"It was a tough day. I came to this race as it's a similar course to Challenge Wanaka, a nice hilly bike and an off-road run. I rode at Ironman pace but I got off and felt flat on the run. I felt a bit sluggish all day but I didn't really rest up for this."
He said the weather didn't come into play too much and he wasn't sure how much time he gained by cutting off his famed dreadlocks.
"I think I'll notice the difference [without my dreadlocks] on a hot day but they usually got pretty heavy when wet. This weather takes the boredom away and adds to the excitement."
The race involved a 2km swim, 90km cycle to Lake Rotoma and back and a 21km run, including a lap out to the Lake Tarawera look-out.
The rain didn't start until competitors were on their bikes and lashed down as they returned to start their muddy run.
Results:
Half-Ironman: Men: Kieran Doe 4:16:17 1, Simon Cochrane 4:16:17 2, Matt Parsonage 4:22:50 3. Rotorua: Oliver Shaw 4:26:27, Lawrence Oldershaw 4:34:34, Andrew Hiscoke 4:35:05, Nathan Bennett 4:45:21, John Gray 5:00:59, Adam Marshment 5:02:03, Anton Bergs 5:02:53, Greg Scott 5:09:19, Matt Dalton 5:26:07, Grant Utteridge 5:41:39, Richard Newbury 6:02:28, Hamish Duncan 6:18:22, Aaron Gillions 6:54:55.
Women: Wendy Nicholls 5:07:24 1, Megan Arthur 5:15:56 2, Susan Horn 5:18:15 3. Rotorua: Leonie Smith 5:34:21.
Teams: Mixed: Team Anna 4:33:56 1, Isak Meyer 4:46:34 2, Goldenbirch 4:56:37 3. Men: Franklin Ladz 5:08:03 1, Tribe of 2 5:18:29 2, Duncan And Co Delicious Derrieres 5:26:01 3. Women: The Rats Executive Domination 4:53:41 1, Naughty & McNaughty 5:08:12 2, Pearson Pros 5:24:55 3.
Quarter-Ironman: Men: Grant Budd 2:25:41 1, Mike McCann 2:46:04 2, Craig Morrison 2:48:53 3. Women: Sue Galpin 2:41:30 1, Linda Van Uden 2:51:31 2, Natalie Irving 2:56:33 3. Rotorua: Mark Enright 3:03:40, David Massey 3:28:35. Teams: Team Manta Ray 2:34:22 1, Puke 3:02:03 2, Forever Hopeful 3:07:39 3.