It was another big turnout on Takapuna Beach for Race 4 of the State Beach Series Tuesday night. Conditions for competitors on top of the water were near perfect but for those in the water; the temperature was a little cooler than expected.
Newcomer Ben Gillies was first ashore in the men's 1km swim, 6 seconds ahead of youngster Jackson Cropp who has now placed in the top three in all four races. The race has up to this week been dominated by Olympic hopeful Steven Kent who's currently out of the country competing in Germany from where he will head to the Gold Coast for more training in his bid to gain Olympic selection. In the women's event, last years' winner Brenda Russell racked up her second win of the season. "It was much colder than I expected which made breathing harder," Russell said. She and NZ Surf Lifesaver Kirsty Wannan are fighting hard as they both chase the top spot.
The Men's 5km Ski Paddle has seen three of the country's best ocean paddlers contesting top spot. Paddlers took to the ocean on an outward tide and it was Olympian Steven Ferguson who hit the beach first, making it three from four, 19 secs ahead of fellow olympian Ben Fouhy and Travis Mitchell. Rachael Dodwell was the first woman home.
It was a lazy evening workout on the beach for Tara La Grange in the 5km run as she headed the women's field home by almost two minutes making it four wins from four starts while Nick Sutherland ran home first in the men's race.
Troy Houston navigated his way around the 3km course to win the Men's Stand Up Paddle while Stacey Smith was first home in the women's event.
