The Port of Tauranga Half Ironman race report

The Port of Tauranga Half Ironman is New Zealand’s oldest and most prestigious Half Ironman each year attracting some of the world’s best long distance triathletes.
This year the event, once again hosting the New Zealand Long Distance National Championships, took place on Saturday 5th January 2008 and Trisportnews were there to report from the event.

Transition area

The day started overcast with ideal conditions for racing and the expected high winds on the bike course never really materialised. The 2km swim was a 2 lap rectangular course with a turning point on the beach before entering the water for the second lap.
The gun went off at 6:30 am and over 700 individual competitors started the swim with almost 200 relay athletes following 30 minutes later. Very quickly a group of 8 swimmers established, led by a Kiwi rising star Ironman Kieran Doe and containing most of the pre-race favourites, but missing most notably the 8-times winner Cameron Brown.
The group extended it’s lead on the pursuers and after a lightning fast transition first onto the bike was Stephen Sheldrake with Kieran Doe following closely behind. The second group lead by Cameron Brown was over 3 minutes behind.

Kieran Doe starting the bike leg

The bike course was fairly flat with one long 56km lap and two shorter 17km laps around the Port of Tauranga. Kieran Doe rode very aggressively, using the “praying mantis” position pioneered by Floyd Landis and subsequently banned by the UCI, but evidently still allowed in triathlons. Kieran’s impressive ride gave him a 4 minute lead over the next competitor into T2, Stephen Sheldrake and crucially over a 6 minute lead over Cameron Brown, who has moved through the field into 4th. In the women’s race New Zealand’s Joanna Lawn used her fearsome bike skills to move quickly into the lead and came into transition 2 minutes ahead of Australia’s Kate Bevilaqua.

Cameron Brown on the bike course

Kieran Doe first off the bike

Cameron Brown is one of the best runners in the sport and one of the most experienced and consistent long distance triathletes, but it was going to be a very difficult task to make up the 6 minute deficit in the half marathon that followed.
Onto the run course, which consisted of 2 undulating laps around Mt Maunganui, Cameron Brown was moving quickly through the field with Nathan Richmond also running strongly and Kate Bevilaqua also closing the gap to Joanna Lawn in the women’s race.
In the end Kieran’s lead was enough to give him his first victory in the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman in a fast time of 3:56:41. Cameron Brown finished second in just under 2 minutes behind and another Kiwi Nathan Richmond took the third spot on the podium a further 2 minutes back in 4:00:04.

The winner - Kieran Doe

Cameron Brown finishing second

The first three men - Kieran Doe, Cameron Brown & Nathan Richmond

In the women’s race Kate Bevilaqua eventually passed Joanna Lawn with just under 2km to go and won the race. Joanna finished second just 10 second back, but in the process won the New Zealand Long Distance Championship title to her consolation. Third place went to New Zealand’s Gina Fergusson.

Ladies winners - Kate Bevilaqua & Joanna Lawn

Overall the race was a great success and the organisers have done a good job of putting on a well organised event. Mt Maunganui is a great location for such the race with plenty of good accommodation options varying from a nearby campsite through to rental apartments and some great restaurants within the walking distance from the transition. The course seems fairly tough despite the flat bike course and the only drawback was a relative low number of spectators for such a famous event.