this
instance, the 20% threshold is
taken from the second-place
getters time.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

109

TRIBE NATION CLUB LIFE

Founded 1984
Clubrooms Birkenhead Leisure Centre & Summer Training +
Takapuna Boating Club
Membership 220 members approx
nhtc.org.nz
NorthHarbourTriathlonClub
northharbourtriathlonclub
Key Club People:
President Amanda Chambers
Head Coach Stephen Farrell
Event Director Adam Pogson
110

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

W

hat makes your club special? Fit For Fun, run by
Stephen Farrell, has provided an outstanding
variety of training sessions for North Harbour
Triathlon since forever. Nothing will better
prepare you for a season of racing than our Saturday
Summer brick sessions run from the Takapuna Boating
club. We’d say that is ‘unique’. But what makes our club
stand out is the remarkable generosity our members bring
to the table. If you are on a roll, we’re all aboard the hype
train, cheering, celebrating, and pushing each other to the
limit, and conversely if you’re down, we’ve got you. There
are countless examples of our members freely sharing their
professional and personal know-how, giving their time,
lending their muscles, gear, and unwavering support.
It’s the sense of community that we are proud of, the ways
that we come together. That makes our club truly special.

BACK TO START LIST

TQ FOCUS

North Harbour
Triathlon Club
A brief NHTC’s history lesson?
In 1979, Les Mills World of Fitness ran the first known
triathlon in New Zealand. It was called the Les Mills
Ironman and was to coincide with the opening of the
new Les Mills Gym in Victoria Street. In 1985, two
ex-Navy triathletes, Dave Robertson (radio director
for the first IMNZ) and Phil Briars (Les Mills employee)
started up a triathlon based in Narrowneck Beach.
There were two triathlons each year - the Magic FM
Tri in March (later the Britannia Tri) and the Avanti
Icebreaker Tri in November.
This group of triathletes were originally known as the
Les Mills North Harbour Triathlon Club. In 1988 they were
inaugurated as the North Harbour Triathlon Club. First
President was Bob Aylward who went on to chair Tri NZ
at one stage. Secretary was Robyn Briars.

The Mon Desir Aquathon Series started in 1986 and
was run by Briars. It started outside the Mon Desir Hotel,
Takapuna Beach and ran every second week to coincide
with the tides (as it still does). It is now known as the
North Harbour Triathlon Club Swim & Run Series and
is sponsored by Barfoot and Thompson, Milford. It is the
longest continuous running aquathon series in NZ. In
winter, the Mon Desir mid-winter aquathon was held. On
Christmas day, Briars’ Christmas Triathlon turned into a
Christmas Day swim, run and carol singing at Takapuna
Beach. On Sunday mornings, the club swam at Takapuna
Pool under swim coach Ric Wells, the inaugural World
champ, then we biked and ran.
NHTC also organised the Pack’n’Pedal 100k cycle
race in late summer and duathlons from Kristen School
in the winter.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

111

TRIBE NATION CLUB LIFE

Stephen Farrell, Liam Bird, Linda Collard, Laura Quilter, Billy Bowman

Amanda Chambers & Aleksa Westfal

Takapuna Beach

Rangitoto Challange

112

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

“It’s the sense of community
that we are proud of,
the ways that we come
together. That’s what makes
our club truly special ”
.

Adam Pogson

Stephen Farrell

Swimrun

What does a normal week look like for members? We have three
official morning swims and three official evening swims, all
at Osborne Pool, Birkenhead. We have two stationary bike
classes - one at Birkenhead Leisure Centre and one on-line
via Zwift. We have a three-hour swim/bike/run training
session every Saturday except Christmas Day. In the winter,
our Saturday training is at Birkenhead Leisure Centre and in
the summer we’re at Takapuna Beach. There are also many
informal training sessions and training weekends, usually
organised by small groups of similar abilities.
Tell us about your special relationship with Birkenhead Leisure
Centre? NHTC has been based at the Birkenhead Leisure
Centre before it was the Birkenhead Leisure Centre, close
to 30 years. The partnership is centred around a common
goal: Making our community a healthier, more active place.
Though our approaches may differ, our shared love for
sports make us a great team.

We have every kind of athlete. High performance, short
course, long course, weekend warriors, the fit for fun, the
serious and the not so serious.
When an athlete takes on a challenge to be the best they
can be, most quickly realise it’s not just about them as an
individual and that it takes the proverbial village. Our village
is made up of coaches, training buddies, local businesses,
local people and of course for us, The Birkenhead Leisure
Centre. The best part is that everyone in the village is proud
to be part of that journey. The sentiment of these relationship
is nicely summed up by newly appointed Birkenhead Leisure
Centre Manager Michal Janousek.
“We’re proud to work with North Harbour Triathlon
Club and to provide the facilities and support to the
team’s training to help them succeed on the world stage.
Birkenhead Leisure Centre is committed to providing
a welcoming and inclusive environment to a variety of
community sports groups to promote health, wellness,
and excellence in sport. We believe that by working
together, we can empower individuals to pursue their
athletic dreams, and build a stronger, more vibrant
community through the transformative power of sport.”
We are really looking forward to working more
collaboratively with Michal and the team. Initiatives include
shared promotion of each other’s services and as a club we
have a few options in place to temp the centre staff to train
with our squads, hopeful we might see a few of the crew at
our Takapuna Swim Run Series this summer.

What are your big races each year? NHTC’s Swim-Run series is
New Zealand’s longest running event of its kind. The first
series was held in themed- 1980s and has been running
ever since. Held at Takapuna Beach, it is a nine-race series,
held every other Wednesday over the summer months.
Swims range from 500-1000m and runs from 3-5km.
Club competition at is best, a great event for all levels.
NHTC’s famous alumni? Over the Olympic distance, Hamish
Carter and Bevan Docherty both trained with NHTC at
Birkenhead Pool. Over the Ironman distance, Rebecca
Clarke and Hannah Berry spent many years training with
NHTC and retired Ironman and Tri NZ staffer Anna Russell
still trains with us. Recently retired Olympian, Simone
Ackermann, did most of her NZ training with NHTC athletes
in her build-up to her Tokyo Olympic Games campaign
where she finished 17th in the individual triathlon.

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

113

TRIBE NATION CLUB LIFE

BACK TO START LIST

Rangitoto Boxing Day

Mila Laarakkers

Tell us about a couple of junior members we should look out for? Our
winners for the Best Junior Male and Female this year are
Cameron Maunder and Mila Laarakkers. Both are fantastic
athletes and great young people…definitely ones to watch!
Cameron Maunder
1st - Auckland Schools Aquathon (Senior boys); Auckland
Schools Duathlon Champs (U19); NZSS Duathlon Champs
1st (U19).
2nd - NZ Cross Country Champs (U20); Australian Cross
Country Champs (U17); NZSS Athletics Champs 3000m
3rd - NZSS Cross Country Champs 3rd (Senior Boys);
4th - NZSS Athletics Champs 1500m (Senior Boys)
Selected for 2023 World Cross Country Champs (U20)
Mila Laarakkers
Overall winner at the Kai Iwi Lakes Triathlon, 2nd place in
the Tri NZ Junior Series, 3rd NZ Duathlon Championships
(2022 and 2023), 1st place at Surf Breaker and 2nd female at
the Manawatu Tri League. And her biggest win – a brandnew Suzuki Swift as the winner of the Tri NZ Suzuki Series
prize draw!

114

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Cameron Maunder

Tell us about a club member who epitomises all that is great about
your club and triathlon? We are fortunate to have many of the
well-known triathlon community characters at NHTC. Billy
Bowman must get a mention here. Billy brings a sense of
adventure and fun to everything he does – anyone who can
turn a work commute into a multisport event and arrive at
the finish line with a smile on their face gets the vote for
someone who epitomises all that is great about triathlon.
In the spirit of reflecting what makes NHTC special, we’d
also like to highlight a couple of our quieter gems – Neil
Millar and Bex Grace. Both of these fantastic people really
extend themselves for our club and the sport of triathlon in
general. We are proud to have two of our club members as
board members for Tri NZ and appreciate the extra time and
dedication this takes over and above having young families,
busy professional lives and somehow managing to find time
to train and race with us. We appreciate and thank them for
their community spirit and generosity. People like Bex and
Neil epitomises all that is great the club and triathlon. Good
people, cracking on and getting the work done.

TRIBE NATION CLUB LIFE

BACK TO START LIST

There’s no better place to fuel your passion than at a Tri
NZ-affiliated club. Great people, inspirational training
opportunities and epic races abound. Click on the club
nearest you and get involved in the Tribe Nation*!

Hibiscus Coast Harriers
& Triathlon Club
Waitakere Triathlon
& Multisport Club
North Harbour
Triathlon Club

Join
the
Tribe
Nation
*A Tri NZ ‘Tribe’
membership allows you
to race national and
international events
including World Triathlon
events, plus receive
regular updates from the
national body.

North Island

Auckland City Tri Club
Hamilton Tri Club
Team Shorebreak
Triathlon Tauranga
Rotorua Ass. of Triathlon
& Multisport (RATS)
Eastern BoP Triathlon
& Multisport Club
Taranaki
Triathlon Club
Tri Sport Taupo
Eastland Triathlon
& Multisport Club
Whanganui
Multisport Club
Tri Hawke’s Bay
Triathlon
Manawatu
Kapiti Running
& Tri Club
Wellington
Triathlon Club

South Island
Marlborough Triathlon
& Multisport Club
Triathlon Nelson

Become a TO
Officiate at NZ, Oceania,
World Triathlon, Comm
Games and even
the Olympics via
Tri NZ’s Technical
Official program.

Canterbury
Triathlon Club
South Canterbury
Pacers
Tri Wanaka
Oamaru Multisport
Club
Dunedin Tri Club
Southland Triathlon
& Multisport Club

116

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Coaching
Find out about Tri
NZ’s Foundation
Level Coaching
Accreditation

TRIBE NATION TO SPOTLIGHT

‘Help make
the sport
come alive...’
Selfless Hibiscus
Coast volunteer Lisa
Shingleton became a
Technical Official by
chance more than a
decade ago. With each
passing season, she’s
increasingly glad for
the happenstance.

118

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

L

isa Shingleton is an endurance
runner undaunted by race
distances as challenging as
50km but hasn’t yet been
tempted to tag a swim and bike onto
her main sporting passion to become
a triathlete.
What she does know about the
three-in-one sport are the rich
rewards on offer to anyone willing to
put in the hard mahi – even if a rules
manual rather than a wetsuit and
race bike is part of your kit bag.

ABOVE: When
Singleton isn’t
volunteering,
you’ll likely find
her training for
long distance
running events

The dedicated Whangaparaoabased Technical Official (TO) is
only too happy to be a poster girl
for the oft unheralded and much
underappreciated side of triathlon
after stumbling into the role in 2010.
Shingleton’s parents ran a Wise
Walking club on the Hibiscus Coast
at the time which saw their daughter
happily roped in, as is the selfless
lot of volunteers, to marshal at a
women’s duathlon in Orewa. There,
a conversation with noted TO Carla
Riley eventually led her to taking
intro courses and the rest, as she
says, is a “fun” history in triathlon
that leads us to today.
The Stanmore Bay resident
recently undertook a World
Triathlon level 2 TO course in
Brisbane. The fresh knowledge will
undoubtedly come in handy during
a busy domestic summer, on to the
Ironman 70.3 World Championships
at Taupo in December next year and
events beyond.
So what would you say to someone
considering giving officiating a go,
other than the fact it could very well
lead to a role at events like the world
championships?
“It’s interesting and you get out
as much as you want to put in
basically,” Shingleton continued
“If you’re quite happy doing
various events and always putting
your hand up and saying I’ll do
whatever role you want me to,
then you can get some really good
experiences. You meet some lovely
people, you get an insight of what
it’s like to actually run the events but
also how hard it is for the athletes.”
Those lump-in-the throat
moments are a rich and reoccurring
source of satisfaction.
“It’s an enjoyment from seeing
people accomplish their goals,”
Singleton says when asked to
pinpoint her love of not just being
a TO in triathlon but volunteering
at other sporting events as well.
“I’ve TO’d at quite a few Ironman
events and to see them come in late,
they’ve slogged their guts out and
they’ve crossed the line and they

BACK TO START LIST

“…everyone says it, and I
don’t think people really
take it to heart, but without
volunteers, events will
never happen.”
Interested in
becoming a TO?
CLICK
HERE
TODAY!

burst into tears, it’s a special moment
you get to share with them in a way.”
Sacrifice is the very DNA of
volunteering and it’s no different
in triathlon as Shingleton notes.
“You’ve got to do it because you
enjoy it otherwise, if you’re looking
for a [fiscal] reward you are in the
wrong place.”
The recompence is a front row seat
to elite sport and the camaraderie
of your fellow officials, including
many hilarious “what happens on
course, stays on course” moments as
Singleton says with a laugh. It’s also
the satisfaction of a job well done.
“I’ve known a few different friends
that have done events and they
realise how much the training takes

TOP: Shingleton
with the Voice
of Ironman,
Mike Reilly
ABOVE: A run
in the company
of Tri NZ patron
Garth Barfoot
TOP RIGHT:
Keeping a close
tab on transition
at World Cup
New Plymouth

and then when they get across the
finish line, they realise how much all
the background work takes as well.
“All the volunteers handing them
a bottle of water or making sure
they’re going the right way on the
course, they don’t think about when
they’re training.”
At school, Shingleton proved herself
a versatile netballer, mostly a goal
keep or goal shoot but also able to
cover wing attack or wing defence.
Nowadays running is her sporting
thing but she’d never imagined either
sport could have taken her to say,
the Commonwealth Games. Being
a triathlon TO just might.
“If I was lucky one day to maybe
attend a Commonwealth Games or
something like that…but again, for
me it’s learning more, understanding
how some of these big events happen
and meeting new people and gaining

more experiences,” said Singleton
who has already combined family
holidays to the UK with volunteering
at races.
“It’s fun, a different sort of fun.
Some of it’s hard work but then you
also get some fun times as well. You’re
making new friends, you’re meeting
new people. It can be quite a laugh…”
More serious is the need for
volunteers to step forward in our
busy world to keep sport ticking over.
“If you’re happy to be a behind the
scenes person in a way, and help a
sport, if you’ve got kids that are out
there doing sports and it’s not quite
your cuppa tea, then try being on
the other side of the fence.
“Try helping to make that sport
come alive because everyone says it,
and I don’t think people really take
it to heart, but without volunteers,
events will never happen.”

