While first time Speight's Coast to Coast competitors Josh Payne and Ashley Christie were delighted with their seventh overall placing with a bronze in the Open Men's team race last week, they were disappointed their mentor could not cross the finish line with them.
Known as team 'Pecka Heads', ittook just under 14 hours for Payne and Christie to collectively complete the 3km running start at Kumara Beach, 55km bike to the Southern Alps, 34km mountain climb through Goat Pass, 15km bike ride to the Waimakariri River, 67km kayak down the river and 70km cycle into Sumner Beach.
Christie's father Bryan Christie said as well as thanking their sponsors, the pair also wanted to thank Wanganui multisport veteran Bruce Baldwin, who had trained with them in the build-up.
The father of Ashley Christie's partner, Baldwin decided if he was going to train with the younger men then he should also enter the 32nd edition of the Coast to Coast for the first time in 16 years.
Competing in the tough one-day World Championship race last Saturday, the 55-year-old Baldwin arrived at the kayaking leg just a few minutes past the official cut-off time and therefore had to stop his race, one of 24 competitors to receive a DNF.
In other Wanganui competitor results not mentioned in Monday's report, the three-person team of Kerry McGuinness, Chris Cresswell and Kerry Bennett finished 13th overall and ninth in the Men's grade amongst 24 teams in their grade.
Known as team, 'Doc Chippie Eye Doc, they completed the course in 16 hours and 19.10 minutes.
