Shock win for athletes

WAIRARAPA athletes returned from the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman at the weekend well satisfied with their combined efforts.
Sue Bankier and Sue Lyttle combined to contest the women's team event and won that category outright while Neil Cameron, of Mauriceville, produced a personal best of 5.39.47 to place 25th in the M50 category. The other Wairarapa competitor, Lucy Evans, placed 24th in the F20 in a stunning 5.16.50.
The significance of Bankier and Lyttle's win was made even sweeter given that the combined age of the two is 94 and they had been ranked 32 out of 39 women's teams.
The two women also chose to compete as a two- person team while most of those they beat opted to race with three for each of the Half Ironman's disciplines.
Bankier took the first leg clocking 32 minutes for the 2km swim to set Lyttle off on the cycling leg where she hauled in six other teams in a time of 2.29.06 over the four-lap, 90km course.
This put Bankier and Lyttle firmly in line for the women's team title.
Lyttle handed over the lead to Bankier who held position on the 21km run to clinch the win for her and her partner in a time of 4.48.03 ? a good five minutes clear of their nearest rivals.