Triathlon: Cameron Brown wins 10th Port of Tauranga Half race

The first three elite men home in the Port of Tauranga Half , left, Braden Currie, Cameron Brown and Mark Bowstead. Photo/George Novak

Are there any superlatives left to do justice to Cameron Brown?

In a fitting result for the 25th Anniversary celebrations for the Port of Tauranga Half triathlon, New Zealand's greatest ever endurance athlete won an incredible 10th title from 13 starts at the age of 41.

"I was trying to enjoy it out there as much as I could because you never know if it is the last title and it is going to get harder and harder to try and win these races because of my age. I am not a spring chicken any more but I am really happy I am going so well at 41.

"I had the worst year of my life last year and just had a shocker. I really needed a break and to get away from the sport so the seven weeks away did me the world of good. It was what I needed after 25 years. I have come back hungrier and stronger and really motivated now. If I hadn't done that I think it would have been history for me.

"To win 10 of these and at the age I am now is pretty awesome and I can retire a happy boy. The first one was great [back in 1998] but to win at 41 is pretty special and there are not many 41-year-olds around the world can do that so I'm very, very happy and looking forward to the Auckland 70.3 and then move on to Taupo (Ironman NZ) in March."

Graham O'Grady (Kinloch) put aside the distraction of becoming a dad for the first time overnight to lead out of the water, closely followed by Mark Bowstead (Auckland), Hamish Hammond (Greytown) and Callum Millward (Auckland), with Brown 41 seconds back in among a chase group that included Coast to Coast champion Braden Currie (Wanaka).

The ride away from Pilot Bay to Papamoa was into a light headwind and saw the field close a little, with Bowstead leading O'Grady and Millward and Brown on his own some two minutes back.

"I had a solid swim but was down two minutes but it was not as much as last year which was pleasing. I rode really well but Mike Bowstead had a great bike ride and had 2 minutes 20 on me. I have always backed my run and I caught him 14km into the run and just felt in control and felt great. I was able to ease back and win my 10th title."

The run around the base track of Mauao is always crucial to the outcome of the Port of Tauranga Half and so it proved again as Brown made up crucial ground on leader Bowstead.

"I took a lot of time out of Mark on the first lap round there so that was really pleasing and once I got out on to the road again I could see him only a minute ahead. Once I got to the turnaround it was probably 40 seconds and then I went passed him at 14km and that was the race done there."

Second-placed Bowstead, 24, is a rising star on the New Zealand triathlon scene and had a successful first year competing in the US in 2013.

He admitted his lead after the bike leg was not good enough to be able to hold Brown off on the run leg.

"He rode really well and I knew I needed more than two minutes to hold Brownie off. I stuck to my own race and was happy with my power.

"I knew what I could do and my run is a work in progress but I am pretty happy with how I went.

"The base track is hard! It seems really long the first time round and the second time round the hills seem a lot harder. I love the bike course as it is flat and fast and you can put your head down and go for it. I will definitely be back. I love this race."

The event carried NZ Long Distance Championship status, with age group spots on the line at the ITU Long Distance Championships in Weihai, China.

Full results: www.tgahalf.co.nz.