Bozzone destroys field in Taupo

By CHRIS BRAMWELL in Taupo
Erratic weather didn't stop over 500 triathletes braving the "filthy" conditions for the 6th annual Cervelo Taupo Half Ironman on Saturday.

A southerly whipped over the lake on the day complete with sleet, hail, howling wind and the occasional calm sunny patch.

Race organiser Shane Hooks said they were probably the worst conditions of any ironman or half ironman in NZ history.

"[The conditions] were diabolical. The wind was just horrendous combined with four seasons in the swim, four seasons on the bike and four season on the run.

Competitors splashed into Lake Taupo at 6.30am for a 2km swim, then on to their bikes for the 90km cycle leg, finishing off with a 21km run back to the Taupo Yacht Club.

Hooks said the weather slowed the competitors down by an average of 20 to 30 minutes.

"I have never seen so many experienced ironmen broken, they finished, but they came across the line and their eyes were saying 'thank God that's over'.

"For a lot of these ironmen it was harder than the full ironman, many were having to dig into the pain locker - but out of it came a great satisfaction for making it to the finish," he said.

In the stand out performance of the day 19-year-old Terenzo Bozzone, from Auckland, led from the start and won comfortably in 3:57:03.

Hooks said the two-time junior triathlon world champion's performance had other competitors shaking their heads in amazement.

"He totally destroyed the field, whipping guys who are really experienced ironmen.

"His performance was pure class," Hooks said.

Vicki Jones, 33, from Wellington was the first woman home in 5:04:12 and the One Step Ahead Team, from Auckland clocked in at 4:05:16

Taupo athletes also clocked strong performances, Duncan Milne, 26 came in 4:25:29 and the first local woman home was Lynette Murphy, 49, in 6:03:00.

Rotorua competitors Nick Hawken, 24, clocked in at 4:24:00, and in the women's section Jo Pitkethley, 34, came in at 6:56:47.

There were no medals for winners, instead a two-and-a-half foot giant white tiger and the winners body weight in beer, which must be consumed on the night.

"We all love Terenzo now because he couldn't make it to prizegiving, so we had 70kg of beer to drink," Hooks said.

After the prizegiving the focus was on fun, with a `bad hair' theme party.