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

119

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB

Name
game
Results from the big races across NZ
and around the world during the past
quarter, including the Tri NZ Suzuki Series,
WTCS, World Triathlon Cup, Ironman, PTO,
Challenge Family and Super League.

WORLD TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP
SERIES (WTCS)
WTCS ABU DHABI
Abu Dhabi, UAE - March 3, 2023

Swim 750m | Bike 20.16km | Run 5.16km
Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Alex Yee (GBR)
2 Vasco Vilaca (POR)
3 Manoel Messias (BRA)
Also
30 Kyle Smith (NZL)
46 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Beth Potter (GBR)
2 Sophie Coldwell (GBR)
3 Taylor Spivey (USA)
Also
17 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

09:20
09:17
09:40

01:14
01:14
01:14

27:33
27:35
27:15

00:23
00:22
00:27

14:26
14:32
14:32

52:53
52:59
0:53:06

09:19
09:39

01:15
01:12

27:31
37:31

00:19
00:23

15:36
14:42

0:53:59
0:55:24

09:40
09:27
09:35

01:18
01:28
01:19

29:52
29:54
29:55

00:24
00:23
00:24

16:46
17:04
17:18

57:56
58:14
58:27

10:00

01:24

30:11

00:23

17:14

59:10

Elite Women
1 Sophie Coldwell (GBR)
2 Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX)
3.Taylor Knibb (USA)
Also
27 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)
43 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)

18:38
18:47
18:37

01:06
01:02
01:10

59:31
59:27
59:29

00:26
00:27
00:31

33:53
34:08
34:17

1:53:32
1:53:49
1:54:02

19:35
19:53

01:06
01:08

1:01:05
1:01:48

00:31
00:25

34:33
36:09

1:56:48
1:59:21

WTCS CAGLIARI
Cagliari, Italy - May 27, 2023

WTCS YOKOHAMA
Yokohama, Japan - May 13, 2023

Swim 1500m | Bike 38km | Run 10km

Swim 1500m | Bike 40.05km | Run 10km

Pos Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

Elite Men
1 Alex Yee (GBR)
2 Hayden Wilde INZL)
3 Léo Beregere (FRA)

17:22
17:22
17:23

00:36
00:38
00:39

49:38
49:36
49:34

00:23
00:23
00:20

28:31
28:35
29:11

1:36:28
1:36:33
1:37:04

Elite Women
1 Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR)
2 Emma Lombatdi (FRA)
3 Taylor Spivey (GBR)

18:18
18:11
18:17

00:38
00:39
00:38

54:41
54:46
54:41

00:23
00:23
00:24

32:45
33:10
33:38

1:46:43
1:47:06
1:47:36

Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
2 Matthew Hauser (AUS)
3 Vasco Vilaca (POR)
Also
26 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
31 Tayler Reid (NZL)

120

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

17:26
17:13
17:22

00:59
01:01
01:03

53:57
54:13
53:59

00:23
00:23
00:33

29:30
29:29
29:24

1:42:13
1:42:17
1:42:18

17:15
17:44

01:00
01:00

54:17
53:47

00:22
00:28

31:29
32:35

1:44:21
1:45:31

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST
WTCS MONTREAL

Pos Nation

Montreal, Canada - June 24, 2023

Leg 2

Leg 3

Leg 4

Time

3 Switzerland
19:12
21:31
19:54
21:59
1:22:35
NB: Team NZL order - Hayden Wilde, Ainsley Thorpe, Tayler Reid, Nicole van der Kaay

Swim 750m | Bike 20.16km | Run 5km
Pos Name

Leg 1

Swim

Elite Men
1 Matthew Hauser (AUS)
2 Manoel Messias (BRA)
3 Jelle Geens (BEL)
Also
14 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
20 Tayler Reid (NZL)
46 Kyle Smith (NZL)

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

08:32
08:32
08:29

01:42
01:40
01:44

29:10
28:44
28:40

00:32
00:36
00:34

14:32
14:29
14:38

53:47
53:58
54:02

08:23
08:13
08:36

01:49
01:45
01:45

28:43
28:58
28:35

00:34
00:34
00:35

15:09
15:31
18:27

54:36
54:58
57:55

09:22
09:09
08:54

01:47
01:55
01:55

30:17
30:25
30:21

00:37
00:38
00:36

16:08
16:08
16:35

58:10
58:12
58:19

09:11
09:08
09:31

01:56
01:54
01:49

30:56
30:24
32:36

00:37
00:35
00:39

17:38
18:31
17:43

1:00:16
1:00:30
1:02:16

U23/Junior Mixed Relay
1 Germany
19:58
22:43
20:00
22:22
1:25:02
2 Italy
19:37
23:16
19:46
22:33
1:25:10
3 New Zealand
19:38
22:27
20:31
23:11
1:25:45
NB: Team NZL order - Dylan McCullough, Brea Roderick, Saxon Morgan, Hannah Knighton

WTCS SUNDERLAND
Sunderland, England - July 29-30, 2023

Swim 750m | Bike 20.3km | Run 5km

Elite Women
1 Beth Potter (GBR)
2 Leonie Periault (FRA)
3 Summer Rappaport (USA)
Also
30 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)
34 Brea Roderick (NZL)
42 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)

WTCS HAMBURG (WORLD TRIATHLON SPRIT & RELAY
CHAMPIONSHIPS)

Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Pierre Le Corre (FRA)
2 Léo Bergere (FRA)
3 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
Also
12 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
18 Tayler Reid (NZL)
33 Saxon Morgan (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

08:59
08:53
09:02

00:46
00:40
00:39

29:14
29:15
29:18

00:32
00:34
00:30

14:37
14:46
14:55

54:06
54:06
54:21

08:56
08:57
08:59

00:41
00:39
00:42

29:21
29:13
29:22

00:35
00:36
00:39

15:14
15:37
16:40

54:44
54:59
56:20

Hamburg, Germany - July 13-16, 2023

Swim 300m | Bike 7.5km | Run 1.75km
Pos Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

03:48
03:44
03:47

00:27
00:29
00:27

09:59
10:30
10:01

00:19
00:22
00:21

04:55
04:53
04:54

19:26
19:28
19:28

03:40
03:54
03:38
03:55

00:30
00:30
00:27
00:28

10:10
10:04
10:23
09:55

00:20
00:23
00:21
00:27

05:08
05:43
05:27
05:50

19:47
20:32
20:14
20:33

09:10
09:34
09:28

00:28
00:30
00:30

26:33
26:01
26:10

00:26
00:23
00:24

14:37
14:48
14:45

51:11
51:14
51:16

09:19
09:22

00:30
00:37

26:19
26:17

00:25
00:25

15:44
16:36

52:16
53:14

04:05
04:07
04:05

00:32
00:34
00:31

11:08
11:03
11:09

00:22
00:22
00:23

05:32
05:42
05:41

21:35
21:45
21:47

04:12
04:07
04:04
04:14

00:33
00:32
00:33
00:29

11:00
10:54
11:00
10:51

00:23
00:25
00:24
00:25

05:51
06:05
06:16
06:33

21:57
22:01
22:15
22:31

09:51

00:33

28:36

00:30

17;19

56:47

10:23
10:13

00:32
00:33

28:09
28:17

00:32
00:26

17:21
17:37

56:54
57:02

10:54
11:31

00:33
00:37

29:22
00:00

00:24
00:00

18:31
00:00

59:43
DNF

Pos Nation

Leg 1

Leg 2

Leg 3

Leg 4

Time

Mixed Relay
1 Germany
2 New Zealand

18:58
19:11

21:42
21:35

19:34
19:28

21:55
22:14

1:22:08
1:22:27

Elite Men
1 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
2 Vasco Vilaca (POR)
3 Alex Yee (GBR)
Also
11 Tayler Reid (NZL)
27 Janus Staufenberg (NZL)
45 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
52 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
Junior Men (U19)
1 João Nuno Batista (POR)
2 Nils Serre Gehri (FRA)
3 Mathis Beaulieu (CAN)
Also.
23 Benjamin Airey (NZL)
46 Finnley Oliver (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
2 Beth Potter (GBR)
3 Laura Lindemann (GER)
Also
6 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)
21 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)
41 Brea Roderick (NZL)
44 Olivia Thornbury (NZL)
Junior Women
1 Ilona Hadhoum (FRA)
2 Jimena Renata De La
Peña Schott (MEX)
3 Manon Laporte (FRA)
Also
25 Sophie Spencer (NZL)
DNF Hannah Prosser (NZL)

Elite Women
1 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
2 Emma Lombardi (FRA)
3 Annika Koch (GER)
Also
8 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)
28 Brea Roderick (NZL)
42 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)

09:20
09:28
09:31

00:41
00:41
00:41

33:09
32:58
32:55

00:35
00:34
00:38

16:10
16:33
16:34

59:53
1:00:11
1:00:17

09:33
09:40
09:54

00:44
00:46
00:46

32:54
32:47
34:46

00:38
00:35
00:35

16:52
18:53
18:40

1:00:38
1:02:39
1:04:39

Pos Nation

Leg 1

Leg 2

Leg 3

Leg 4

Time

Mixed Relay
1 France
20:25
22:54
20:28
23:07
1:26:53
2 Great Britain
20:25
22:46
20:38
23:28
1:27:16
3 Norway
20:22
23:06
20:20
23:40
1:27:27
Also
4 New Zealand
20:21
23:07
20:15
24:01
1:27:42
NB: Team NZL order - Tayler Reid, Ainsley Thorpe, Hayden Wilde, Brea Roderick (Snr debut)

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

121

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB
PARIS OLYMPIC TEST EVENT (WTCS)

WTCS PONTEVEDRA
(WORLD TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS)

Paris, France - July 13-16, 2023

Pontevedra, Spain - September 23-24

Swim 1500m | Bike 40km | Run 10km
Swim 1500m | Bike 39.8km | Run 10km
Pos Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time
Pos Name

Elite Men
1 Alex Yee (GBR)
2 Vasco Vilaca (POR)
3 Dorian Coninx (FRA)
Also
25 Tayler Reid (NZL)
49 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
DNF Hayden Wilde (NZL)

18:32
19:03
18:23

00:48
00:48
00:55

52:17
51:45
52:17

00:25
00:24
00:28

29:00
29:15
29:14

1:41:02
1:41:15
1:41:15

18:20
18:32
19:18

00:50
00:51
00:46

52:28
52:17
51:31

00:28
00:29
00:25

31:07
33:10
00:00

1:43:10
1:45:15
DNF

Elite Women
1 Beth Potter (GBR)
2 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
3 Laura Lindemann (GER)
Also
17 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)
24 Brea Roderick (NZL)
26 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)

