Currie Takes Speight's Coast To Coast

Braden Currie with his son Tarn (Photo: Getty Images; click to enlarge)

Wanaka-based bike tech Braden Currie has taken out the top spot for the first time in the 31st Speight's Coast to Coast 'Longest Day' one-day competition, with a time of 11hr: 06min: 51sec.

Currie finished with a narrow lead over last year's champion, athlete Richard Ussher of Nelson, who came in a close second, with a time of 11hr: 12min: 37sec.

Dougal Allan, a lifeguard from Wanaka, crossed the finish line at Sumner Beach in third place with a time of 11hr: 21min: 34 sec.

"Last year I learned I could do it – I could race the full distance," Currie says. "This year I wasn't going to go out there and come second, so I did what I had to do."

Currie says he has incredible respect for second place-winner and Currie's mentor Richard Ussher. "Richard has been an icon of this sport and leading the way so I really look up to him. He's helped me out a lot and is probably the reason I'm here. He pushes me and that's what has given me strength."

Richard Ussher and Braden Currie (Photo: Getty Images; click to enlarge)

Currie also says he is extremely lucky to have such a wide network of support from family and friends to cheer him on. "They mean everything to me. I have a large family and they are my inspiration – and they have really loud voices! They always make an effort to be there for me. That's a cool feeling."

Sophie Hart (Photo: Getty Images; click to enlarge)

Sophie Hart of Nelson won the Speight's Coast to Coast female 'Longest Day' event, crossing the finish line at Sumner with a time of 12hr: 36min: 19sec. Hart previously won the women's one-day event at the 2011 Speight's Coast to Coast.

In second place was last year's female winner (and Richard Ussher's wife) Elina Ussher, with a time of 13hr: 11min: 49sec, and Ailsa Rollinson came in third with 13hr: 46min: 37sec.

One-day competitors set off from Kumara Beach on the West Coast at 6am. Over the entire day, they covered 254kms including 140kms of cycling, 36kms of mountain running and 67kms of kayaking.

Speight's Coast to Coast 2012 Two-Day Competition

Seamus Meikle from Greymouth took out the first place with a time of 11hr: 50min: 51sec in the Speight's Coast to Coast 2012 Two-Day Open Men's event. He was followed by Mitch Munro of Christchurch in second place with a time of 12hr: 19min: 10sec. William Sams of Hamilton took third place with a time of 12hr: 25min: 48secs.

The Women's Two-Day Race was won by Jess Simson of Wanaka. She finished with a record time of 12hr: 48min: 11sec. Shanel Cornville of Hamilton (13hr: 56min: 53sec) and Anne Ryan of Auckland (02hr: 01min: 34sec) came in second and third place respectively.

Results: Speight's Coast To Coast

Longest Day

Two Day