Baldwin wins first multisport event

MULTISPORT:Bruce Baldwin took the Ron Bissett Memorial when the newly revamped Wanganui Multisport Club held its first winter series race on Sunday.
Thirty competitors took part in the event at the Aramoho Holiday Park that attracted many newcomers as well as a large field of junior competitors.
Athletes had the option of a short and long course (2km run, 10km bike, 2km run/kayak and 4km run, 20km bike, 4km run/kayak).
Bissett is a local triathlete, multisporter and ironman legend who among other things won New Zealand's first ironman event in 1977.
Four competitors battled it out for line honours. While Mike Hutchings, who travelled from Taihape, came fourth and club president Mark Bullock a creditable third, the closest competition came from Nigel McIlroy and Baldwin. Baldwin won the trophy by two minutes from McIlroy in 1hr 22min 16sec.
In the long-course duathlon, Katrina Lett, a newcomer to the sport, was first solo women and Alan Caird, the first solo male. Caird proved too strong for the field, winning by 8min from his closest rival in an impressive time of 1hr 10min 15sec. The short course duathlon was an extremely popular category for competitors, especially the juniors. Charles Porter had a strong race, winning by 2min from his closest rival Allan Cate.
Results:
Ron Bissett Memorial: Bruce Baldwin 1.22.16 1, Nigel McLroy 1.24.52 2, Mark Bullock 1.28.35 3. Men's long-course duathlon: Allan Caird 1.10.15 1, Bob Spooner 1.18.14 2, M Sharratt 1.19.51 3.
Women:
Long-course duathlon: Katrina Lett 1.24.20 1.
Junior short-course duathlon: Sam Malcolm 41.21 1, Paige Nossiter 48.41 2, Aiden Nossiter 48.41 3. Short course women's duathlon: Sarah Spence 44.56 1, Glenys Main 101.57 2.
Short course men's duathlon: Charlie Porter 41.21 1, Allan Cate 43.19 2, Darryl Malcolm 46.52.
Short course triathlon teams: Bob Spooner & Ron Stoneman 49.13 1.
Short course duathlon teams: Bill Harvey & Judy Koko 58.59 1.
Long course duathlon teams: Ian Aspeling & Christiaan Aspeling 1.14.57 1, Marty Hewson & Rocky Reid 1.19.35.
The next race on the Multisport Wanganui calendar is the business house event at the Aramoho Holiday Park on Sunday, May 22.
The event targets all local businesses and caters for all ability levels from first-timers through to the more experienced athletes. There will be prizes and spot prizes and the club will be donating some of its proceeds to the Child Cancer Foundation. The event will start at the Aramoho Holiday Park at 9am with registration at 8.30am. The distances are 2km run, 10km cycle, 2km run/ kayak. For more details contact Felicity Wilson on 027 243 5919 or krwilson@xtra.co.nz