Shanel Cornille will have a keen eye on brother Luke's times this week. Photo / Paul's Camera Shop
A brother-sister act is set to take centre stage at this week's Maungatautari Mission.
Shanel Cornille, a 32-year-old physiotherapist, has forged an impressive multisport career and is now facing healthy competition from younger brother Luke, a 26-year-old plumber. Shanel is the eldest of five siblings in the Cornille clan. Luke is the second youngest amid siblings Bridget, Dominique and Mairead.
Shanel, who represented New Zealand in long-distance age groups triathlon in Perth in 2009, rates her finest achievements as finishing third in the two-day Coast to Coast in 2012 and second in 2013. Luke believes his greatest sporting moment was finishing 17th in the Open in his first attempt of the Coast to Coast longest day this year.
They both believe their sporting exploits wouldn't be possible without the backing of their mum. "Our mum has always been a huge supporter of our sport," said Shanel. "Right back when we were at school, she was running around between tennis, netball, swimming, rugby, piano and five kids. These days she loves coming along to all our events and has become expert in the support crew role."
As a brother-sister combination, are you pretty competitive with one another?
SC: Yes, very competitive! Although we haven't actually competed in the same race very often. I did the Coast to Coast and then Luke did it. I raced a half marathon and then Luke wanted to beat my time; he is yet to but it's still firmly in his sights. He doesn't like being beaten by his big sister and will be out to prove a point at Maungatautari. With five in the family and all quite close in age there was always competition, even if it was just who could eat dinner the fastest. If you didn't eat fast you missed out and someone else ate it! Luke always wanted to just be one of the girls. We dressed him in our clothes and let him play netball with us in the backyard.
LC: Shanel and I are reasonably competitive. We always seem to be comparing half marathon times or courses. Usually she has the excuse that her course had more hills or some rubbish along those lines.
I find she gets frustrated when I beat her or even challenge her. She seems to forget that although she is my eldest sister, she is my little older sister and I am her big younger brother! When I first started kayaking last year we competed in the Cambridge to Hamilton Kayak Race. I was fresh to the kayaking scene and she was a bit rusty after resting after the Coast to Coast. We both had something to prove but neither of us was willing to let the other get away. The result, us both hitting Hamilton at the exact same time, both having pushed each other to our limits.
How did you first get into multisport?
SC: I support crewed for a friend at Coast to Coast and got to see the race from the spectator perspective and thought, 'This looks like fun, I can do this!'. I started training after that and raced it the next year, with my partner as my support crew and then the following year he did it too. This year I then support crewed for Luke.
LC: After seeing and hearing of Shanel's experience in the Coast and having had enough of the commitment to a rowing crew, having to be at a certain place at a certain time for training. I decided I would try my hand at multisport.
How much do you train together?
SC: Not that much. Luke joins me and my partner Phil for the odd training run - the long, slow runs that are hard to do alone. And we do the odd bike and kayak together. It depends on what each of us has on. When we are both working around full-time jobs and our own schedules you often fit in training when you can.
LC: We'll do some last-minute training together for the Maunga Mission. I wouldn't be surprised if Shanel will do some 'secret' training too, as she will need to if she wants to challenge me! Shanel is certainly a tough and determined little cookie. She has been through a lot and I admire how she has come out the other side and not looked back.
What do you enjoy about the Maungatautari Mission?
SC: I like being able to support a local race and support the Maungatautari Ecological Trust. There is the added bonus of being able to train on the course and the chance to race on our back doorstep. For those who have never raced there, we're very lucky to have it in our backyard. It has a competitive aspect to it but there are also many locals who enjoy getting together and entering a team.
LC: The Maunga Mission is something I've always wanted to tick off. Being a local event makes it even more appealing as you not only get to compete but you get to do it while taking in so much of the amazing back-country scenery the Waikato has to offer. Richard [Clarke] who runs the event took me through my grade two kayak course for the Coast to Coast and does such a great job to ensure you are not only competent in grade two rapids, but tries his utmost to get you to get as much out of your paddling as possible.
What do you enjoy most about competing in multisport?
SC: I love that you don't get bored with training because there are three disciplines. I love being out and about and meeting like-minded people. You get to see some amazing parts of the country, the trails and rivers. I love the adventure aspect of it. I also love that it's not always about being the fastest but the best prepared. You don't have to be super-fast at any one thing, but good at all three.
LC: I enjoy the freedom of multisport, how it gives you the ability to train when you want, how you want; and also how being a predominantly off-road sport, it allows you to see so much impressive countryside we New Zealanders are lucky enough to have but a lot of people don't get the chance to see.
What are your goals for the 2014 season and beyond that?
SC: For 2014 I'm competing in the Coromandel Classic in a team, a spring challenge Adventure race in Hokitika in September and planning a sub 1.30 PB at the Auckland Half Marathon. Long term, I would like to tick off the One Day Coast to Coast at some stage, just not sure when yet.
LC: To compete again in the Longest Day Coast to Coast and improve on this year's performance.
I have also set myself a goal of competing in the Auckland Marathon, hopefully close to that three hour mark. I'm not sure how that will go as it will be my first.
When: June 22
Where: Lake Karapiro, Cambridge
Course Description:
Leg 1: Leamington to Pukeatua - 32km road cycle
Leg 2: Tari Rd to Maungatautari School - 15km run over Maungatautari Mountain, via the old track
Leg 3: Maungatautari School to Horahora Domain - 15km road cycle
Leg 4: Horahora Domain to the Boatshed - 10km kayak from Horahora Domain under the Horahora Bridge down the lake to the Boatshed Cafe and kayak landing.
For more information visit: www.theboatshed.net.nz