Field twice the size

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The 100-kilometre Coast Duathlon will roll down Gladstone Road for the 29th time tomorrow with one of the largest fields in years.

More than 120 runners and cyclists were entered by last night, in teams or as individuals, which puts upward of 50 on the start line.

With the usual late entries still to come, this is twice the field of last year, and race director Mark Sceats says it reflects the respect held for two of the sport’s identities, Charlie Savage and Richard Coates, who both died in the past year and in whose honour this year’s race is held.

At least a dozen will go it alone — a 14-kilometre run to Tatapouri, 76km cycle to Tokomaru Bay and 10km run to Te Puia’s iconic pub finish line. There are a few bumps in the road to traverse along the way but for most of the field the course is well worn.

The women’s race is one of the best for years, featuring Michelle Rennie, Georgia Halley and Nan Baker. Each of these experienced multisport athletes has strength and pedigree over distance.

There are some new faces in the men’s race, where endurance race veterans Pete Lamont and Keith Scholes are joined by the likes of Pete Rennie, Dougal Watts, Andrew Briant, Peter Blake and Ron Skelton. Strong veteran cyclists and runners feature in the faster combinations among the teams.

Pairs to watch will include men’s teams JP Vorster and Craig Hoskin, Rocky Smyth and Marcus Koll, and Murray van Dorp and Hans van Kregten, with Nan and Andy Baker in the mixed category.

The all-important and always-obliging weather should dawn clear, with a temperature around 20 degrees for most of the morning and a nor’wester to put a little zest into the cycling.

The run down Gladstone Road begins at 7.30am.