20:17
19:52
19:57

00:51
00:56
00:58

57:07
57:25
57:18

00:29
00:27
00:29

32:57
33:07
33:18

1:51:40
1:51:46
1:51:59

20:11
20:13
21:10

00:56
00:57
00:57

57:08
57:06
59:02

00:28
00:29
00:28

35:30
37:26
34:39

1:54:11
1:56:08
1:56:15

Pos Nation

Leg 1

Leg 2

Leg 3

Leg 4

Time

16:01
16:01
15:59

19:02
19:17
19:08

18:00
17:48
17:31

19:16
19:14
19:59

1:12:18
1:12:19
1:12:36

16:10

19:21

17:40

20:21

1:13:30

Mixed Relay*
1 Germany
2 Great Britain
3 Belgium
Also
13 New Zealand

*Reduced to a Duathlon due to River Seine water quality

122

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Elite Men
1 Dorian Coninx (FRA)
2 Tim Hellwig (GER)
3 Pierre Le Corre (FRA)
Also
10 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
21 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
40 Tayler Reid (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

18:03
18:09
18:00

01:15
01:13
01:15

52:56
52:53
53:00

00:25
00:25
00:24

29:46
29:44
29:45

1:42:22
1:42:22
1:42:22

18:47
18:25
18:07

01:09
01:14
01:13

53:02
52:38
52:57

00:23
00:26
00:25

29:57
31:18
33:47

1:43:17
1:44:00
1:46:26

01:11
01:08
01:13

54:21
54:21
54:21

00:24
00:21
00:25

31:05
31:18
31:25

1:45:18
1:45:30
1:45:42

01:13
01:16

54:09
54:05

00:30
00:25

33:04
33:51

1:47:27
1:48:09

19:58
19:59
19;49

01:19
01:20
01:19

58:13
58:09
58:22

00:25
00:27
00:28

33:26
33:44
33:54

1:53:19
1:53:37
1:53:50

20:41
20:07
20:13

01:24
01:20
01:27

1:00:49
58:16
58:03

00:29
00:27
00:28

35:06
38:36
39:39

1:58:27
1:58:45
1:59:49

01:32
01:32
01:37

1:02:17
1:01:53
1:02:04

00:26
00:28
00:31

0:34:59
0:34:57
0:35:27

1:57:48
1:57:50
1:58:25

01:334
01:33
01:37

1:02:07
1:02:14
1:05:27

00:26
00:33
00:30

0:39:32
0:40:08
0:44:25

2:02:24
2:03:10
2:11:52

U23 Men’s World Championship
1 Simon Henseleit (GER)
18:19
2 Baptiste Passemard (FRA)
18:34
3 Mitch Kolkman (NED)
18:20
Also
15 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
18:34
19 Lachlan Haycock (NZL)
18:34
Elite Women
1 Beth Potter (GBR)
2 Kate Waugh (GBR)
3 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
Also
37 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)
39 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)
46 Eva Goodisson (NZL)

U23 Women’s World Championship
1 Selina Klamt (GER)
18:36
2 Maria Tomé (POR)
19:02
3 Angelica Prestia (ITA)
18:47
Also
21 Brea Roderick (NZL)
18:47
23 Hannah Knighton (NZL)
18:45
46 Hannah Howell (NZL)
19:55

BACK TO START LIST
WORLD CUP NEW PLYMOUTH
Ngamotu Beach, New Plymouth - March 26, 2023

Swim 750m | Bike 20km | Run 5km
Pos Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

09:21
09:12
09:01

00:40
00:38
00:38

31:02
31:15
31:27

00:22
00:21
00:22

14:30
15:05
15:03

0:55:57
0:56:32
0:56:32

09:12
09:32
09:30
09:03
09:44
09:44
09:47
09:42
09:40

00:38
00:36
00:38
00:38
00:38
00:38
00:42
00:37
00:40

31:17
32;10
32:13
32:44
32:02
32:04
31:57
33:49
35:55

00:21
00:21
00:21
00:22
00:23
00:25
00:25
00:21
00:00

15:04
14:44
15:21
15:25
15:37
16:59
17:22
16:15
00:00

0:56:34
0:57:25
0:58:04
0:58:15
0:58:25
0:59:53
1:00:16
1:00:46
DNF

10:00
10:02
10:24

00:44
00:43
00:44

35:36
35:35
35:14

00:23
00:22
00:25

16:12
16:21
16:26

1:02:57
1:03:06
1:03:14

10:04
10:27
09:55
10:37
10:26
10:40
10:23
10:35
12:06

00:43
00:42
00:47
00:48
00:45
00:48
00:46
00:55
00:52

35:34
35:11
37:15
37:40
37:54
37:34
NA
40:08
42:19

00:25
00:22
00:23
00:27
00:32
00:27
NA
00:26
00:30

16:56
17:24
18:36
18:02
19:24
20:20
NA
20:12
19:28

1:03:44
1:04:08
1:06:58
1:07:36
1:09:03
1:09:51
1:10:19
1:12:19
1:15:16

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

08:55
08:52
09:05

00:50
00:52
00:50

29:09
29:07
29:00

00:18
00:17
00:20

15:01
15:05
15:02

54:13
54:14
54:17

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

0:56:36

00:51
00:56
00:54

32:12
32:33
32:25

00:19
00:26
00:22

16:47
17:14
17:23

1:00:31
1:01:04
1:01:11

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

08:45
08:50
08:48

00:57
00:54
00:55

27:42
27:41
27:42

00:20
00:22
00:22

14:36
14:41
14:48

52:18
52:26
52:32

09:01
09:13

00:56
00:55

27:31
27:55

00:23
00:22

15:28
15:10

53:17
53:35

10:04
09:59
09:28

01:02
00:59
01:05

30:39
30:46
31:15

00:28
00:25
00:22

16:34
16:38
16:44

58:45
58:46
58:50

Elite Male
1 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
2 Tayler Reid (NZL)
3 Ricardo Batista (POR)
Also
4 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
10 Janus Staufenberg (NZL)
25 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
30 Trent Thorpe (NZL)
34 Sam Parry (NZL)
42 Austin Carter (NZL)
47 Ivan Abele (NZL)
49 Lachlan Haycock (NZL)
DNF James Corbett (NZL)
Elite Female
1 Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL)
2 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)
3 Solveig Løvseth (NOR)
Also
9 Olivia Thornbury (NZL)
11 Brea Roderick (NZL)
32 Hannah Knighton (NZL)
36 Olivia Cummings (NZL)
43 Hannah Howell (NZL)
44 Anna Lindsay (NZL)
45 Eva Goodisson (NZL)
47 Madison Keightley (NZL)
50 Angharad Llewellyn (NZL)

WORLD TRIATHLON CUP

WORLD CUP HUATULCO

WORLD CUP NEW PLYMOUTH

Swim 750m | Bike 20.16km | Run 5km

Huatulco, Mexico - June 17, 2023

Ngamotu Beach, New Plymouth - March 26, 2023
Pos Name

Swim 750m | Bike 20km | Run 5km
Pos Name
Elite Male
1 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
2 Tayler Reid (NZL)
3 Ricardo Batista (POR)
Also
4 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
10 Janus Staufenberg (NZL)
25 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
30 Trent Thorpe (NZL)
34 Sam Parry (NZL)
42 Austin Carter (NZL)
47 Ivan Abele (NZL)
49 Lachlan Haycock (NZL)
DNF James Corbett (NZL)
Elite Female
1 Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL)
2 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)
3 Solveig Løvseth (NOR)
Also
9 Olivia Thornbury (NZL)
11 Brea Roderick (NZL)
3 Hannah Knighton (NZL)
36 Olivia Cummings (NZL)
43 Hannah Howell (NZL)
44 Anna Lindsay (NZL)
45 Eva Goodisson (NZL)
47 Madison Keightley (NZL)
50 Angharad Llewellyn (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

09:21
09:12
09:01

00:40
00:38
00:38

31:02
31:15
31:27

00:22
00:21
00:22

14:30
15:05
15:03

0:55:57
0:56:32
0:56:32

09:12
09:32
09:30
09:03
09:44
09:44
09:47
09:42
09:40

00:38
00:36
00:38
00:38
00:38
00:38
00:42
00:37
00:40

31:17
32;10
32:13
32:44
32:02
32:04
31:57
33:49
35:55

00:21
00:21
00:21
00:22
00:23
00:25
00:25
00:21
00:00

15:04
14:44
15:21
15:25
15:37
16:59
17:22
16:15
00:00

0:56:34
0:57:25
0:58:04
0:58:15
0:58:25
0:59:53
1:00:16
1:00:46
DNF

10:00
10:02
10:24

00:44
00:43
00:44

35:36
35:35
35:14

00:23
00:22
00:25

16:12
16:21
16:26

1:02:57
1:03:06
1:03:14

10:04
10:27
09:55
10:37
10:26
10:40
10:23
10:35
12:06

00:43
00:42
00:47
00:48
00:45
00:48
00:46
00:55
00:52

35:34
35:11
37:15
37:40
37:54
37:34
NA
40:08
42:19

00:25
00:22
00:23
00:27
00:32
00:27
NA
00:26
00:30

16:56
17:24
18:36
18:02
19:24
20:20
NA
20:12
19:28

1:03:44
1:04:08
1:06:58
1:07:36
1:09:03
1:09:51
1:10:19
1:12:19
1:15:16

Elite Men
1 David Castro Fajardo (ESP)
2 Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN)
3 Aram Michell Peñaflor Moysen (MEX)
Also
36 Kyle Smith (NZL)

Elite Women
1 Anahi Alvarez Corral (MEX)
10:21
2 Gwen Jorgensen (USA)
09:55
3 Mercedes Romero Orozco (MEX) 10:07

WORLD CUP TISZAUJVAROS
Tiszaujvaros, Hungary - July 8-9, 2023

Swim 750m | Bike 20km | Run 2.5km
Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Csongor Lehmann (HUN)
2 Sergio Baxter Cabrera (ESP)
3 Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP)
Also
15 Trent Thorpe (NZL)
19 Janus Staufenberg (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Tilda Månsson (SWE)
2 Noelia Juan (ESP)
3 Jolien Vermeylen (BEL)

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

123

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB
WORLD CUP KARLOVY VARY
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic - September 10, 2023

Swim 1500m | Bike 38.4km | Run 10km
Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Morgan Pearson (USA)
2 Márk Dévay (HUN)
3 Jonas Schomburg (GER)
Also
DNF Kyle Smith (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Gwen Jorgensen (USA)
2 Rachel Klamer (NED)
3 Marlene Gomez-Göggel (GER)

WORLD CUP YEONGDO
Yeongdo, South Korea - August 5, 2023

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

16:22
16:14
16:21

00:30
00:28
00:25

1:03:00
1:03:39
1:03:35

00:24
00:24
00:24

31:37
32:19
32:23

1:51:55
1:53:07
1:53:10

17:47

00:26

1:04:07

00:32

00:00

DNF

18:08
18:16
18:13

00:33
00:30
00:33

1:10:01
1:09:56
1:09:54

00:28
00:26
00:28

34:39
34:45
35:02

2:03:51
2:03:55
2:04:12

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

10:18
10:15
10:20

1:00
00:52
00:54

27:42
27:55
27:48

00:22
00:25
00:25

14:33
14:41
14:51

53:55
54:08
54:18

10:39

00:55

29:07

00:23

15:57

57:01

10:19
10:40
10:28

00:53
00:51
01:00

30:38
30:21
30:28

00:24
00:22
00:26

16:32
16:44
16:40

58:46
58:58
59:02

10:32

01:00

31:39

00:25

19:29

1:03:05

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

08:59
09:13
09:11

01:15
01:16
01:13

28:39
28:30
28:29

00:21
00:19
00:23

14:26
14:26
14:30

53:39
53:43
53:45

09:21

01:21

30:30

00:20

15:52

57:23

10:34
10:32
10:33

01:21
01:23
01:24

31:13
31:14
31;11

00:26
00:23
00:23

15:53
16:00
16:05

59:26
59:31
59:35

Swim 750m | Bike 20km | Run 5km
Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Takumi Hojo (JPN)
2 Max Stapley (GBR)
3 Valentin Wernz (GER)
Also
4 Trent Thorpe (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Annika Koch (GER)
2 Romana Gajdošová (SVK)
3 Erica Hawley (BER)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

WORLD CUP TANGIER

08:58
08:55
08:59

00:38
00:41
00:37

25:47
25:46
25:47

00:19
00:23
00:20

14:56
15:17
15:28

50:36
50:59
51:08

Swim 750m | Bike 20km | Run 5km

08:57

00:41

25:46

00:22

15:30

51:14

09:52
10:10
10:09

00:42
00:42
00:45

29:06
28:49
28:46

00:22
00:26
00:24

16:51
17:02
17:06

56:50
57:06
57:07

Elite Men
1 Pierre Le Corre (FRA)
2 David Cantero Del Campo (ESP)
3 Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (NOR)
Also
40 Lachlah Haycock (NZL)

