Multisports: Ussher class shows

Richard Ussher confirmed his standing as New Zealand's top multisport athlete with his record-breaking victory in the national Xterra Championship.

At Rotorua's Blue Lake yesterday, Ussher had the swim of his life to keep leaders, defending champion Terenzo Bozzone and 2007 winner Tim Wilding within sight.

Bozzone was first up the beach after the 1km swim - in an impressive 12m 28s - with Wilding 1.5 minutes back and Ussher just 3s away.

Out of transition, the pace went on. Wilding hit the front but was overhauled by Ussher. The lead swapped many times on the testing 26km mountain-bike section.

Wilding, Hamilton's Scott Thorne and Ussher displayed all their riding skills as they drew away from Mark Leishman and Bozzone. Thorne, a regular training partner of Ironman star Cameron Brown, had the last say and led the field off the bike and back into transition.

He was just ahead of Wilding, sporting a bloodied shoulder, and Ussher with Leishman 1m 20s back. Bozzone trailed a couple of age-groupers into the run but even at 5 minutes - the same margin he made up in overhauling Leishman in winning a year ago - he was still considered a danger. Not this time ...

A speedy change had Ussher up to second heading into the 11km (two-lap) trail run around the lake. By the end of the first circuit, Ussher was in front. Thorne chased but Ussher won by 31s from Thorne. Ussher's 2h 03m 33s was well under Bozzone's 2008 record of 2h 07m 09s with Thorne also under that mark. Leishman again made the podium, finishing third ahead of Wilding and Bozzone.

Leishman's partner Nicola Leary, one of New Zealand's top mountain-bikers, celebrated a first New Zealand title with her emphatic victory in the elite women's race.

Trailing Susie Wood by just 13s out of the water, Leary, a physiotherapist who tends injured skiers at Ohakune, wasted little time taking the lead and leaving the rest to fight for the scraps.

Leary was fastest by nearly half a minute on the bike as Annika Smail continued her fight back after a slow swim. Smail had too much ground to make up, eventually finishing third despite being 2 minutes faster than Leary on the run.

Wood ran bravely to hold second - just 24secs ahead of Smail.

"I'm very, very happy," said Ussher who had watched his wife Elina win the 21km run by almost 10 minutes. "The level of competition here was very high. I could not have won it if I did not have a good day. My swim was really good today.

"I really enjoyed it. It is a great event. The course has something for everyone. I took it easy on the first lap of the run as I wanted to save a bit if it came down to a sprint finish. All races are unique but in the end, I'm more used to running on trails."

Asked whether he was likely to defend his title, Ussher said: "I'm reasonably confident I'll be back."

He is off to China on Tuesday for another race. Just another chapter in the life of one of New Zealand's busiest, and most successful, athletes.