Multisport: Ussher not short of sizzle

Richard Ussher is used to hammering himself for the best part of a day but the multisport legend is fizzing at the prospect of a shorter hit-out this weekend.

Ussher will try to defend his Australasian Multisport title at the Expand-A-Sign 3D festival in Rotorua on Sunday against a classy field, over a spectacular 50km, three-stage course.

With five Coast to Coast titles and a swag of adventure race crowns, 35-year-old Ussher remains the man to beat, although he freely admits the shorter format could throw up surprises.

"It will be all over in less than three hours, so there is a lot less strategy over the three legs in saving yourself for the rest of the day," Ussher said. "It will be interesting to see where everyone is at. June is a hard time of year to be in great form - so whoever has had a chance to dedicate the most time to it will have an advantage."

Race director Neil Gellatly's pre-race rankings have Ussher as top seed, though he also believes Braden Currie - who was third at this year's Coast to Coast - and Nelson's Trevor Voyce have legitimate shots at the title. Ussher had to chase Currie for nearly 100km at the Coast to Coast this year and knows the 25-year-old Methven-born multisporter will be dangerous.

"His lightning quick run will be a danger on the final leg so the rest of us will have to make our moves earlier in the race to try and get a cushion. The Aussies shouldn't be discounted as in a short race, it is much more possible for someone to come out of left field."

Currie has made huge strides in the past year after dedicating himself fully to the sport, after several years living in Australia. This will be his first time racing in Rotorua.

"This event would have to have one of the strongest fields in the country, so it's going to be really exciting to race at this sort of level," Currie said. " I'm more suited to the shorter nature of 3D but we all know how strong Richard is and whenever he is challenged, he just seems to be able to step it up a gear."

The feature 50km race, won by Ussher in 2hrs 45mins 57secs last year, starts with an 8km paddle on Lake Okareka, continues with a 30km mountain bike through some of the Whakarewarewa Forest's best single-tracks, then ends with a 12km trail run through the magnificent Redwoods Forest.

If local knowledge is a factor, keep an eye out for Whakatane's Sam Clark and Rotorua's Mark Leishman, although he admits the opening paddling leg doesn't play to his biking and running strengths. "Realistically, I will have a massive deficit off the lake so I'm probably not really an overall threat but with a stellar day on the bike and run, a top-five finish is possible," Leishman said. "Entering this event on my doorstep was a bit of a no-brainer - last year I was involved with filming the event and was so impressed by how much the participants were enjoying it, I marked it down as a must-do. It's a fantastic course and certainly not easy."

Leishman believes Clark, who was seventh in the inaugural race last year, could be the dark horse after drastically improving his mountain biking.

"My mountain biking has come on in leaps and bounds over the the last 12 months, due in equal parts to getting a sweet new Scott Mountain bike through Whakatane Cycle Centre and also from riding with my good mate John Gray," Clark said. "There is sure to be some exciting racing going on at the pointy end of the field but I'm hoping to fly under the radar somewhat and use my local knowledge to stay up and amongst them."

The Australian charge will be led by Victorian Luke Haines, who was eighth last year, while three-time Coast to Coast winner (1988, 1989 and 1993) John Jacoby will be chasing veteran success.

The women's field also has an Ussher as favourite, with Richard's wife Elina lining up to defend her title. She's also the defending female Coast to Coast champion and has recovered from a rib injury at her last outing, at the Orion Health GODZone Adventure Race in the South Island last month.

But Gellatly suspects Rotorua local Nic Leary - partner of Leishman - could surprise if she can keep in touch on the paddle. Fleur Lattimore has been training specifically for races like this and has had some good results in the past year. Australians Deanna Blegg and Peri Grey are also expected to feature in the top-five.

The festival will also feature a 25km Grassroots Multisport Challenge, doubling as the New Zealand secondary schools multisport championships, where Rangitoto College star Danielle McKenzie is returning to defend her girls' title.

McKenzie is a New Zealand representative triathlete and surf lifesaver, who warmed up this week with a sixth placing at the Auckland secondary schools cross country championships.

New events at the 3D Festival include a 2km under-10 fun run, a 5.5km trail run and walk, and a standalone 30km mountain bike race through the Whakarewarewa Forest.

The total prize pool for the event tops $75,000. Gellatly is expecting nearly double last year's 500 entries. More than 800 have already signed up for this year and that should keep rising in the final few days.