Weihai, China - August 26, 2023

Swim 1500m | Bike 38.4km | Run 105km

Elite Men
1 Crisanto Grajales (MEX)
2 Makoto Odakura (JPN)
3 Lasse Nygaard Priester (GER)
Also
10 Trent Thorpe (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Bianca Seregni (ITA)
2 Lisa Perterer (AUT)
3 Ilaria Zane (ITA)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

19:05
18:46
18:48

00:48
00:47
00:46

54:47
55:11
55:08

00:21
00:21
00:20

31:34
31:45
31:55

1:46:35
1:46:50
1:46:57

Rome, Italy - October 7, 2023

18:42

00:47

55:13

00:22

32:44

1:47:48

Pos Name

19:20
19:57
19:48

00:54
00:50
00:49

1:01:42
1:01:10
1:01:20

00:24
00:23
00:23

36:22
36:39
35:44

1:58:42
1:58:59
1:59:04

Elite Men
1 Vasco Vilaca (POR)
2 Arnaud Mengal (BEL)
3 Simon Henseleit (GER)
Also
46 Lachlan Haycock (NZL)

WORLD CUP ROME

WORLD CUP VALENCIA
Swim 1500m | Bike 38.4km | Run 105km

Elite Men
1 David Cantero Del Campo (ESP)
2 Lasse Nygaard Priester (GER)
3 Michele Sarzilla (ITA)
Also
22 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
27 Lachlan Haycock (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Gwen Jorgensen (USA)
2 Nina Eim (GER)
3 Marlene Gomez-Göggel (GER)
Also
23 Eva Goodisson (NZL)
DNF Brea Roderick (NZL)

124

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

17:34
17:48
17:48

00:30
00:30
00:31

52:45
52:29
52:29

00:24
00:23
00:22

29:54
29:57
30:14

1:41:10
1:41:11
1:41:26

18:00
17:56

00:30
00:33

52:17
52:21

00:25
00:25

33:21
34:14

1:44:35
1:45:30

22:20
22:22
22:23

00:36
00:30
00:32

57:58
57:59
57:56

00:28
00:26
00:27

33:37
33:59
34:05

1:55:01
1:55:17
1:55:24

22:16
22:47

00:35
00:35

57:59
00:00

00:28
00:00

40:20
00:00

2:01:41
DNF

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Swim 750m | Bike 20km | Run 5km

Elite Women
1 Nina Eim (GER)
2 Marlene Gomez-Goggel (GER)
3 Cathia Schar (SUI)

Valencia, Spain - September 2, 2023

Pos Name

Pos Name

Elite Women
1 Lisa Tertsch (GER)
2 Noelia Juan (ESP)
3 Tilda Mansson (SWE)
Also
37 Eva Goodisson (NZL)

WORLD CUP WEIHAI

Pos Name

Tangier, Morocco - October 1, 2023

BACK TO START LIST
WORLD CUP CHENGDU
Chengdu, China - October 14,2023

Swim 1500m | Bike 40km | Run 10km
Pos Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

18:08

00:46

54:52

00:21

30:08

1:44:15

18:44
18:21

00:44
00:45

54:19
54:41

00:21
00:21

30:13
30:13

1:44:21
1:44:21

17:51
18:17

00:45
00:45

55:09
54:43

00:20
00:22

30:35
31:43

1:44:40
1:45:50

19:24
20:25
20:08

00:57
00:47
00:46

1:01:36
1:00:45
1:01:04

00:26
00:22
00:20

34:28
34:58
35:18

1:56:51
1:57:17
1:57:36

19:58

00:51

1:01:08

00:22

40:21

02:02:40

Pos Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

Elite Men
1 Miguel Hidalgo (BRA)
2 Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP)
3 Charles Paquet (CAN)

18:08
18:20
18:13

01:05
00:53
00:58

56:06
56:10
56:09

00:18
00:20
00:21

32:22
32:42
32:53

1:48:01
1:48:27
1:48:36

Elite Women
1 Alice Betto (ITA)
2 Katie Zaferes (USA)
3 Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX)

19:37
19:34
19:39

01:01
01:04
01:01

1:02:42
1:02:44
1:02:36

00:21
00:24
00:19

36:23
36:28
36:51

2:00:05
2:00:15
2:00:27

Elite Men
1 Tim Hellwig (GER)
2 Aram Michell Penaflor
Moysen (MEX)
3 Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE)
Also
9 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
20 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Bianca Seregni (ITA)
2 Claire Michel (BEL)
3 Iiaria Zane (ITA)
Also
21 Eva Goodisson (NZL)

WORLD CUP BRASILIA
Brasilia, Brazil - October 15, 2023

Swim 1500m | Bike 40km | Run 10km

WORLD CUP TONGYEONG
Tongyeong, South Korea - October 21, 2023

Swim 750m | Bike 19.98km | Run 5km
Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Tim Hellwig (GER)
2 Ricardo Batista (POR)
3 Samuel Dickinson (GBR)
Also
4 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
26 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
43 Trent Thorpe (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Gwen Jorgensen (USA)
2 Yuko Takahashi (JPN)
3 Tereza Zimovjanova (CZE)
Also
5 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)
39 Eva Goodisson (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

08:25
08:23
08:28

00:37
00:37
00:39

26:14
26:15
26:07

00:26
00:26
00:24

14:47
14:50
14:56

50:25
50:29
50:33

08:19
08:31
08:34

00:37
00:36
00:42

26:19
26:48
26:42

00:27
00:26
00:26

14:55
15:08
15:50

50:35
51:26
52:12

09:26
09:03
09:29

00:44
00:44
00:42

31:00
31:20
30:57

00:38
00:27
00:29

16:30
16:47
16:49

58:16
58:20
58:23

09:23
09:50

00:40
00:43

31:06
31:07

00:27
00:34

17:16
20:27

58:50
1:02:38

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

17:40
16:58
18:13

01:06
01:04
01:03

59:06
58:41
58:32

00:21
00:23
00:28

29:33
30:44
29:43

1:47:46
1:47:50
1:47:59

17:26
17:25

01:08
01:08

58:48
00:00

00:20
00:00

33:35
00:00

1:51:17
DNF

18:02
18:21
18:15

01:15
01:10
01:05

1:06:00
1:05:48
1:05:56

00:26
00:29
00:22

34:00
34:13
34:32

1:59:43
2:00:01
2:10:10

18:23

01:09

1:05:54

00:21

36:18

2:02:05

WORLD CUP MIYAZAKI
Miyazaki, Japan - October 28, 2023

Swim 1500m | Bike 40km | Run 10km
Pos Name
Elite Men
1 Hugo Milner (GBR)
2 Dylan McCullough (NZL)
3 Lasse Nygaard Priester (GER)
Also
38 Saxon Morgan (NZL)
DNF Trent Thorpe (NZL)
Elite Women
1 Bianca Seregni (ITA)
2 Gwen Jorgensen (USA)
3 Jeanne Lehair (LUX)
Also
11 Ainsley Thorpe (NZL)

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

125

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB

WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP

2023-24 TRI NZ SUZUKI SERIES

WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP LONG BEACH

AUCKLAND DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Long Beach,USA - July 14, 2023

Ambury Park, Mangere Bridge - August 13, 2023

Swim 750km | Bike 20km | Run 5km

Pos. Name

Pos. Name

Swim

PTS4 Men
1 Hideki Uda (JPN)
12:37
2 Alejandro Sanchez Palomero (ESP) 11:26
3 Erik Hultquist (USA)
11:51
Also
6 Kurt Peterson (NZL)
16:46

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

2:02
2:06
2:28

30:03
30:08
30:46

00:52
00:53
01:09

17:36
19:38
19:49

1:03:07
1:04:09
1:06:00

2:56

46:00

01:02

22:26

1:29:07

WORLD TRIATHLON PARA CUP ALHANDRA
Alhandra, Portugal - October 7, 2023

Swim 750km | Bike 19.5km | Run 4.93km
Pos. Name
PTS4 Men
1 Gregoire Berthon (FRA)
2 Antonio Franko (CRO)
3 Finley Jakes (GBR)
Also
9 Kurt Peterson (NZL)

126

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

09:09
09:37
10:27

00:52
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

18:33
17:34
18:41

00.58:16
00:58:21
1:00:53

15:14

NA

NA

NA

22:00

1:17:34

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Run 5km | Bike 20km | Run 2.5km
Male
16-19
1 Dion Wallwork (North Harbour)
2 Ashton Upfold (Tri Sport Taupo)
20-24
1 Abe O’Donnell (Canterbury Tri Club)
2 Liam Miller (Triathlon Tauranga)
3 Ryan Williams (North Harbour)
4 Finian Orr (Auckland City Tri Club)
5 Jamie Shields
25-29
1 Charlie Taylor (Triathlon Tauranga)
30-34
1 Andrew Lloyd (Triathlon Tauranga)
2 Nick Jowsey (Canterbury Tri Club)
3 Jeremy Nesbitt
4 Alex Bees (Auckland City Tri Club)
5 Alex Garcia (Auckland City Tri Club)
35-39
1 Matthew Hallam
2 Vincent Colombie (Auckland City Tri Club)
3 Sean Martin
4 Aniel Smith (Auckland City Tri Club)
5 Patrick Johnson (Auckland City Tri Club)
6 David Jaggs
40-44
1 Tim Pearce (North Harbour)
2 Heath Packard
3 Ben Ruthe (Triathlon Tauranga)
4 Simon Kristiansen (Canterbury Tri Club)
5 Terry Jack (North Harbour)
6 Hong Lee
45-49
1 AJ Cornwall (Triathlon Manawatu)
2 Adam Hazlett (Triathlon Tauranga)
3 Matt Treanor
4 Bron Healey (Triathlon Tauranga)
5 Craig Andersen (Auckland City Tri Club)
6 Raymond Lofamia (Taranaki Tri Club)
7 Chris Willett (Triathlon Tauranga)
8 Vincent Sesto (Auckland City Tri Club)
9 James Madden (Auckland City Tri Club)
10 Matthew Cutler-Welsh
50-54
1 Grant Clifton (Triathlon Tauranga)
2 Chris Hutchinson
3 Gareth Holebrook (North Harbour)
4 Richard Wilkinson (Auckland City Tri Club)
5 Paul Miller (Triathlon Tauranga)
55-59
1 Luke Williams (Triathlon Tauranga)
2 Paul Carter (Auckland City Tri Club)
3 David Presland
4 Martin Hill (Auckland City Tri Club)
5 Prashantha Padiyar
60-64
1 Glenn Wright (Auckland City Tri Club)
2 Mark Robinson
3 Roger Spice (Auckland City Tri Club)
4 Dave Scott (Triathlon Manawatu)
5 Steve Williamson (Auckland City Tri Club)
6 David Caselli (Triathlon Tauranga)
7 Roger Winton (North Harbour)
8 Phil Ison
9 Tony Manson (Auckland City Tri Club)
65-69
1 Michael Gowing (Whangarei Triathlon Club)
2 Nathan Livingstone (Auckland City Tri Club)

Run

Bike

Run

Time

15:13
16:58

33:21
36:25

8:53
10:38

57:27
1:04:01

15:06
15:08
15:26
16:56
16:47

32:56
32:53
33:44
32:47
32:51

8:53
9:02
9:02
9:56
10:44

56:56
57:03
58:13
59:39
1:00:21

16:42

32:56

10:05

59:43

15:01
16:51
18:18
19:42
21:11

33:01
32:51
33:36
35:27
37:57

8:21
9:06
11:03
11:15
16:05

56:23
58:48
1:02:57
1:06:24
1:15:13

18:31
18:11
21:37
20:30
20:22
22:45

33:26
37:05
37:13
44:09
39:39
44:03

9:40
10:32
13:19
10:53
17:42
14:21

1:01:36
1:05:49
1:12:09
1:15:33
1:17:43
1:21:09

15:12
16:34
15:38
18:00
17:56
26:55

33:56
33:06
32:58
33:53
34:02
43:58

9:11
9:29
11:56
10:49
11:15
16:08

58:19
59:09
1:00:32
1:02:42
1:03:12
1:27:01

16:41
17:06
18:32
18:32
18:27
19:42
20:25
18:53
21:51
20:40

35:42
35:18
36:20
37:01
37:39
36:26
37:42
40:10
36:18
39:04

9:09
9:37
10:29
10:49
10:32
11:39
11:41
10:51
12:13
11:32

1:01:32
1:02:01
1:05:21
1:06:23
1:06:38
1:07:47
1:09:48
1:09:54
1:10:22
1:11:16

17:06
18:18
19:37
19:40
23:31

35:18
36:32
36:26
36:26
42:05

10:13
10:33
11:09
11:27
13:25

1:02:37
1:05:23
1:07:12
1:07:34
1:19:01

17:55
20:31
20:30
20:08
28:02

36:55
35:35
35:35
39:28
57:29

10:58
11:20
12:00
11:34
20:39

1:05:49
1:07:26
1:08:05
1:11:10
1:46:10

19:07
19:42
19:57
19:32
21:23
22:48
21:29
21:33
23:00

37:01
36:27
40:16
41:19
38:56
38:45
42:31
42:26
40:18

10:22
11:35
11:42
11:34
12:41
12:54
12:37
18:35
20:44

1:06:30
1:07:44
1:11:55
1:12:25
1:13:01
1:14:27
1:16:37
1:22:34
1:24:02

19:28
19:53

36:37
36:15

10:38
11:42

1:06:43
1:07:50

BACK TO START LIST

Pos. Name

Run

Bike

Run

Time

3 Brohn Torckler
4 Don Weston (Hamilton Triathlon Club)
5 Alan McIntyre (Auckland City Tri Club)
6 Peter Landon-Lane (Auckland City Tri Club)
70-74
1 Brian Warren (Triathlon Manawatu)
75-79
1 Richard Sweetman (Triathlon Tauranga)
2 William Baird

