Duathlon: Flat tyre's factor but wrong turn just fine

Steve Charles on his way to victory.

Steve Charles was pushed to new speeds in a duathlon in Havelock North on Sunday.

Charles (open) won The Hits Long Course (4.5km run, 22km cycle, 4.5km run) in 1h 9m 10s in the second of the Friendly Dental Duathlon Series.

Josh Page (open) was second in 1h 14m 51s in the Pure Catering-sponsored event.

But it could have been Graeme Buscke's day, after he led the men on the first run. Charles said Buscke pushed him to a speed he's never run before, running 3m 29s kilometre average.

"It took me the first lap of the bike to recover," Charles said.

"I passed him on the second lap and shortly after I passed him he got a flat tyre, unfortunately."

That put Buscke out of the race.

The duathlon series is a good yardstick for Charles, who is training for the ITU World Triathlon Championship in September. It will be his third time competing on the world stage but, this year, he is doing all three events, standard distance (1500m swim, 40km bike 10k run), sprint and aquathon.

Not only are the duathlons keeping him fit but they're also "good fun" he said.

Karen Toulmin (open) won the women's race in 1h 17m 28s, despite taking a wrong turn on the bike and doing an extra 1.5km.

Linda Exeter-Grant was second in 1h 20m 21s.

In the Horleys-sponsored middle distance race (4km run, 22km, 2km run), Sophie Hogan (junior) was the first woman home in 1hr 19m 19s followed by Kim Exeter (vet 2) in 1hr 22 48s.

Oliver Postings (vet 1) was the quickest man in 1hr 9, 3s with Mark Riddell in second place in 1h 12m 53s.

Portia Wright (junior) was the quickest over the Peak Fitness Short Course (2km run, 11km cycle, 2km run) in 44m 27s backing up last month's win. Katelyn Garbes was second in 44m 40s.

Meanwhile, a father-son battle dominated the men's race with 12-year-old Kairon Pimm winning in 38m 38s.

His father Murray Pimm crossed the line in 40m 08s.