Only days after returning from a European sojourn, Ali Hollington reaffirmed her status as the Queen of the Hawke's Bay Multisport Club at the fifth and final Friendly Dental VLK Duathlon of the winter season.
In her absence, first Bridget Lodge, then Naomi Fergusson had tilted at the throne, bylowering the record for the Revolution Bikes Duathlon (4.5km run, 22km bike, 4.5km run).
But last Sunday Hollington (Vet 1), who recently won the Long Distance World Championships 45-49 age-group (4km swim, 120km bike, 30km run) in Spain, proved that class is permanent. In taking out the final event in a time of one hour 14 minutes and 26 seconds, she lowered the record by 1m 34s. Lodge (Open) came in second in a personal best of 1:16:10.
Hollington's effort was good enough for sixth overall, and was the standout on a day when many athletes recorded personal bests in the near-perfect conditions. She and Lodge were among 15 from the 35-strong Hawke's Bay contingent bound for the World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Auckland next month to do so.
Cyclocross star Gary Hall (Open) collected his second consecutive title, recording a strong 1:09.25 - 1:100 faster than last month. Next home were Steve Charles (Open, 1:1100) and Dino Michalakis (Open, 1:11:50).
Indicative of the excellent racing was that a total of 12 athletes went under 1:20.
In the Horleys Duathlon (4.5km run, 22km bike, 2km run) Bruce Lochhead (Vet 2) was in a class of his own, winning in 1:01:29. He was just over four minutes ahead of his nearest opposition, his son James who was first junior home. Daughter Abbie (Junior, 1:21:12) made it a trifecta, taking out the woman's section ahead of Lynne Morgan (Vet 1) and Vicki Fuhrer (Vet 2).
The pace was also hot in the Peak Fitness Duathlon (2km run, 11km bike, 2km run), David Barclay (Vet 2) winning in 37:39, with junior Thomas Christison just under a minute back. First woman home was Karen Moore (Open, 39:59).