22:14
21:56
23:01
24:07

35:55
38:22
41:43
42:15

13:01
12:27
12:49
14:27

1:11:10
1:12:45
1:17:32
1:20:48

23:56

42:25

13:24

1:19:45

30:30
27:37

51:15
53:24

17:05
18:03

1:38:50
1:39:04

Run 5km | Bike 20km | Run 2.5km
Female
16-19
1 Charlotte Brown (Auckland City Tri Club)
20-24
1 Charlotte Carter (Auckland City Tri Club)
2 Taylah Arlidge
3 Nina Maurer (Auckland City Tri Club)
30-34
1 Rachel Mayhew
35-39
1 Ange Keen (Taranaki Tri Club)
2 Amanda Cathro (Hamilton Triathlon Club)
3 Lauren Revie
4 Melissa Kendall (Auckland City Tri Club)
5 Alex Johnson (Auckland City Tri Club)
40-44
1 Lisa Cross (Auckland City Tri Club)
2 Anna Russell (North Harbour)
3 Lucy Williams
4 Anna Arlidge (Auckland City Tri Club)
5 Kirsty Sesto (Auckland City Tri Club)
45-49
1 Karen Russo (Auckland City Tri Club)
2 Michaela Kelly (Auckland City Tri Club)
50-54
1 Kristine Reid (Triathlon Tauranga)

18:00

37:52

10:21

1:06:12

19:46
19:30
19:37

39:32
40:26
47:19

11:11
11:01
10:30

1:10:29
1:10:57
1:17:26

21:13

41:40

11:57

1:14:50

20:26
21:34
22:15
22:00
25:35

39:07
38:29
37:48
44:04
47:31

11:56
12:11
12:57
13:07
14:37

1:11:29
1:12:14
1:13:01
1:19:11
1:27:43

16:30
19:18
21:20
21:25
23:34

39:26
40:03
41:36
41:34
44:22

9:15
10:40
12:05
13:00
14:19

1:05:10
1:10:01
1:15:02
1:15:59
1:22:15

22:05
20:15

37:57
44:57

12:07
11:49

1:12:09
1:17:01

20:20

39:46

11:15

1:11:21

Pos. Name

Run

Bike

Run

Time

2 Michelle Laughton-Hill (Auckland City Tri Club)
55-59
1 Gill Fullen (Auckland City Tri Club)
2 Nicola Sproule (Auckland City Tri Club)
3 Suzie Clark
4 Claire Furlong (Whangarei Triathlon Club)
5 Amanda Edge (Whangarei Triathlon Club)
60-64
1 Bridget Ray (RATS)
2 Christine Fraser (Whangarei Triathlon Club)
70-74
1 Joy Baker (Taranaki Tri Club)
2 Maggie Ward (North Harbour)
3 Shirley Rolston (Canterbury Tri Club)
Open
1 Claire Edgeler

26:40

51:19

15:10

1:33:09

18:35
22:22
24:54
26:46
26:32

37:17
40:27
43:46
45:34
51:08

10:34
12:36
15:21
16:25
14:57

1:06:26
1:15:25
1:24:04
1:28:45
1:32:38

21:35
24:12

41:19
46:00

12:18
14:15

1:15:12
1:24:27

26:07
32:48
35:08

47:42
51:17
51:20

14:52
18:28
19:04

1:28:42
1:42:33
1:45:31

25:52

33:23

15:24

1:14:39

Pos. Name

Run

Bike

Run

Time

Male
BV2
1 Steve Donnelly
PTS4
1 Kurt Peterson (North Harbour)

27:56

41:36

16:59

1:26:31

20:31

51:31

12:22

1:24:24

Female
PTS5
1 Fiona Southorn (Whangarei Triathlon Club)

23:48

42:50

13:15

1:19:53

16:28

39:25

8:59

1:04:51

22:49

39:56

12:40

1:15:26

NZ PARA DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Teams
Mixed Team
1 Tessa Jenkins & Ethan Verner
Mixed Para Team
1 Unity Collins

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

127

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB
NZ SCHOOLS DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP
Pos. Name
Male
U12
1 Jai Parris (PNINS)
2 Austin Lean (PN Intermediate)
3 Max Urquhart (Maraetai Beach School)
U13
1 William Moulder (St Peters College)
2 Oliver McGuinness (St Kentigern)
3 Ashton Sinclair (Westlake BHS)

Run 2.5km | Bike 10km | Run 2.5km
U14
1 Sam Ruthe (Tauranga Boys’)
2 Kian Weston (Taupo-nui-a-Tia)
3 Jackson Pinique (St Peters Auck)
4 Oscar Moorhead (Napier BHS)
5 Sam O’Dwyer (Sacred Heart Auckland)
6 Oliver Lean (PNBHS)
7 Henry Moore (Sacred Heart Auckland)
8 Jack Beaumont (Albany Junior High)
9 Josh Smith (Tauranga Boys’)
10 Hunter O’Brien (St Peter’s Cambridge)
11 Blake Jeffery (Westlake BHS)
12 Jack Morris-Vette (St Peter’s Cambridge)
Run 3.5km | Bike 15km | Run 2.5km
U16
1 Caleb Wagener (Auckland Grammar)
2 Thomas Newsom (Cashmere High)
3 Oliver Christie (Trident High)
4 Alec Ball (Feilding High)
5 Connor Kemp (St Patricks Wgtn)
6 Theo Bray (Mt Albert Grammar)
7 George Skinner (Feilding High)
8 Robert Turnbull (Auckland Grammar)
9 Jacob Lean (PNBHS)
10 Isaac Morris (St Kentigern)
11 Alex Bishop (St Kentigern)
12 Xavier Christie (Trident High)
13 Jack Mason (NPBHS)
14 Oli Barnett (Taupo-nui-a-Tia)
15 Jakob Herbert (Auckland Grammar)
16 Kyran Moyle (Auckland Grammar)
17 Oscar Skinner (Feilding High)

Run

Bike

Run

Time

9:33
10:08
12:11

19:00
19:13
17:26

10:02
11:09
14:28

38.35
40:30
44:05

9:16
9:45
10:20

16:17
17:44
16:30

9:36
10:30
11:12

35:08
37:59
38:01

8:28
9:09
9:28
9:34
10:05
9:31
9:40
9:42
10:56
11:35
11:16
11:50

16:07
16:18
16:15
18:03
18:20
18:08
18:48
20:32
20:24
20:15
16:27
20:16

9:07
10:16
10:26
10:42
11:01
13:18
12:30
10:51
11:14
11:24
15:33
14:00

33.42
35:44
36:09
38:20
39:26
40:57
40:58
41:05
42:34
43:14
43:16
46:06

10:08
9:59
10:11
10:03
10:08
10:32
10:34
11:03
10:36
10:39
11:07
10:30
10:41
11:06
11:32
11:34
11:05

22:35
23:19
23:54
24:54
24:50
24:27
24:21
23:41
24:29
24:15
24:30
25:36
26:12
26:22
24:44
26:46
27:36

8:26
8:44
9:02
8:37
8:41
9:14
9:30
10:10
10:16
10:34
10:02
10:05
9:53
10:20
11:48
9:47
9:26

41:09
42:03
43:07
43:33
43:39
44:14
44:25
44:53
45:21
45:28
45:38
46:10
46:46
47:48
48:03
48:06
48:07

Pos. Name

Run

Bike

Run

Time

18
19
20
21

11:28
11:37
12:07
12:46

27:52
27:40
27:24
27:29

10:18
11:03
11:48
11:57

49:39
50:19
51:20
52:12

15:14
16:20
15:28
17:26
19:43
17:22
19:45
18:41
21:43

34:05
36:22
38:07
36:40
34:06
40:44
38:42
40:14
45:34

9:24
9:25
8:47
10:09
13:19
10:06
11:16
11:54
12:56

58:43
1:02:07
1:02:22
1:04:15
1:07:08
1:08:13
1:09:43
1:10:48
1:20:12

11:28

18:28

14:54

44:51

10:33
11:22
16:21

17:20
18:42
24:37

12:06
11:00
20:03

40:00
41:05
1:01:01

9:48
9:49
10:36
11:06

17:29
17:55
18:56
18:53

10:41
11:07
11:25
11:56

37:57
38:52
40:57
41:55

Run 3.5km | Bike 15km | Run 2.5km
U16 Female
1 Charlotte Chiles (Rangi Ruru Girls’)
2 Siena Mackley (Wakatipu High)
3 Mila Laarakkers (Kaipara College)
4 Sophie Webber (Woodford House)
5 Tayla Cornwall (PNGHS)
6 Leah Kilmister (Taupo-nui-a-Tia)
7 Milly Ruddenklau (St Peter’s Cambridge)
8 Olivia Dixon (Botany Downs SS)
9 Sophie Garrett (Otumoetai College)
10 Liv Kay (St Kentigern)

11:48
12:03
12:15
11:49
12:22
12:43
14:39
14:29
13:55
14:26

26:03
26:54
26:41
27:35
27:01
29:37
29:10
29:20
31:31
31:05

11:02
10:24
10:40
10:36
12:13
11:41
12:18
12:36
13:05
14:07

48:53
49:21
49:36
49:59
51:37
54:01
56:08
56:24
58:30
59:39

Run 5km | Bike 20km | Run 2.5km
U19 Female
1 Lulu Johnson (Mt Maung. College)
2 Hayley Cornwall (PNGHS)
3 Olivia Rooney (St Kentigern)
4 Monique Spedding (Hamilton GHS)
5 Chloe Easton (St Marys Ponsonby)
6 Ruby Cutler-Welsh (St Kentigern)

17:04
18:18
19:00
20:25
20:35
21:18

38:19
38:28
39:24
40:29
41:44
41:01

10:18
10:40
11:24
11:23
11:44
12:23

1:05:42
1:07:26
1:09:49
1:12:18
1:14:03
1:14:42

NZ Schools Para
1 Sam McHale (Napier BHS)

10:35

24:22

9:29

44:25

Run

Bike

Run

Time

17:40

10:33

38:11

22:42

8:44

42:00

32:51
37:42

8:47
10:28

58:05
1:07:50

11:03

18:27

11:48

41:18

12:38

26:48

9:59

49:25

Quinn Davidson-Green (NPBHS)
Noah Lazayres (St Peters Auck)
Cody Carter (Auckland Grammar)
Eliot Webber (Napier BHS)

Run 5km | Bike 20km | Run 2.5km
U19
1 Finnley Oliver (Mt Maung. College)
2 Ryan Marfell (Marlb. Boys)
3 Jett Curteis (Westlake BHS)
4 Quinn Gardiner-Hall (Auckland Grammar)
5 Daniel McClune (Takapuna Grammar)
6 Ethan James (St Peter’s Cambridge)
7 Ben Grotrian (Takapuna Grammar)
8 William Dunn (Otumoetai College)
9 Agelu Afoa (Mt Albert Grammar)
Female
U12 Female
1 Juliette Goldsmith (Baradene College)
U13 Female
1 Sophie Archer (St Kentigern)
2 Rachel Wagener (St Cuthberts)
3 Olivia Evans (Selwyn College)
Run 2.5km | Bike 10km | Run 2.5km
U14 Female
1 Maddie Worrall (Diocesan for Girls)
2 Mia Collins (Baradene College)
3 Josie Murphy (Taupo-nui-a-Tia)
4 Sarah Addenbrooke (Feilding High)

