One of the biggest fields for years took part in Sunday's Ron Bisset Memorial race - and produced one of the closest finishes.
Police dog handler Jason Page, a triathlon specialist, won the race after an intense battle with Malte Hagener and teenager Jake Jackson-Grammer.
Run by the Wanganui Multisport & Triathlon Club, the annual race - which honours the late Ron Bisset, a former club member and winner of the first triathlon held in New Zealand in 1977 - comprised a 5km run, 20km bike ride and 5km kayak, finishing at the club's headquarters off Anzac Parade.
Page hit the front from the gun and established a sizeable lead over the run. However, Jackson-Grammer, from Palmerston North, showed his cycling prowess and chased him down to take a lead of a few seconds at the second transition.
A smooth changeover saw Page regain the lead on the kayak stretch, but paddling is the strength of multisporter Hagener and he quickly made it a three-way scrap.
Hagener went past Jackson-Grammer and began eating into Page's lead, gaining ground with every stroke. However, a gutsy Page held on to cross the line 12 seconds ahead of Hagener, with Jackson-Grammer in third place.
A full list of results are available on the club website: www.wmtc.co.nz