On a day of high attrition, Wanganui athletes fared reasonably well at the New Zealand Ironman in Taupo at the weekend.
Topping the list was professional athlete Candice Hammond who was the third woman across the line behind Meredith Kessler from the United States and Gina Crawford from Christchurch. She finished in 9hrs 35min 51sec.
Hammond was born and raised in Wanganui but now bases herself in Cambridge, while Crawford lived and trained in the River City for a time while she raised her then new-born son before moving south.
While Hammond did not regard the event as her best race, she was happy with her third placing, particularly after ripping a big toenail off during the race.
"I'm pretty happy with the race, although it probably wasn't my best.
"I gave it my all and losing the toenail is just part of the game," Hammond said yesterday.
"Running four or five marathons a year and training the toenails do take a hammering and you just have to grin and bear it - you learn to live with it."
Many of the 1200-plus athletes taking part in Saturday's event succumbed to or were affected by the heat. It reached 30C during the cycle leg at Reporoa.
Hammond said she felt reasonably comfortable during the race, although panicked slightly during the cycle leg after a poor swim.
"I didn't expect to lose so much time on the swim and paid for it later in the race. On the cycle leg I tried a bit hard to make up time and it costs me later."
The Wanganui professional will now focus much of this year on getting through other events and working on weaknesses.
"The main aim to to improve and then I'll look to return to Cairns where I finished third last year. After that there's the Bintan in Indonesia where I won last year and probably ran my best race ever. They have tripled the prize money this year to US$40,000 ($48,200), so I expect a far stronger field in August. It's always good to test yourself against the cream of the crop, though - it keeps it real and tells you where you are in world standings," Hammond said.
Wanganui husband and wife team Pat and Barb Carson fared well in their 55-59 age group with Pat qualifying for Kona in Hawaii, the Mecca of ironman events.
"He has decided not to go, though," Barb said yesterday.
"Pat finished ninth of about 70 in his age group and after roll down managed to just qualify for Kona. I finished second in the women's group, but just missed out."
Barb Carson has experienced the gruelling Kona event.
"I went in 2009, but the heat was tremendous. It was about 40C and very tough after training during a Wanganui winter."
Seventy-three-year-old Wanganui athlete Tony Fantham failed to finish on Saturday after breaking a wheel spoke, falling off his bike several times before succumbing to the hot conditions.
Wife Beverley said her husband was treated by medics at the scene before being taken first to hospital in Taupo and then transferred to Rotorua where he was finally diagnosed with severe dehydration.
"He's okay now, but wasn't too good at the time. In fact, he's out walking down the beach today with some school children and talking about competing in the Affco triathlon in Wanganui this weekend," she said.
The first Wanganui man home on Saturday was police dog handler Jason Page who finished the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon in 10h 51m 12s. Page was 173rd over all and 40th in his 40-44 age group.
Other district athletes to complete the course included:
Adam Holmes (35-39) 43rd in his age group clocking 11.10.55; Clint Black (40-44) 75th 11.36.08; Matt Bevan of Marton (40-44) 90th 12.06.29; Gareth Wright (30-34) 65th 12.20.41; Pat Carson (55-59) 9th 12.37.55; Barbara Carson (55-59) 2nd 12.58.59; Brian Scott (60-64) 13th 12.56.39; Hamish McDonald of Marton (35-39) 93rd 12.38.36; Laurika Hazelhurst (40-44) 24th 12.56.38; Mike Hos (98th 13.17.37 and Kerry Howe (50-55) 80th 13.28.43.