NZ SCHOOLS TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP
Pos. Name

Male
U12&13
1 Dylan Davies & Benjamin Brebner (Saint Kentigern)
9:59
U16
1 David Kwon & Solomon Randerson (Auckland Grammar) 10:34
U19
1 Jonny Barclay & Robert Fitzpatrick (Auckland Grammar) 16:27
2 Max Burton & Mirai Arao (Auckland Grammar)
19:39
Female
U12&13 Female Team
1 Luisa Haines & Alice Wellington (Diocesan for Girls)
U16 Female Team
1 Sophia Haines & Annabelle Judd (Diocesan for Girls)

128

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

WORLD TRIATHLON
AGE GROUP

NZL STANDARD DISTANCE
TRIATHLON RESULTS
Age Group
Pos Name (Club)

WORLD TRIATHLON AGE GROUP
CHAMPIONSHIPS - PONTEVEDRA
Pontevedra, Spain - September 22-24, 2023
Age Group
Pos Name (Club)

Time

NZL SUPER SPRINT TRIATHLON RESULTS
Female
15-19
7
Nikita Coleman (Triathlon Tauranga)
35-39
1
Ange Keen (Taranaki Triathlon Club)
60-64
3
Catherine Alderton (Tri Wellington)
70-74
1
Joy Baker (Taranaki Triathlon Club)
Male
20-24
2
4
12
30-34
4
35-39
8
40-44
8
10
16
60-64
2
4
65-69
10

33:36
26:55
32:26
34:51

Liam Miller (Triathlon Tauranga)
Ryan Williams (North Harbour Triathlon Club)
Edward Fuller (Triathlon Tauranga)

23:50
24:15
25:54

James Thorstenson (Overseas)

25:45

Paul Preston (Southland Triathlon Club)

26:06

Terry Jack (North Harbour Triathlon Club)
Brad McNamara (Triathlon Tauranga)
Tom Burgess (North Harbour Triathlon Club)

25:19
25:56
27:14

Stephen Farrell (North Harbour Triathlon Club)
Mike Trees (North Harbour Triathlon Club)

26:31
26:45

Malcolm Elley (North Harbour Triathlon Club)

31:43

Female
20-24
1
Emma Payne (Auckland City Triathlon Club)
30-34
1
Laura Pfeifer (Canterbury Triathlon Club)
33
Tegan Harrison (Canterbury Triathlon Club)
40-44
35
Mitzi Taylor (Canterbury Triathlon Club)
50-54
34
Jo Baker (Triathlon Hawke’s Bay)
55-59
41
Sue Abraham (Tri Wellington)
60-64
13
Catherine Alderton (Tri Wellington)
Male
20-24
9
25-29
35
30-34
22
35-39
23
40-44
4
9
18
45-49
55
50-54
DNS
60-64
2
5
71

NZL STANDARD AQUABIKE RESULTS
Age Group
Pos Name (Club)

Time

Time

02:24:14
02:17:07
02:47:41
3:00:03
2:51:17
3:17:41
2:51:19

Ryan Williams (North Harbour Triathlon Club)

2:10:04

Ollie Brazier (Tri-Sport Taupo)

2:21:28

James Thorstenson (Overseas)

2:16:27

Paul Preston (Southland Triathlon Club)

2:16:44

Brad McNamara (Triathlon Tauranga)
Robin Harris (Overseas)
Chris Thomson (Tri Wellington)

2:10:12
2:11:38
2:15:33

James Madden (Auckland City Triathlon Club)

2:36:36

Jerym Brunton (Auckland City Triathlon Club)

DNS

Mike Trees (North Harbour Triathlon Club)
Stephen Farrell (North Harbour Triathlon Club)
Conrad Young (Overseas)

2:16:32
2:20:23
3:22:24

Female
18-19
3
Nikita Coleman (Triathlon Tauranga)
20-24
1
Sarah McClure (Canterbury Triathlon Club)
35-39
1
Ange Keen (Taranaki Triathlon Club)
70-74
2
Joy Baker (Taranaki Triathlon Club)
Male
18-19
1
20-24
2
40-44
2
DNF
50-54
14
60-64
3
65-69
6
DNF

2:00:05
1:31:22
1:34:59
2:02:26

Edward Fuller (Triathlon Tauranga)

1:31:20

Liam Miller (Triathlon Tauranga)

1:25:13

Terry Jack (North Harbour Triathlon Club)
Tom Burgess (North Harbour Triathlon Club)

1:24:03
DNF

Neil Baker (Triathlon Hawke’s Bay)

1:41:49

Dave Bradding (Auckland City Triathlon Club)

1:34:22

Niels Madsen (Tri Wellington) 1:44:35
Malcolm Elley (North Harbour Triathlon Club)

1:44:35
DNF

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

129

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB

SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Pos. Name

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Time

16:05
16:08
16:07

16:08
15:57
16:01

15:54
16:02
16:06

48:07
48:07
48:14

16:30

16:13

17:23

50:06

London

Toulouse

Malibu

Neom

Points

148
60
65
75

82
100
100
66

Female
1 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
2 Emma Lombardi (LUX)
3 Jeanne Lehair (FRA)
Also
11 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)

SUPER LEAGUE LONDON
West India Quay, London - August 27, 2023

3 x Swim 300m | Bike 4km | Run 1.6km (ENDURO)
Teams
Pos. Name

Stage 1

Male
1 Alex Yee (GBR)
2 Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
3 Tayler Reid (NZL)
Female
1 Jeanne Lehair (LUX)
2 Sophie Coldwell (GBR)
3 Taylor Spivey (USA)
Also
9 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)

Stage 2

Stage 3

Time

15:16
15:16
15:18

15:08
15:11
15:10

14:59
14:59
15:06

45:32
45:26
45:34

16:51
16:52
16:48

16:48
16:49
16:50

16:13
16:12
16:17

49:52
49:53
49:55

17:05

17:22

16:37

51:04

Toulouse

Malibu

Neom

Points

1
2
3
4

Sharks
Eagles
Scorpions
Warriors

1
2
3
4

296
285
278
185

SUPER LEAGUE NEOM
Neom, Saudi Arabia - October 21, 2023

3 x Swim 300m | Bike 4km | Run 1.6km (ELIMINATOR)
Pos. Name

Teams

66
125
113
44

London

Sharks
148
Warriors					75
Scorpions					65
Eagles					60

SUPER LEAGUE TOULOUSE
Toulouse, France - September 3, 2023

3 x Swim 300m | Bike 4.6km | Run 1.6km (TRIPLE MIX)
Pos. Name
Male
1 Leo Bergere (FRA)
2 Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
3 Henri Schoeman (RSA)
Also
4 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
21 Tayler Reid (NZL)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Time

12:57
12:48
13:04

12:48
12:51
12:51

16:20
16:28
16:33

42:05
42:17
42:28

13:03
13:19

12:47
2:59

16:44
0:00

42:34
ELIM

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Time

14:48
14:37
14:56

14:57
15:06
15:14

14:48
14:57
14:53

44:33
44:40
45:03

14:50

15:19

15:20

45:29

16:18
16:21
16:17

17:10
17:10
17:12

16:10
16:21
16:31

49:38
49:52
50:00

17:06

11:54

00:00

ELIM

London

Toulouse

Malibu

Neom

Points

60
65
148
75

100
100
82
66

125
113
66
44

140
129
94
35

425
407
390
220

London

Toulouse

Malibu

Neom

Points

0
0
15
9
14
0
0
13
10
4

15
12
0
13
14
7
9
0
11
10

14
15
10
12
6
13
9
5
3
0

20
18
16
11
8
14
12
10
5
9

49
45
41
36
36
34
30
28
26
23

11
15
0
0
10
14
0
0
13
12

15
0
13
0
12
0
14
10
0
0

9
13
14
15
0
10
4
8
0
12

18
16
14
20
12
7
9
8
11
0

44
44
41
35
34
31
27
26
24
24

7

4

5

3

15

Male
1 Leo Bergere (FRA)
2 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
3 Alex Yee (GBR)
Also
7 Tayler Reid (NZL)
Female
1 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
2 Kate Waugh (GBR)
3 Jeanne Lehair (FRA)
Also
14 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)
Teams
1
2
3
4

Eagles
Scorpions
Sharks
Warriors

Final Individual Standings
Female
1 Kate Waugh (GBR)
2 Leonie Periault (FRA)
3 Emma Lombardi (FRA)
Also
11 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)
Teams
1
2
3
4

London

Sharks
Scorpions
Eagles
Warriors

148
65
60
75

14:03
14:25
14:26

13:52
14:00
13:56

17:50
18:38
18:49

45:45
47:03
47:11

14:25

14:22

3:50

ELIM

Toulouse

Malibu

Neom

Points

82
100
100
66

230
165
160
141

SUPER LEAGUE MALIBU
Malibu, California - September 30

3 x Swim 300m | Bike 3.6km | Run 1.6km (ELIMINATOR)
Pos. Name
Male
1 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
2 Leo Bergere (FRA)
3 Matthew Hauser (AUS)
Also
11 Tayler Reid (NZL)

130

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Time

14:36
14:37
14:46

14:34
14:44
14:44

14:30
14:34
14:40

43:40
43:55
44:10

14:54

15:08

15:39

45:41

Teams
Male
1 Leo Bergere (FRA)
2 Hayden Wilde (NZL)
3 Alex Yee (GBR)
4 Henri Schoeman (RSA)
5 Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
6 Matthew Hauser (AUS)
7 Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
8 Tayler Reid (NZL)
9 Daniel Dixon (GBR)
10 Kenji Nener (JPN)
Female
1 Kate Waugh (GBR)
2 Jeanne Lehair (FRA)
3 Emma Lombardi (LUX)
4 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
5 Olivia Mathias (GBR)
6 Sophie Coldwell (GBR)
7 Leonie Periault (FRA)
8 Alice Betto (ITA)
9 Taylor Spivey (USA)
10 Beth Potter (GBR)
Also
15 Nicole van der Kaay (NZL)

BACK TO START LIST

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

131

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB

IRONMAN
IRONMAN 70.3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lahti, Finland - August 26-27, 2023
Pos. Name

Swim

Professional Men
Swim 1.9km | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km
1
Rico Bogen (GER)
22:52
2 Frederic Funk (GER)
23:10
3 Jan Stratmann
23:02
Also
17 Jack Moody (NZL)
24:23
Age Group
18-24
126 Leroy Holmes (NZL
30-34
71 Robert Budge (NZL)
160 James Thorstenson *(NZL)
283 Kit Bennett (NZL)
35-39
244 Matthew Hastings (NZL)
373 Jose Uribe (NZL)
454 Chris Ness (NZL)
476 Simon Thwaite (NZL)
478 Callum Roulston (NZL)
40-44
428 Andrew Mackie (NZL)
45-49
364 Darryn Harvey (NZL)
403 Ben Jones (NZL)
427 Jarrod McIlveen (NZL)
55-59
114 Marinho Barcellos (NZL)
173 Dean Campbell (NZL)
243 Barry Herbison (NZL)
261 Quentin Holmes (NZL)
60-64
24 Stewart McRobie (NZL)
77 David Caselli (NZL)

132

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

01:23
01:46
01:36

1:56:17
1:55:14
1:55:56

00:49
00:56
00:57

1:11:01
1:12:21
1:12:40

3:32:22
3:33:26
3:43:11

01:50

2:04:14

01:07

1:10:31

3:42:04

32:00

05:45

2:44:54

06:26

2:06:59

5:36:04

29:00
32:57
31:22

03:43
03:57
04:08

2:20:51
2:13:59
2:29:18

03:46
05:07
04:24

1:19:15
1:31:44
1:36:57

4:16:36
4:27:44
4:46:09

39:36
38:15
31:26
35:05
47:54

04:41
05:00
05:09
04:24
07:00

2:28:20
2:30:26
2:47:34
3:31:02
2:50:22

05:35
05:53
05:51
04:45
08:07

1:20:42
1:37:53
2:04:38
1:34:48
1:57:38

4:38:55
4:57:27
5:34:38
5:50:04
5:51:01

03:31

03:46

2:35:21

05:02

1:53:09

5:08:41

34:20
39:11
35:53

04:52
04:29
05:05

2:40:24
2:30:43
2:55:04

08:09
05:52
07:27

1:48:10
2:04:59
1:56:34

5:15:55
5:25:14
5:40:03

40:14
32:51
36:06
41:28

06:29
06:29
05:03
07:26

2:28:48
2:45:46
2:59:17
2:57:56

05:43
06:41
06:29
08:09

1:46:33
1:49:51
2:01:30
2:28:43

5:07:47
5:21:38
5:48:24
6:23:43

37:42
45:10

05:15
05:56

2:31:17
2:50:00

05:04
06:32

1:49:49
1:54:50

5:09:07
5:42:28

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Pos. Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

