Nelson triathletes came away with five gold medals from triathlons in Wanaka during the weekend.

Jon Linyard and Hayden Squance led the way in Triathlon NZ's Contact Energy spring race on Friday afternoon, winning their respective M40-44 and M13-15 age groups on the tight circuit, with a large audience of triathletes waiting to compete the following day.

The pair finished the 750m swim together and linked up during the draft-legal multi-lap cycle course to put themselves in a good position going into the final run.

A fast 17min 18sec for the run left Linyard sixth overall in the field, while Squance ran a creditable 19.07 to finish 10th.

On Saturday, it was the turn of the distance competitors as they lined up on the edge of a cold, rough lake in the early morning.

Kirstin Ramsay was the quickest swimmer of the Nelson contingent, leaving the water in 29.45 after the 2km swim, followed by Jude Vincent in 31.44 and Ed Rimmer in 32.15.

Rimmer went on to record the fastest Nelson time on the 90km bike ride (2.33.15) and the half marathon run (1.28.09).

In the highly competitive M30-34 division, Rimmer placed fourth (seventh overall).

Nelson medallists in the half ironman event included Susie Wood (gold F35-39), Jude Vincent (gold F50-54), Maria Voigt (silver F50-54) and Wayne Leighton (bronze M50-54), while Carolyn Squance placed fourth in F45-49 and Gary Milbanke finished fifth in M40-44.

Four competitors from Nelson completed the ironman distance, with Eileen Searle taking gold in F50-59 in her first race over the distance.

Veteran competitor Murray Tewnion placed fourth in M50-59, while Mandy Stephens was fifth in F40-49 and Donna Shaw eighth in F40-49.

In the teams section, Simon Kneebone, Rob Searle and Charlie Squance were third in the male section.

- © Fairfax NZ News