Shaw eyeing long-term future in Ironman New Zealand

Olly Shaw in action during the 21.1km run section of the 2017 Port of Tauranga Half. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Rotorua's Olly Shaw is eyeing a future in Ironman New Zealand events after a disappointing finish in the Port of Tauranga Half.

Shaw, 25, finished 11th overall, in a field of just over 470 competitors, completing the 2km swim at Pilot Bay, 90km bike leg and 21.1km run, in a time of 04h 00m 54s.

The course record was smashed by Wanaka's Braden Currie in 3h 45m 38s in Tauranga on Saturday.

The local triathlete said he wasn't pleased with his performance and added falling off from the front pack in the swim cost him dearly.

"I am disappointed with how I finished. I had a good start in the swim but then it was really rough water. The wind was up and I fell off from the front group about half way through," he said.

"It's always difficult to come back from that.

"It was one of the most competitive fields I've seen for this event with such quality and depth. I mean look how Braden did, it's not an easy course record to beat."

Shaw clocked split times of 23m 25s for the swim, 2h 12m 45s on the bike and 1h 22m 37s for the run.

"The front group pushed forward when they rode together on the bike," he said.

"I did my best but there was too much left for me to do in the run. I felt good early on and set a good pace but then I dropped off. I don't know if it was a combination of recent nutrition and fitness that let me down."

It was a tough 90km bike leg for Olly Shaw on the weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Shaw has had a turbulent recent period of competition after having to pull out of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman 70.3 in Taupo last month after suffering a hefty puncture during the bike section.

He will now take a week off to recover and plan for the rest of the year.

"I'm definitely going to take this time off to completely rest. I trained hard over the Christmas period and need a break," he said.

"But I do need to take this time to also set myself up for the rest of the year."

Shaw will remain in Rotorua ,where he has had training support from the Rotorua Association of Triathletes, swim coach Henk Greupink and endurance coach Mark Leishman, but will seek additional input.

"I've had great support from the community here and I am not going to look elsewhere apart from when I have to travel to compete," he said.

"But I will be looking at the idea of possible new coaches and see what new approaches they can offer."

Shaw, a professional Xterra athlete, said his main aim for this year was to finish in the top five at the Xterra World Championships at Maui, Hawaii, at the end of October, with the long term aim to move into the Ironman New Zealand field.

"I want to do well on the Xterra circuit and my training and competing will be geared around doing the best I can in Hawaii towards the end of the year," he said.

"I do want to venture into Ironman. I'm thinking in the next couple of years and it would be great to make the podium for some of them.

"I think I'm better suited to those longer races both mentally and physically. Also Ironman is less about pack racing and more about your own race."