88 Shaun McCarthy (NZL)
129 Phillip Morreau (NZL)
148 Conrad Young (NZL)
65-69
4 Niels Madsen (NZL)
60 Tom Nickels (NZL)

37:50
29:15
05:33

06:02
05:02
08:39

2:51:32
2:19:33
3:10:22

08:04
06:28
08:50

2:03:53
3:29:19
3:05:05

5:47:20
6:29:38
7:26:18

36:31
53:11

04:33
07:56

2:28:44
2:53:03

06:33
09:32

1:55:38
2:21:39

5:11:59
6:25:21

T1
01:42
01:40
01:36

Bike
2:07:52
2:11:42
2:10:00

T2
00:37
1:00
00:57

Run
1:18:05
1:16:38
1:20:29

Time
3:53:02
3:57:05
3:57:56

01:38
01:53

2:11:54
2:17:33

00:57
00:59

1:21:19
1:27:36

4:03:29
4:14:06

33:14

4:17

2:31:04

04:07

1:42:09

4:54:51

27:47
33:45

04:00
05:18

2:29:35
2:41:44

04:20
05:03

1:42:09
1:48:43

4:47:51
5:14:33

37:07

06:23

2:58:26

08:31

2:00:24

5:50:50

45:16

06:51

3:06:18

06:19

2:04:35

6:09:19

42:06

07:14

3:08:50

07:29

2:11:32

6:17:11

40:38

05:49

2:51:12

06:30

2:19:53

6:04:02

39:29
37:01
37:03

04:40
06:16
06:43

2:54:16
2:42:02
2:50:14

08:20
05:16
06:31

1:40:03
1:56:38
1:53:45

5:26:47
5:27:13
5:34:17

42:03
42:20
38:31
35:21
33:38
42:24

06:22
04:39
05:01
07:59
04:55
07:05

2:46:23
2:50:13
2:56:56
2:58:11
3:12:44
3:14:20

06:10
04:55
06:49
07:56
05:13
08:26

1:54:28
1:56:30
2:01:49
2:02:23
2:17:17
2:34:36

5:35:27
5:38:36
5:49:06
5:51:51
6:13:47
6:46:52

Professional Women
Swim 1.9km | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km
Pos Name
Swim
1
Taylor Knibb (USA)
24:45
2 Kat Matthews (GBR)
26:06
3 Imogen Simmons (SWI)
24:53
Also
8 Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
27:41
19 Hannah Berry (NZL)
26:05
Age Group
18-24
23 Paige Waddington (NZL)
25-29
38 Danielle Donaldson (NZL)
109 Tomo Greer (NZL)
30-34
233 Laura Holyoake (NZL)
35-39
216 Isabel Arbelaez (NZL)
40-44
249 Rochelle Youngson (NZL)
45-49
179 Skye Tavares (NZL)
50-54
46 Kirsty Johnson Cox (NZL)
47 Anna Tipping (NZL)
73 Ngaire Baker (NZL)
55-59
30 Julia Spark (NZL)
35 Nicola Sproule (NZL)
65 Tanya Lavington (NZL)
67 Elizabeth Wickham (NZL)
107 Tanya Lee-Parker (NZL)
139 Scotia Boelee (NZL)

BACK TO START LIST
VINFAST IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEN
Nice, France - September 10
Pos. Name

Swim

Professional
Swim 3.8km | Bike 180km | Run 42.2km
1
Sam Laidlow (FRA)
47:50
2 Patrick Lange (GER)
49:01
3 Magnus Ditlev
49:14
Also
16 Braden Currie (NZL)
47:46
23 Ben Phillips (NZL)
49:11
DNF Mike Phillips (NZL)
51:04
NZL Age Group
Swim 3.8km | Bike 180km | Run 42.2km
18-24
25 Sam Keats (NZL)
1:04:09
25-29
48 Jason Dobson (NZL)
1:04:04
35-39
88 Steve Davison (NZL)
1:01:45
135 Stuart Heighway (NZL)
1:06:29
45-49
76 Alan Bryson (NZL)
1:07:37
250 Bryant Hardy (NZL)
1:11:38
50-54
48 Dean Galt (NZL)
1:10:18
167 Rick Walker (NZL)
1:25:52
239 Ian Rangitutia (NZL)
1:19:52
55-59
51 Robin Brown (NZL)
1:14:16
166 Barry Herbison (NZL)
1:15:28
42
214 Shane Wilkinson (NZL)
1:36:35
DNF Craig Alexander (*NZL)
1:34:39
60-64
4 Mike Trees (NZL)
1:03:15
61 Stephen Farrell (NZL)
1:03:02
103 Mike Ball (NZL)
1:28:02
70-74
7 John Reynolds (NZL)
1:33:35

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

03:06
02:28
03:09

4:31:28
4:43:24
4:35:54

02:12
02:42
02:19

2:41:46
2:32:41
2:41:07

8:06:22
8:10:17
8:11:43

02:24
02:22
02:45

4:36:37
4:49:59
4:58:02

04:03
03:06
03:39

2:58:01
3:03:22
-

8:38:50
8:48:00
DNF

03:42

5:49:50

05:39

3:51:46

10:55:05

04:46

5:53:03

05:41

3:43:59

10:51:32

03:35
06:28

5:59:41
6:16:56

03:30
08:53

3:44:50
3:47:16

10:53:21
11:26:02

06:20
07:57

6:21:43
7:42:57

06:09
12:23

3:48:30
5:02:57

11:30:20
14:17:52

04:56
07:56
07:51

6:05:16
6:44:44
7:45:50

05:07
08:35
09:07

3:55:44
4:33:34
4:49:10

11:21:21
13:00:41
14:11:50

10:21
06:33

7:31:05
7:56:10

09:37
07:02

4:43:16
5:15:29

13:48:35
14:40:

12:36
06:12

8:33:58
9:42:25

15:30
-

6:09:51
-

16:48:30
DNF

03:36
04:02
07:27

6:09:24
6:19:35
8:09:48

03:32
05:34
8:49

3:57:19
6:37:47
6:01:41

11:17:06
14:10:00
15:55:47

13:29

7:50:33

23:07

6:55:27

16:56:10

VINFAST IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - WOMEN
Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i - October 14, 2023
Pos. Name

Swim

Professional
Swim 3.8km | Bike 180km | Run 42.2km
1
Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) 49:36
2 Anne Haug (GER)
54:10
3 Laura Philipp (GER)
56:49
Also
11 Hannah Berry (NZL)
53:39
20 Rebecca Clarke (NZL)
51:11
NZL Age Group
Swim 3.8km | Bike 180km | Run 42.2km
25-29
17 Laura Beanland-Stephens
1:00:46
20 Hannah Martin
1:04:30
24 Aleisha Williams
1:06:19
26 Bexx Swainson
1:02:17
56 Rebecca Harper
1:06:13
57 Ashleigh Sando
1:10:34
108 Enja Ahearn
1:19:02
116 Olivia Dixon
1:20:57
30-34
19 Annabelle Bramwell
1:03:22
21 Natalie Sutton
1:07:18
42 Billie-Lee Haresnape
1:11:34
50 Brittney Litton
1:11:09
108 Marissa Judkins
1:06:45
143 Florence Loader
1:12:14

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

02:28
02:15
02:40

4:32:29
4:40:23
4:35:52

02:19
02:23
02:11

2:57:38
2:48:23
2:55:24

8:24:31
8:27:33
8:32:55

02:28
02:33

4:46:31
4:49:29

02:28
02:39

3:08:45
3:18:08

8:53:45
9:04:00

04:17
05:05
05:08
03:27
08:25
09:20
08:10
08:17

5:16:52
5:12:47
5:24:59
5:32:00
5:49:36
5:46:29
6:40:47
6:54:44

03:04
03:29
04:21
04:49
05:57
07:05
12:34
07:29

3:59:10
4:01:36
3:54:50
3:54:08
4:24:05
4:21:21
4:35:47
5:20:19

10:24:09
10:27:27
10:35:37
10:36:41
11:34:16
11:34:48
12:56:19
13:51:46

03:31
05:06
04:37
07:11
07:23
06:08

5:24:36
5:25:23
5:39:59
5:26:40
6:07:13
5:45:27

03:34
03:31
04:18
05:16
08:14
05:28

3:43:24
3:37:36
3:43:40
3:58:50
4:01:55
4:48:53

10:18:27
10:18:54
10:44:08
10:49:07
11:31:31
11:58:09

Pos. Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

172 Maria Daniels
194 Jordan Houston
201 Gemma Scott
228 Nicki Sames
237 Prue Young
35-39
1
Vanessa Murray
153 Hayley Wilson
211 Kylie Brown
254 Maree McGregor
40-44
42 Katrina Shores
67 Kerri Dewe
188 Janice Revie
221 Thea Davies
271 Rochelle Youngson
45-49
22 Karen Russo
29 Kate Brown
99 Melanie Hansen
113 Melanie Horner
120 Amy Kalan
123 Marina Nola
140 Kristin Stokes
158 Sarah Poplar
244 Kate Bryce
279 Nina Walkowiak
300 Annalie Brown
313 Megan Arthur
50-54
2 Natasja Barclay
108 Luana Cox
132 Donna McDonald
170 Charlotte Porter
198 Laurika Hazelhurst
206 Tracey Douglas
293 Zarina Morrison
55-59
15 Jane Baldwin
31 Nicola Sproule
34 Tayna Lavington
47 Aimee Perrett
50 Julia Cree
74 Larissa Wildsmith
166 Nikki Fox
183 Maria Jones
60-64
8 Sue McMaster
25 Lee-Anne Young
60 Linda Collard
75 Shirley Day
65-69
12 Barb Carson

1:12:06
1:13:58
1:00:01
1:37:28
1:18:46

08:05
06:26
06:09
13:22
11:32

5:58:04
5:53:46
6:17:53
7:04:05
7:21:08

08:59
07:13
09:06
11:50
12:59

4:58:47
5:44:38
5:40:29
5:34:03
7:20:22

12:26:01
13:06:01
13:13:37
14:40:48
16:24:46

0:55:54
1:16:33
1:13:22
1:26:33

03:45
05:41
06:37
15:58

5:01:52
6:06:10
6:27:25
7:00;29

03:12
05:15
09:22
20:07

3:29:45
4:35:28
5:26:55
6:28:23

9:34:27
12:09:07
13:23:40
15:31:29

1:06:17
1:14:20
1:22:13
1:19:34
1:23:39

04:45
04:50
06:57
09:11
12:42

5:46:21
5:48:19
6:13:46
6:49:35
6:42:12

03:50
03:10
08:23
09:17
10:46

3:52:44
4:01:19
4:46:42
4:36:29
5:15:23

10:53:57
11:11:58
12:38:01
13:04:05
13:44:42

1:18:28
1:02:33
1:19:43
1:10:55
1:16:20
1:22:42
1:22:25
1:07:09
1:13:20
1:44:58
1:20:41
1:15:17

05:49
06:46
09:01
06:19
08:57
09:31
09:37
11:55
09:36
08:30
08:27
09:22

5:43:18
5:36:23
6:11:52
6:36:52
6:10:00
6:06:45
5:58:15
6:09:18
6:40:50
6:37:52
7:03:46
06:10:12

07:00
07:45
08:26
06:09
10:03
08:16
09:17
11:19
09:25
10:38
10:37
08:16

3:49:28
4:17:52
4:13:45
4:12:23
4:31:20
4:31:23
4:49:20
4:58:08
5:17:34
5:23:33
5:58:31
7:24:01

11:04:03
11:11:18
12:02:47
12:12:37
12:16:39
12:18:37
12:28:54
12:37:49
13:30:45
14:05:30
14:42:01
15:07:08

1:00:41
1:14:39
1:31:01
1:32:47
1:17:09
1:23:23
1:43:17

03:42
08:57
08:09
10:39
06:18
09:24
13:00

5:25:50
6:13:42
6:21:55
6:03:17
6:35:56
7:03:36
7:41:56

04:28
14:13
09:51
12:57
06:23
07:42
15:26

3:54:34
4:46:49
4:50:54
5:32:05
5:46:33
5:11:39
6:34:48

10;29:15
12:38:21
13:01:51
13:31:44
13:52:19
13:55:43
16:28:28

1:16:56
1:26:46
1:18:44
1:03:15
1:05:36
1:21:44
1:37:59
1:12:56

03:59
04:53
05:20
05:41
06:41
08:51
09:35
08:58

5:53:25
6:06:15
6:12:31
5:49:10
6:24:21
6:04:17
6:55:13
6:51:02

04:46
05:18
06:04
05:09
07:47
08:17
08:38
09:52

4:29:31
4:31:30
4:37:24
5:26:21
4:47:10
5:19:54
5:57:10
6:43:26

11:48:37
12:14:43
12:20:03
12:29:37
12:31:35
13:03:02
14:48:35
15:06:14

1:11:11
1:22:46
1:23:32
1:25:07

05:12
08:57
07:11
14:02

6:03:33
6:33:03
7:55:31
7:33:33

05:14
09:30
08:20
14:05

4:55:36
4:55:10
5:00:16
6:01:45

12:20:46
13:09:27
14:34:50
15:28:32

1:39:29

07:00

6:51:34

09:37

5:48:53

14:36:33

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

133

RESULTS SUZUKI STATS HUB

IRONMAN 70.3 GEELONG
Geelong, Vic., Australia - March 26, 2023

Swim 1.9km | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km
Pos. Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

