Taupo Half Ironman: Bowstead brothers share podium

Olly Shaw

Taupo local Graham O'Grady has fallen just short of defending his title at the Kellog's Nutri-Grain Taupo Half.

O'Grady finished second behind champion Mark Bowstead (Waiuku) during the half ironman event on Saturday, which was staged on the same day as the Rotorua Half Ironman.

Bowstead finished the race in under four hours, stopping the clock at 3hr 59min 51sec.

O'Grady was five minutes behind him in second and Waiuku's James Bowstead finished in third, about seven minutes behind his brother Mark.

The top Rotorua athlete was Olly Shaw who finished in eighth with a time of 4hr 14min 59sec.

In the women's race, Aucklander Ashleigh Williams was too fast for her nearest rivals, crossing the finish line in 4hr 43min 18sec.

Williams also won the Sovereign Tri Series Tinman Sprint last weekend at Mount Maunganui.

- Kellog's Nutri-Grain Taupo Half results:

Men: 1 Mark Bowstead (Waiuku) 03:59:51, 2 Graham O'Grady (Taupo) 04:05:04, 3 James Bowstead (Waiuku) 04:07:37.

Women: 1 Ashleigh Williams (Auckland) 04:43:18, 2 Vanessa Murray (Auckland) 04:48:26, 3 Jo Carrel (Auckland) 04:52:35.