Top performances by Tri HB at Tinman

TOP PERFORMERS: Tri HB members Kate O'Malley (left), Amber Morrison, Sophie Hogan, Fred Koenders, Naomi Fergusson and Steve Charles posted strong performances at the Sovereign Tri Series Tinman race.

Amber Morrison didn't know what to expect for her first "serious" triathlon.
So a second placing in her age group was a nice surprise.

Morrison was one of four Hawke's Bay triathletes to make the podium at the first event of the national Sovereign Tri Series in Tauranga at the weekend.

She was the second woman in the 30-34 age group over the standard distance Tinman race (1500km swim, 36km cycle, 10km run) with a time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 27 seconds.

The former runner who has represented the country in orienteering said she was nervous going in especially about the "madness" of the mass swim start.

"Once that was over the rest fun, hard but fun."

Although she's had to adjust to running off the bike Morrison found her pace and felt good on the run. The race was a good gage on how her training is going for the half ironman event Harbour to Hills in Napier in April.

Naomi Fergusson returned to racing winning the women's 35-39 age group in a time of 1hr 9m 23s over the 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5.5 km run.

The former professional triathlete has struggled with illness and injury in recent years.

She said it had been so long since she'd raced that she had to dust off her aero bars before putting them back on the bike.

"I was sick of missing out. I was pretty excited racking the bike and it felt fantastic to be participating rather than on the side lines."

In the men's race Steve Charles was 3rd over the line in 1 hr 59m 51s. Strong performances over a number of races last season saw Charles named age grouper of the year. He was looking forward to racing more of the series over summer.

Fred Koenders also took 3rd in the 60-64 age group in a time of 2hr 30m 1s. Having no expectations going into the race, Koenders was pleased with his performance and hoped it would confirm his spot in the 2017 World Championship team headed for Rotterdam.

"It would be a good opportunity to see my daughter in London and my Dutch family."

The Sovereign Tri Series Tinman was a qualifying race for the World Championships offering four places in each age group.

Kate O'Malley posted a strong performance finishing 4th in the 24-25 age group in the standard race in a time of 2 hr 13m 35s.

While Taradale High School student Sophie Hogan also raced well finishing 7th in the 16-19 age group in the sprint in a time of 1hr 9m 3s.

Triathlon Hawke's Bay general manager Mike Bond said it was a fantastic performance by club members.