Male
1
Mike Phillips (NZL)
2 Steven McKenna (AUS)
3 Nicolas Free (AUS)

22:43
22:34
22:39

02:15
01:59
01:59

1:58:53
2:04:20
2:04:18

01:34
01:28
01:33

1:14:36
1:10:15
1:11:28

3:40:01
3:40:40
3:41:58

IRONMAN CAIRNS
Cairns, Australia - June 18, 2023

IRONMAN 70.3 ASIA PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Swim 3.8km | Bike 180km | Run 42.2km
Pos. Name

Langkawi, Malaysia - October 7, 2023

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

45:10
45:12
48:13

02:17
02:17
02:14

4:23:14
4:23:13
4:29::27

01:45
01:49
02:08

2:37:45
2:48:28
2:42:53

7:50:11
8:01:00
8:04:55

46:53
48:11
48:14

02:18
02:17
02:14

4:21:29
4:29:27
4:47:24

01:50
01:49
02:56

3:04:45
2:57:17
2:58:16

8:17:14
8:19:02
8:39:03

Male
§1 Braden Currie (NZL)
2 Steven McKenna (AUS)
3 Tim Van Berkel (AUS)
Also
5 Mike Phillips (NZL)
6 Ben Phillips (NZL)
9 Matt Kerr (NZL)

Pos. Name

SELECTED IRONMAN PRO
Cork, Ireland - August 11, 2023

Swim 1.9km | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km
Pos. Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

Male
1
Kyle Smith (NZL)
2 Nicholas Quenet (RSA)
3 Kristoffer Visti Graae (DEN)

15:19
14:43
17:25

02:14
02:20
02:31

2:08:02
2:13:49
2:11:12

02:00
01:51
01:42

1:14:38
1:17:30
1:20:16

3:42:13
3:50:12
3:53:06

Tallinn, Estonia - August 25, 2023

Swim 1.9km | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km
Pos. Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

Male
1
Pieter Heemeryck (GER)
2 Mike Phillips (NZL)
3
Alessandro Fabian (ITA)

23:16
23:15
22:45

01:21
01:42
01:27

1:58:01
1:57:38
2:01:55

01:35
01:31
01:01

1:12:43
1:14:48
1:12:40

3:36:56
3:38:55
3:39:48

Female
5 Amelia Watkinson (NZL)

26:43

01:41

2:15:06

01:23

1:22:29

4:07:23

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

23:15
23:24
23:18

02:02
01:56
02:01

2:05:24
2:05:16
2:05:19

0:36
00:29
00:37

1:19:30
1:21:18
1:23:18

3:50:47
3:52:23
3:54:33

25:15
27:29
24:51

02:12
02:04
02:12

2:11:45
2:18:19
2:20:53

00:44
00:31
01:15

1:16:31
1:21:38
1:26:43

3:56:26
4:10:00
4:15:55

25:21
25:27
25:24

02:16
02:03
02:11

2:22:38
2:22:47
2:22:54

00:48
00:30
00:39

1:19:14
1:25:18
1:29:50

4:10:17
4:16:05
4:20:59

32:50

02:21

2:46:10

00:52

1:36:53

4:59:06

California, USA - October 27, 2023

Swim 3.8km | Bike 180km | Run 42.2km
Pos. Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

Male
1
Dan Plews (NZL)
2 Raynard Picard (MEX)
3 Jamie Woodbury (CAN)

36:27
42:28
37:19

05:06
06:32
05:42

4:23:27
4:30:20
4:33:58

03:08
04:08
04:01

2:48:48
2:56:00
3:00:02

7:56:56
8:19:28
8:21:01

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

11:31
11:43
11:41

02:18
02:20
02:21

1:56:36
2:00:01
2:02:37

01:02
01:14
01:12

1:08:00
1:12:07
1:10:01

3:19:29
3:27:28
3:27:54

11:41
13:58
13:15

02:21
02:42
02:46

02:04:57
02:10:39
-

01:07
01:04
-

1:10:12
1:22:18
-

3:30:21
3:50:43
DNF

14:56
12:15
12:11

02:59
02:43
02:37

02:14:14
02:16:33
02:16:39

01:07
01:08
01:21

1:20:12
1:21:29
1:22:24

3:53:30
3:54:10
3:55:15

16:23
15:02
14:13

03:01
02:55
02:51

02:22:36
02:22:36
02:24:29

01:10
01:17
01:36

1:21:59
1:26:01
1:26:32

04:05:12
04:07:53
4:09:44

IRONMAN 70.3 MELBOURNE
St Kilda, Vic., Australia - November 12, 2023

Swim 900m | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km
Pos. Name

IRONMAN 70.3 SUNSHINE COAST
Mooloolaba, Qld., Australia - September 10, 2023

Swim 1.9km | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km

134

Swim

IRONMAN CALIFORNIA

IRONMAN 70.3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Female
1
Rebecca Clarke (NZL)
2 Readka Kahlefeldt (AUS)
3 Sophie Perry (AUS)
Also
10 Deborah Fuller (NZL)
11 Laura Wood (NZL)
13 Heather Neill (NZL)

Male
1
Josh Amberger (AUS)
2 Mike Phillips (NZL)
3 Kurt McDonald (AUS)
Also
4 Ben Hamilton (NZL)
8 Jayden Kuijpers (NZL)
10 Matt Kerr (NZL)
Female
1
Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
2 Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
3 Lottie Lucas (UAE)
Also
8 Heather Neill (NZL)

IRONMAN 70.3 IRELAND

Pos. Name

Swim 1.9km | Bike 90.1km | Run 21.1km

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

25:25
27:21
28:07

01:33
01:36
01:43

2:21:07
2:22:59
2:22:10

01:20
01:29
01:38

1:24:17
1:23:29
1:23:48

4:13:43
4:16:53
4:17:27

32:38
27:26
33:01

1:50
01:44
02:10

2:30:26
2:28:23
2:34:05

1:30
01:45
02:01

1:26:47
1:34:45
1:33:39

4:33:11
4:34:03
4:44:56

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

Male
1
Hayden Wilde (NZL)
2 Nick Thompson (AUS)
3 Steven McKenna (AUS)
Also
5 Sam Osborne (NZL)
24 Mike Tong (NZL)
DNF Matt Kerr
Female
1
Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
2 Natalie van Coevorden (AUS)
3 Lotte Wilms (NLD)
Also
6 Deborah Fuller (NZL)
8 Laura Armstrong (NZL)
9
Samantha Kingsford (NZL)

BACK TO START LIST

PROFESSIONAL TRIATHLETES
ORGANISATION TOUR (PTO)

Pos. Name
3 Jason West (USA)
Also
DNF Mike Phillips (NZL)

PTO EUROPEAN OPEN
Ibiza, Spain - May 6, 2023

Swim 2km | Bike 100km | Run 18km
Pos. Name
Male
1
Max Neumann (AUS)
2 Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
3 Magnus Ditlev (DEN)
Also
9th Kyle Smith (NZL)
Female
1
Anne Haug (GER)
2 Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
3 Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR)
Also
16 Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
17 Rebecca Clarke (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

22:53
23:42
23:48

1:03
1:10
1:22

1:50:07
1:50:07
1:48:55

0:45
0:43
0:44

58:56
58:29
1:00:45

3:13:46
3:14:13
3:15:36

22:45

1:02

1:50:10

0:41

1:03:52

3:18:32

27:03
26:30
24:18

1:16
1:10
1:18

2:05:51
2:06:04
2:06:27

0:53
0:48
0:46

1:02:55
1:05:55
1:08:04

3:38:00
1:05:55
3:40:56

28:11
24:48

1:15
1:23

2:11:11
2:07:45

0:57
0:58

1:09:10
1:16:07

3:50:46
3:51:02

PTO ASIAN OPEN
Marina Bay, Singapore - August 19, 2023

Swim 2km | Bike 100km | Run 18km
Pos. Name

Swim

Male
1
Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) 25:55:00
2 Pieter Heemeryck (GER)
26:09:00

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

0:47
1:00

1:52:48
1:50:03

0:46
1:13

1:00:29
1:04:18

3:20:47
3:22:46

Female
1
Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
2 Anne Haug (GER)
3 Chelsea Sodaro (USA)
Also
6 Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
13 Rebecca Clarke (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

25:58:00

0:59

1:55:17

0:44

1:01:02

3:24:02

27:23:00

0:59

28:20:00
29:00:00
28:20:00

0:56
0:53
1:07

2:03:42
2:05:38
2:08:52

0:51
0:57
1:01

1:07:25
1:07:01
1:06:48

3:41:15
3:34:31
3:46:09

31:27:00
27:25:00

1:04
1:09

2:06:38
2:09:32

0:53
1:01

1:09:02
1:19:27

3:49:16
3:58:35

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

25:45
26:35
25:37

1:25
1:16
1:10

1:44:38
1:49:18
1:45:03

1:09
1:06
1:17

1:01:13
56:22
1:01:40

3:14:11
3:14:39
3:14:49

26:55

1:32

1:51:05

1:07

1:05:30

3:26:11

27:46
28:19
28:21

1:36
1:11
1:24

1:55:14
1:57:55
1:56:26

1:15
1:16
1:29

1:07:07
1:05:08
1:10:02

3:32:58
3:33:49
3:37:43

27:47

1:24

2:01:17

1:26

1:18:34

3:50:28

Mechanical

DNF

PTO U.S.OPEN
Milwaukee, USA - August 4, 2023

Swim 2km | Bike 100km | Run 18km
Pos. Name
Male
1
Jan Frodeno (GER)
2 Jason West (USA)
3 Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
Also
21 Braden Currie (NZL)
Female
1
Taylor Knibb (USA)
2 Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
3 Paula Findlay (CAN)
Also
16 Rebecca Clarke (NZL)

CHALLENGE FAMILY
CHALLENGE SALOU
Salou, Spain - June 4, 2023

Swim 1.9km | Bike 85km | Run 21km
Pos. Name

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

Female
1
Grace Thek (AUS)
2 Rebecca Clarke (NZL)
3 Barbara Riveros (Chile)

26:15
24:48
26:13

-

2:05:48
2:07:07
2:09:06

-

1:21:50
1:26;29
1:25:29

3:53:53
3:58:24
4:00:38

GARMIN NOOSA TRIATHLON
Noosa, QLD, Australia - November 5, 2023

Swim 1500m | Bike 40km | Run 10km
Pos. Name
Elite Men
1
Hayden Wilde (NZL)
2 Matthew Hauser (AUS)
3 Henri Shoeman
Also
14 Matt Kerr (NZL)
Elite Women
1
Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
2 Sophie Malowiecki (AUS)
3 Richelle Hill (AUS)
Also
12 Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
13 Hannah Knighton (NZL)

Swim

T1

Bike

T2

Run

Time

17:11
16:29
16:31

01:36
01:42
01:39

50:46
51:57
52:43

01:45
01:12
01:23

30:33
30:45
32:01

1:41:56
1:42:09
1:44:20

18:54

02:02

55:56

01:44

37:00

1:55:40

19:16
19:13
19:12

01:49
01:50
01:57

58:26
58:31
58:25

01:33
01:28
01:32

34:06
35:45
36:07

1:55:13
1:56:49
1:57:14

21:33
19:07

01:58
01:50

1:00:17
1:02:24

01:36
01:39

37:31
40:29

02:02:57
02:05:31

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

135

PHOTO FINISH

136

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

BACK TO START LIST

Fuel to the fire
F

PHOTO: WORLD TRIATHLON

or two thirds of the Paris Olympic Test Event in
July, Hayden Wilde had us believing the hip he
inexplicably injured in a bizarre before dawn, slowspeed crash riding to the race venue wasn’t so serious
after all. With a swift swim and much faster ride proper,
the Kiwi No.1 had eventual winner Alex Yee seriously
under the pump. But then, just a few agonising metres
into the 1500m run, somber reality depressingly set in.
Wilde’s DNF will only fuel his bid to eclipse his Tokyo
Olympic bronze and Birmingham Commonwealth
Games silver and while the XXXIII Games dress
rehearsal won’t be forgotten, the trademark smile
was soon back. Don’t believe us? Click over…

TRIATHLON QUARTERLY

137