Clark on top as rain clears for duathlon

The weekend's wet weather broke off in time for runners and mountain bikers to enjoy the first race in this season's Rats Winter Duathlon Series.

The series of off-road running and biking races, organised by the Rotorua Association of Triathletes and Multisport, is aimed at kids and beginners as well as future Coast to Coast champions.

Yesterday's long-course race, over a 4.5km run, 18km bike and 3km run, was won by Whakatane's Sam Clark, who this year finished fourth in the Speight's Coast to Coast.

Singlespeed national champion Garth Weinberg was second and Rotorua Lakes High School student Lewis Ryan third.

Rotorua mountain biker Nic Leary won the women's long course race. Sarah Pitcher-Campbell was second with Kerryn Barker third.

As well as the long course, there were short course and children's course options. In all, 39 people raced.

"The kids had a great time," said organiser Steph McHale.

"Our race was unaffected by any track damage - everyone expects a little bit of mud due to the nature of our event. The weather was also good despite having a lot of rain overnight. The forecast said it would fine up and it did." Last weekend's Cateye Moonride caused damage to some of the tracks as a result of heavy rain.

Entrants travelled from Hamilton and Whakatane for the race. The next event is on June 30.