B10 SUPERSPORT Monday, February 14, 2011 THE PRESS, Christchurch COAST TO COAST Nelson, home Race director ‘shattered’ but of champions thrilled to finish Tony Smith peerless paddle leg on the Coast to Coast title, but his Waimakariri River, finished first since 2008, when he took Nelson can claim to be New in 12hr 10min 31sec. a three-year break to focus on Tony Smith Zealand’s multisport mecca Both Ussher and Hart Ironman long-distance after producing Coast to Coast attributed their brisk winning triathlon events. He watched An ‘‘absolutely shattered’’ champions Richard Ussher times to near-perfect con- last year as Elina won the Robin Judkins triumphantly and Sophie Hart and women’s ditions, including greater- weather-abbreviated 2010 crossed the finish line and runner-up Elina Ussher. than-usual water flow on the women’s race. She had been just laughed when asked the Many multisport fans were Waimakariri River and a tail determined to retain her title standard question put to expecting the House of Ussher wind for the first half of the and was disappointed to fall Coast to Coast competitors: to celebrate a family double – 70km final cycle ride to the behind on the kayaking stage would he be doing the one-day the first husband and wife to Sumner Beach finish line. after leading by five minutes event next year? win titles in the same year. Hart, who admitted she at the end of the mountain The 61-year-old race direc- But Hart dashed those hopes was ‘‘still a Whakatane girl at run. But she was ‘‘happy for tor, who has been treated for by beating Elina Ussher by heart’’, moved to Nelson ‘‘for Sophie, we’re good friends’’. heart problems and a broken 8min 55sec in the epic 234km the lifestyle’’ two years ago. ‘‘I Both Usshers were unfazed leg in recent years, broke into cycle-run-kayak traverse from worked in Nelson as a at missing the family double, a broad grin beneath his the west coast of the South [medical] student and enjoyed with Richard saying it was beard as he completed his first Island to the east. the outdoors. That’s the ‘‘more a media thing’’ than a Coast to Coast in 29 years. Robin Judkins However, the Nelson reason why I moved there.’’ personal goal for the two of Normally, Judkins is the quinella in the women’s race She trained for 15 to 20 them. He said it was too early man handing out cold cans of ‘‘This idea of doing the event made it a memorable day for a hours a week for the Coast to to say if they would both be in beer to intrepid finishers. But started off as a bit of a joke province, rated by Richard Coast and cut back her the race again next year. ‘‘You this time he was receiving one really. But then it became Ussher, ‘‘as one of the best working hours in the leadup never say never. But it’s very – thrust into his mitt by nine- really serious. places in the world to train for to the race. hard for both of us racing in time champion Steve Gurney, ‘‘But it was tough [on multisport’’. Ussher – originally from the same year. When we are who partnered Judkins in the Friday on the mountain run]. The 34-year-old reeled off Wellington – agreed Nelson both doing it, everything gets two-day veteran teams’ I was really shattered before I the second quickest time in was a magnet for multisport kinda compromised.’’ category. got to Goat Pass, but once I got Coast to Coast history – 10hr competitors. He said he and Hart, who was third in Judkins got a rousing there I came right. The last 41min 12 sec – just under 7min wife, who hails from Finland, 2010, said she would probably cheer from the crowds lining 3ks of the 33k mountain run outside Keith Murray’s appar- ‘‘love it there’’. be returning a favour by the Sumner Beach finishing were the fastest I did the ently unassailable 1994 race ‘‘There’s a lot of good ‘‘being support crew’’ for her chute, although his friend Joe whole day. I just seem to get record. athletes up there at the partner, Nick Ross. Bennett, the on-course com- better as I go; the same with Hart, a 27-year-old doctor moment, especially paddling- Meanwhile, race director mentator, pricked his bubble the bike ride. The last 15ks at Nelson Hospital’s emerg- wise. It’s one of the best places Robin Judkins completed the by publicly welcoming the were the best.’’ ency department, came in the world to train. You’ve final cycle leg to finish 11th in ‘‘obese Father Christmas’’. In his usual analytical tantalisingly close to breaking got the sea, rivers, plenty of the veteran men’s category But nothing could wipe the fashion, Judkins estimated he Andrea Murray’s 1997 tough roads to ride on and with teammate Steve Gurney, smile from Judkins’ dial as he took ‘‘66,000 steps’’ on the women’s record of 12 hr 9min three national parks.’’ the nine-time men’s Longest Finish in sight: Sophie Hart winning the one-day competition in the Coast to Coast women’s event from Elina greeted his mother, Dot – 101 mountain run. 26 sec. Hart, who produced a Ussher won his fourth Day champion. Ussher. Both are from Nelson, as is the men’s winner, Richard Ussher. Photo: IAIN McGREGOR on March 4 – who was sitting ‘‘My pace is half a metre on stage waiting for her son. and there are 33km; that’s ‘‘I’m shattered,’’ Judkins amazing. said after catching his breath. ‘‘You have to watch every ‘‘I can’t believe I’ve done that, footfall; you can’t think of Former sevens star speeds to Sumner to honour mate actually. It’s amazing.’’ anything else. I slipped over He quipped he had ‘‘passed four times.’’ two people on the bike ride’’ Judkins ‘‘slept like a log’’ Former All Black and New trust fund in honour of Paul or two’’ off his estimated time, Seymour, who was greeted tailwind on the way home [on wife, Julianne, and their but then admitted ‘‘they’d from 9pm Friday to 4am, Zealand sevens star Dallas Blacklow, a sports massage which should earn a bonus by his netball star wife Julie the bike] was just magic’’. children, Jonty and Zoe. both punctured and caught ‘‘then I got up and, of course, I Seymour hopes his late mate’s therapist, who died in 2007 from race sponsor Speight’s. and their four children at the He said Blacklow’s mem- He did not know how much me back up’’. started the one-dayers [from family will benefit from his from motor neurone disease. He said he was ‘‘helped by Sumner Beach finish line, ory ‘‘drove me on those last money had been raised, but ‘‘I rode the whole way by Kumara Beach]. I did all those improved showing in the Seymour, who won a the weather conditions a bit said he ‘‘thought I’d wrecked 50km’’. He knew the faster he ‘‘the feedback from the people myself because no-one was things I normally do as race Coast to Coast. Commonwealth Games more’’ after his first race last my boat’’ in the early stages finished, the more money at Speight’s [who were also travelling as slow as me.’’ director, as well as compete. I The 43-year-old was com- sevens gold medal in 1998, year was marred by a weather on the Waimakariri River. would be raised for the trust supporting his run] reckoned But he said the sense of was wearing two hats all the peting to raise money for a said he had shaved ‘‘an hour bomb and course change. ‘‘But it was OK and that fund to support Blacklow’s it had gone gangbusters’’. satisfaction was ‘‘huge’’. time.’’ COAST TO COAST RESULTS ONE DAY 54; Robbie Adams, Australia, Auckland, 15:56:56, 3; Nicci Dillon, 3; Dean Ford, Wellington, 12:34:36, 4; 3; Ron Thomas, Wellington, 16:32:09, 15:46:58, 16; Anne-Marie Guiney, Chin, Dunedin, 18:28:46, 25; Russell 14; Mark Saunders & Sean Every, Individual Classic Men 14:57:48, 55; Scott Ferguson, Christchurch, DNF; Wendy Riach, Chris Brown, 12:43:37, 5; James 4; Bruce Manning, United Kingdom, Ireland, 15:50:54, 17; Anna Allen & John Allen, Wellington & Tauranga & Christchurch, 17:38:05, (50-59yrs+) Christchurch, 15:00:19, 56; Cameron Christchurch, DNF. Richmond, 12:45:34, 6; Brendon 16:42:58, 5; Bill Clark, Whakatane, Shekhdar, United Kingdom, Masterton, DNF. 15; Andrew Stanley & Tony Scott, Hamish Goodwin, Hastings, Darragh, Australia, 15:03:48, 57; Ben Individual Open Women Vercoe, 12:46:04, 7; Hadleigh Miles, 17:29:32, 6; Vic Crutchley, 15:58:55, 18; Lizzy Farthing, Teams Open Men Rotorua & North Shore City, Candy, Britain, 15:06:42, 58; David 12:53:58, 8; Brett Harris, Hari Hari, Pukekohe, 19:55:12, 7. Greymouth, 16:07:48, 19; Irene 12:43:37, 1; Duncan Hamilton, Sophie Hart, Nelson, 12:10:31, 1; Luke Vaughan & Peter O’Sullivan, 17:53:46, 16; Robin Judkins & Steve Van Zwanenberg, Auckland, 12:57:35, 9; Hamish Fleming, New Minchin, Nelson, 16:20:35, 20; Hokitika, 12:46:01, 2; Eric Horwood, Elina Ussher, Finland, 12:19:27, 2; Individual Veteran Men Christchurch & Palmerston North, Gurney, Christchurch, 19:02:52, 17; 15:08:17, 59; Mark Frisby, Oamaru, Plymouth, 13:04:13, 10; Glenn Delvina Gorton, Auckland, 16:24:18, Whakatane, 13:14:48, 3; Malcolm Emily Miazga, Canada, 12:33:25, 3; (40-49yrs) 11:08:18, 1; Scott Wilder & Matthew Teams Veteran Women (combined 15:10:00, 60; Daniel Murtagh, Hedges, 13:17:37, 11; Scott Smith, 21; Kate Rive, Queenstown, Sincock, Christchurch, 14:03:08, 4; Louise Mark, Waitakere, 12:56:15, 4; Paul Avery, Stratford, 12:30:03, Blundell, Christchurch & Australia, age 80); Lesley Barr & Toni Chittock, Greymouth, 15:16:18, 61; Darryn Rangiora, 13:17:44, 12; Ben Adams, 16:32:43, 22; Anna Akers, Rangiora, Kevin Piercy, Australia, 14:42:34, 5; Rachel Cashin, Taumarunui, 1; David Jupp, Waitara, 13:44:23, 2; 11:13:26, 2; Steven McKinstry & Glenorchy, 17:33:50, 1.