Tuesday, October 17, 2017
TWO-TIME winner Daniel Jones is interviewed by race organiser Mike van der Boom at the completion of the Motu Challenge on Saturday. Photo supplied
DANIEL Jones is not one to shy away from a challenge.
The former Whakatane athlete now Wellington financial analyst was the first man home in Saturday’s Motu Challenge and, in a few weeks, he’s off to China to compete in a 100 kilometre ultra-marathon.
In between times, he’ll be back in the Eastern Bay in a fortnight to take on Kawerau’s King of the Mountains.
Jones said Saturday’s event was a little slower than his winning time last year. This year’s winning time for the four-discipline distance was 7 hours and 36 minutes, 20 minutes faster than second-placed Andrew Sclater.
“We had a pretty stiff head wind during the run, but I did that stretch faster than I did last year. It was the other sections where I was slower,” he said.
“I’m pretty happy with the result though. It was a hard day and you don’t really know how you are going until you get to the end.”
He said the ground conditions had held up fairly well, considering the recent heavy rains, “but it was a bit mucky during the run on the trails”.
Saturday’s event was just the second time Daniel has competed in the open men’s individual event – and it is the second time he has won.
“I have done the run a few times before, when I was at school and a couple of times after I had finished school.”
While he’s looking forward to his China expedition, he’s hoping his run in the ultra event will be fine.
“It’s probably a decision I’ll regret, but I won’t know until I’ve done it!”
The next few weeks will be hard out training, completing distances of 100 to 150 kilometres a week to get in shape for China.
Nelson’s Elina Ussher was the first woman home – making her the undisputed queen of multisport after taking the win for the 11th time.
Ussher finished the gruelling 65 kilometre mountain bike, 20 kilometre run, 60 kilometre road cycle and 27 kilometre kayak event in a blistering time of 8 hours and 19 minutes. In second place was Jessica Dean who completed the distance 44 minutes later.
Sixteen-year-old Oliver Thompson completed the challenge in 8 hours and 21 minutes, 11 minutes faster than his 2016 time.
The Trident High School student’s time was impressive, given that the river flow on the kayak section was much lower than it was last year. Oliver’s fourth place overall was a huge leap from last year’s 15th place and bodes well for future success.
Former Olympic swimmer Moss Burmester finished 15th in just under nine hours. He received some ribbing at the end of the event for taking a swim on the kayak course when he was tipped out of his racing kayak on one of the grade two rapids on the Waioeka River.
Gisborne athlete Jack McLauglin took first placing in the Riverlock Motu 160 race – an event that comprises a 65-kilometre mountain bike and 90-kiolmetre road cycle ride – in 4 hours 51 minutes. Hamilton’s Megan Arthur won the women’s section in 5 hours 32 minutes.
The Motu Duathlon was won by Rotorua’s Olly Shaw in 6 hours 31 minutes.