Trophy to Taupo for Battle of Bays win

IN FRONT: Gisborne Intermediate athletes Jess Kapene (front) and Silke McNaught ride in the teams section of the Battle of the Bays triathlon. Picture by Liam Clayton

TAUPO Intermediate won the war at the Battle of the Bays triathlon in Gisborne on Friday.

Taupo collected the overall school trophy, fending off the challenges of Ilminster and Gisborne Intermediate and a multitude of Bay of Plenty schools in the individual and team event.

While Taupo’s triathletes did not win any individual titles, they were prominent in the team racing. They filled all top three places in the Year 8 boys’ division and were first and second in the Y7 boys.

That helped them to 27 points, three ahead of Gisborne Intermediate.

The triathlon was run by Ilminster and based at Beacon Reserve.

It comprised the same distance for all competitors — a 350-metre ocean swim, 12-kilometre cycle ride and three-kilometre run to the finish line.

Local students did the double in the individual boys’ race — Lachie Falloon (Gis Int) winning the Y8 title and Matthew Ney (Ilm), the Y7.

Jack Willock (Gis Int) was second to Falloon while Tui Ruifrok (Ilm) was second in the Y7 girls’ division.

Lucy Bartlett (Mt Maunganui) won the Y8 girls’ title and Lulu Johnson (Otumoetai) the Y7 girls’ race

In other team results, Gis Int were second in the Y7 girls’ division won by Whakatane; Gis Int were third in the Y8 girls’ division won by Otumoetai.