After two days of magnificent multisport racing, Dougal Allan and Jess Simson won the individual men's and women's titles at the Genesis Energy Lake Waikaremoana Challenge.
It's a huge milestone for both Wanaka athletes. As well as taking the impressive trophies, they beat Richard and Elina Ussher. The Usshers were victorious in all previous Genesis Energy Lake to Lighthouse events, which the Waikaremoana Challenge has replaced.
Simson comes from a running background and is relatively new to multisport, although she raced Godzone. But Allan has been threatening a major win over Ussher for around two years — he has been second three times at Coast to Coast and second at Motu Challenge.
"The race went as good as it could have. I felt I had nothing to lose coming to this race and everything to gain. Then it turned out with the best result I could have ever dreamed of," said a delighted Allan.
Trevor Voyce finished day two just in front of Richard Ussher, to record third place overall. Louise Mark was third woman. Teams racing was taken out by Busch Racing: Dan Busch, Olympic mountain biker Karen Hanlen, and Galatea runner Sjors Corporaal. Cycle Obsession and Cabin Racing rounded out the teams podium.
No wonder the teams racing was exciting. Thanks to Genesis Energy, there was $19,000 to share amongst the contenders, meaning more than just the buzz of competition and the stunning Waikaremoana scenery to inspire the athletes.
The Usshers had a difficult first day and came out fighting this morning. On the opening mountain bike to Home Bay, Richard took off like a cut cat to try and drop Allan — but he wasn't able to. Luke Osborne from Hastings also hung in there.
Into the spectacular lake kayak loop from Home Bay, Ussher and Allan led the race outright. Hanlen handed over to teammate Busch, leading the teams. Busch then had a stormer of a paddle, in marginal conditions.
For the beautiful bush run, Busch Racing's Corporaal led the field overall, holding off the charge of a fast-starting Phil Costely (Cycle Obsession). After a measured start, Allan delivered a sterling run, taking time out of Ussher.
And so to the final stage, which like the paddle and run started at Home Bay, Corporaal handed over to teammate Hanlen who anchored the teams and overall win. Raewyn Morrison rode home for Cycle Obsession, with Mark Leishman (Cabin racing) narrowing the margin by the finish.
Olympian Hanlen put their win down to "good team work. We had an awesome team. I'm real stoked to be part of it. I got a massive lead from Dan [Busch] and Sjors [Corporaal] so I could take it a little easier on the downhill today."
In the individual race, Allan stormed through Home Bay. Minutes later, Ussher knew this wasn't his race and paused to cycle home with a catching Voyce.
"The running was the biggest opportunity to do well," said Allan. "The runs were the most beautiful parts of the course. I think I won the race in the runs sections and particularly today, Rich may have been a bit off colour and sometimes you just have to take your opportunities when they come. It's very encouraging coming into summer with this result."
The individual women's race was close all day, with Elina Ussher taking time out of Jess Simson on the first mountain bike and paddle, but Simson recouping that on the run. Ussher got to the finish first, but only just, and with her day-one lead, Simson had the overall Genesis Energy Waikaremoana Challenge title in her hands.
"I managed to catch Elina coming back into transition [run/mountain bike]," said Simson. "The race was just magic, from the camaraderie of the competitors to all the volunteers out there and the terrain, you just couldn't get better."
In the veteran men's category, Gordon Townsend, that's Flash, put in another impressive performance, taking the race win from Philip Dooney.
We've been hearing good things all weekend from the athletes, and just as importantly from the crews, about this new course. The Genesis Energy Waikaremoana Challenge is more manageable than the Lake to Lighthouse, but it's still true to its name — a challenge. With the loop paddle and run courses, things are a lot more relaxed for crews and the course even more stunning based up at the lake."
"We're rapt with how it's all gone," said race director Chris Joblin. "It's a new chapter. The locals always get behind the race and this year was no exception, their support was heartfelt. The athletes gave it their all, and we've got new race champions. And the course worked really well. People are tired — but they're smiling."
