Ironman hopes destroyed by 'weather bomb'

Rotorua athlete Emma McClintock was absolutely devastated when she was told this year's New Zealand Ironman had been replaced by a shorter version due to bad weather.

The 36-year-old was to compete in her first ironman event, which was due to start this morning.

However, organisers had to stop the event because the Metservice were predicting severe gales with gusts of up to 120km/h.

"I'm absolutely devastated ... I still can't believe it, [my husband] rang me just before they announced it to tell me [it had been cancelled] and I said, 'are you pulling my leg?'."

McClintock will take part in the organisers' alternative event, an Ironman 70.3 race to take place tomorrow morning at 8am.

An Ironman 70.3, also known as a half ironman, is one of a series of middle-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation. It involves a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride and a 113km run.

Ironman New Zealand chief executive Andrew Messick said the event would carry the same number of qualifying slots to the Ironman World Championships, taking place in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, on October 13, as well as the same prize purse and number of KPR points for professional athletes.

Ironman New Zealand athletes will also have the opportunity to race an Ironman event of their choice at a discounted price between now and the end of June.

McClintock said it was little consolation because she was set to lose a large amount of money from her time training and accommodation which she no longer needed. "They told us we'd get a discount entry into any Ironman around the world ...

"It was $800 to enter but other than that we don't get any money back. I can probably kiss goodbye to 10 grand.

"It's a lot of money and a long time in my life."

Organisers of the event told The Daily Post yesterday, due to an unprecedented and severe weather forecast by the Metservice, today's Ironman New Zealand had been postponed for safety reasons.

The forecast called for a severe gale with gusts of 120km/h between 7 and 11am. Messick said the Metservice anticipated the weather to clear tomorrow afternoon and an Ironman 70.3 race would be scheduled for Ironman New Zealand athletes tomorrow starting at 8am.

"We recognise the hard work, determination and sacrifices required by our athletes and want to give them every opportunity to fulfil their race goals," Messick said.

McClintock said she was still determined to do a full ironman.