Grammer blitzes rivals

Mark Grammer made no race of Saturday's Anakiwa Triathlon and Multisport race, blitzing the field to take the triathlon honours.

Grammer completed the 1000m swim, 30km cycle and 8km run triathlon in one hour 27 minutes 41 seconds to take overall and veteran men's honours.

Racing in ideal flat water conditions for the swim, and windless and slightly overcast weather for the bike and run, the experienced Marlborough multisporter set a sizzling pace, knocking more than a minute off his winning time from last year.

Michael Varnam, of Christchurch, placed second, 13 minutes back, while also taking the open men's honours.

First woman home and third overall was Marlborough's Almuth Waechter, a strong run propelling the veteran athlete to a sharp 1:45.08.

Waechter was 1min 12sec clear of women's runner-up Mayzie Wallen, of Christchurch.

Josh Scott made up for missing out on last year's multisport title by three seconds by taking out this year's 6km kayak, 30km cycle and 8km run.

Scott was hardly challenged in taking the win in 1:37.12 as he continued his Coast to Coast buildup.

Fellow Marlborough athlete Jeremy McKenzie bagged second place in 1:41.31, showing that despite not being a regular feature in Marlborough multisport events this season, he is still a strong contender.

The women's multisport honours went to Sophie Hart in 1:46.57, setting the Nelson athlete up as a strong Coast to Coast contender. Fellow Nelsonian Jodie Fa'avae was second woman home 2min 21sec back.

Havelock's Ben Minehan made the most of his local knowledge to win the 4km run, 30km cycle, 8km run duathlon in 1:38.12.

Nelson's Peter Mann was runner-up and veteran men's champion in 1:50.29, while Blenheim's Tracey Marshall won the women's duathlon in 1:56.41.

- The Marlborough Express