The conditions on Saturday morning could not have been more perfect for the 31st Air New Zealand Rarotonga Triathlon which was held, with grateful thanks to the Raina family, from the Tri Site behind Enua Manea Hall in Titikaveka.

Seventy-five (75) athletes gathered in front of the calm and beautiful lagoon, racking bikes and taking in the occasion. The traditional warrior greeting sent the competitors out into the water to begin the first challenge of the afternoon, a 1500 metre swim.

The calm conditions produced some very fast swim times, with Jared Eagar, who had previously won the CITC Boiler Swim on Thursday, the first to exit the water in a time of 22:17 minutes. Eager was competing in the teams’ competition, and he was followed closely by athletes in the individual competition, our local tinman champ David Robati in a time of 22:25 mins, Carl and Olivia Ritchie, and Martina Wreford and Maya Postrzygacz. 

The swimmers charged from the sea to their bikes to begin the 42-kilometre cycle leg taking them from Tikioki into town, and out to Black Rock, where they climbed hospital hill before turning out towards Arorangi and then making a full turn back to the start.

There was a hearstopping moment for Wreford as she unracked her bike to find her tyre was flat, and it was impressive how calm she was in dealing with a difficult situation under pressure. The delay cost her eight minutes and she had to chase hard to catch up with the athletes who were now far ahead of her. 

Conditions on the cycle were good, with everyone enjoying the smooth road into town. 

Alyce Edwards, the team cyclist for South n Surf who knows the route well, with a police escort in front of her cycled a blistering time of 1:08:59 hours. Rob Dalimore of Auckland City Tri Club took the lead in the men’s race with the fastest cycle of the day 1:08:02 hrs, followed by chasers Carl Ritchie and local men, Roland Neururer and David Robati. 

In the ladies race, Olivia Ritchie was looking strong at the front, being chased by local tinman champ 17-year-old Maya Postrzygacz and Martina Wreford and defending champion Adrianna Skurosz, who had also suffered a puncture in Muri, both trying to make up lost time.

In the team’s race, where competitors can share the race legs between two or three people, Team Taupo put in a solid effort followed by many time visitors Team Pukekohe Travel and the amazing juniors Tri n Stop Us. 

As solid stream of competitors entered and left the transition area, and the fastest cyclists were onto their run. It was a very hot day and the intesnse heat was really challenging. Water stations manned by the Girl Guides were very welcome and provided much needed relief. 

The men’s race had some exciting twists, with Carl Ritchie passing defending champion Rob Dallimore at about the 2.5km mark and Roland Neururer taking the lead for the locals at 5km.

Carl continued to run a superb leg to win the overall title in a time of 2:18:07 hrs, second place went to Dallimore 2:20:13 hrs and for the 14^th year, the first local man title went to Cook Islands Triathlon president Roland Neururer in a time of 2:32:53 hrs.

For the 14th year, the first local man title went to Cook Islands Triathlon president Roland Neururer in a time of 2:32:53 hrs. MELINA ETCHES/25050405

For the first time, the event had a husband-and-wife champions as Carl’s wife Olivia, the defending ladies champion, came home victorious for the third year in a row in a time of 2:24:23, followed in second place by Martina Wreford 2:41:29 and third lady across the line was first local lady Maya Postrzygacz in a time of 2:43:15.

Local athletes all performed extremely well, with Brooke Ross, Adrianna Skurosz, Lauren Turner and Tarina Moorfield taking the next successive places and Grace Henry coming in 10^th. 

Daniel Jarvis placing fourth male and David Robati, Mike Carr and Tom White placing seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively. Jacob Pynenburg, Andrew Menzies, Matt Sullivan and Travis Edwards also completed the whole event with excellent times.

In the teams’ race, the locals were clearly fast and furious and Team South n Surf – Jared Eagar, Alyce Edwards and Pip Hansen – dominated the race with the fastest swim by Eagar and fastest team cycle by Edwards followed with a solid 10km by Hansen to seal the win in a time of 2:22:21.  The second team Taupo made up of Paul Ritchie, Margueritte Ritchie and Ben Wreford, who had the fastest run of the day, finished in a total time of 2:27:16 and third placed Team Pukekohe Travel of Helen Murphy, Joan Murphy and ten year old Zane Dullard came in at 2:38:44. The junior team made up of Olivia Postrzygacz (15), Edmund Postrzygacz (14) and Ryan Street (12) had a superb race, finishing in a time of 2:42:34 with an impressive placing of fourth team overall. 

Local athletes were also well represented in the teams’ race and it was great to see so many familiar faces enjoying the sport and competition of triathlon for so many years.

Prize giving on Sunday afternoon at The Edgewater Resort and Spa recognised all of the achievements of the 75 athletes, many of whom come year after year to compete in what is known as the friendliest triathlon.

Air New Zealand’s very generous sponsorship saw the winners awarded with vouchers for return flights for next year’s competition, along with a host of upgrade spot prizes awarded to various competitors. Air New Zealand also celebrated all the age group winners and it was great to recognise the former principal of Titikaveka College, John Burgh, who won the 80+ age group and Maggie Ward, who won the 70-79 category in the ladies race. 

The Cook Islands Triathlon Association would like to express its sincere thanks to all of the following who made the race on Saturday afternoon possible – major sponsor for the 31^st consecutive year, Air New Zealand, as well as supporting sponsors, The Edgewater Resort and Spa, BSP, Cook Islands Tourism, CITC, Ride Rarotonga, Vaima Water, The Bond Store and Island Car and Bike Hire, the landowners The Raina Family, Cook Islands Police, Tarina and the team at Rarotonga Home Healthcare Services,  Roly and Corey and the team from Cook Islands Canoeing Association, Nikao Girl Guides, Jacapo, Taua and the Rarotonga Sailing Club, Jules and the team at Ariki Adventures, and all of the marshals who so generously gave their time on Saturday to ensure the event was safe and successful.

The Hash House Harriers hosted a run/walk for all on Monday from Vaimaanga, followed by a BBQ.  The culmination of the week’s races will be the Ride Rarotonga Round Rarotonga Cycle Race, a fast and furious lap of the island, which starts at 4.45pm on Tuesday (today) from the BSP Bank in town. Road users are advised to use caution and be very vigilant as the riders will be cycling in large groups at high speeds. This will be followed by a wrap up dinner at The Edgewater Resort and Spa to close the week’s festivities.

• Lucy McDonald of CITAI