Professional athletes in the white caps.

Age group athletes in the orange caps.

Very low light due to heavy clouds and the time of the day being about 6.20am (sun comes up about 6.30am). I will have to take my flash along in future for those cloudy days and early mornings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Age group athletes in the orange caps.

The white swim caps of the pro athletes can just be made out at left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The water temp was about 17 degrees celsius today.

The lead athletes can be seen in the foreground and the rough lake conditions are more evident.

 

 

 

 

 

Lead 3 swimmers of the Individual Challenge Wanaka Iron-distance are only just visible in this image.

I like the dramatic image created by the steep mountains on the lakes edge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lead 3 cyclists (above and below) at about 10kms into the Individual Challenge Wanaka Iron-distance.

This early part of the course was less exposed to the strong winds compared with what lay ahead.

Interesting they all have the same cycle shoes on?.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLast years 2nd place pro Keegan Williams didn't have a day to remember.

 

 

 

 

 

4th today Jimmy Johnsen (DEN) 9:16:45

 

 

 

 

 

Age grouper looking good.

 

 

 

 

 

At 20km it was down to 2 cyclists out front.

Certainly looks like the 7m gap rule is being used to full advantage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7th pro today was Richard Thompson (AUS) 9:29:15

 

 

 

 

 

10th overall was Chris Bisley (NZL) 9:37:50 * AG M30-39

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Lord from the U.K took the mens 40-49 age group win in 10hrs 14mins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Zealand's Belinda Harper (above and below), was well ahead of all the other woman early on.

Belinda was also the first age group female finisher at the Kona World champs.

Somewhere around halfway of the race she was blown off her bike by the strong winds.

A mate went past her not long after said she was visibly upset and had a a few bleeding grazes...ouch...and too bad because it would have been an interesting duel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ll1st Belinda Granger (AUS) 10hr 26min 17sec

Belinda made it two wins from two starts in Wanaka.B

 

 

 

 

Nice scenic ride.

A bit overcast, but that can be good if the sun burns your skin. The 2 days prior were quite hot with temperatures hitting mid 30's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie Whyte first off the bike.

 

 

 

Bevan McKinnon second off the bike about 5mins back on Jamie Whyte

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd

2nd Courtney Ogden

 

3rd Bevan McKinnon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Belinda Granger in 10hr 26min

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Simone Maier (GER) 10:32:25

 

3rd Christie Sym (AUS) 10:36:57

 

The above is two photos joined together and shows Lake Wanaka.

Wanaka township can be seen at the right side of the Lake.

The cycle course goes alongside the lake for the first 40km(out and back), at the base of the mountain where this image was taken.

Three of us (including the guy laid out above) climbed this 1600m mountain(Mt Roy) the weekend after Challenge Wanaka.

 

Hope you enjoyed the photos.TWehe

 

 

 

 

 

To visit the official 'Challenge Wanaka' website click here

 

I did the Challenge Wanaka half last year and the full the 2 years before. You can read about my days on my blog here !

The first place age groupers in both the full & half Challenge Wanaka all won a free entry to this years Challenge Roth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007 Challenge Wanaka and more click here

 

2008 Challenge Wanaka and more click here

 

2009 Challenge Wanaka and more click here

 

2010 Challenge Wanaka and more click here