Eleventh title at Motu Challenge

Elina Ussher finishing the Motu Challenge. Supplied photo.

Elina Ussher's win at the Motu Challenge in Opotiki last Saturday was her eleventh, making her the undisputed queen of multisport in the New Zealand.

Her dominance over the years is unrivalled in endurance sport.

The veteran multisport athlete from Nelson finished the gruelling 65 kilometre mountain bike, 20 kilometre run, 60 kilometre road cycle and 27 kilometre kayak event in a blistering time of eight hours and 19 minutes. Second placed Jessica Dean was 44 minutes behind.

The men's multisport race was won for the second year in a row by Whakatane athlete Daniel Jones. Jones' time of seven hours and 36 minutes was 20 minutes quicker than second placed Andrew Sclater and Thomas O'Donnell.

Former Olympic swimmer Moss Burmester, who is training for the Coast to Coast, finished 15th in just under nine hours. Burmester was ribbed after the race for taking a swim on the kayak course when he was tipped out of his racing kayak on one of the grade two rapids on the Waioeka River.

Oliver Thompson, 16, completed the event in eight hours and 21 minutes, which was 11 minutes quicker than his 2016 time. It was impressive, given the river flow was considerably lower this year, slowing kayak times significantly. His fourth place this year was a big jump up from his 15th place in 2016. The Trident High School student has a bright future in multisport following the lead of previous students like Hayden Wilde and Daniel Jones.

The Riverlock Motu 160 race, which comprises of a 65 kilometre mountain bike and a 90 kilometre road cycle, was won by Gisborne athlete Jack McLauglin and Megan Arthur of Hamilton, with times of four hours 51 minutes and five hours 32 minutes, respectively. The race this year was incredibly competitive with the men's race won by a break from the lead group with just three kilometres to go.

The Motu Duathlon was won by Olly Shaw from Rotorua in a time of six hours and 31 minutes some 29 minutes ahead of rivals Brendan Erskine and Matthew Peploe.

Event manager Mike van der Boom was pleased with the day claiming the weather this year was the best in event's twenty-three year history.

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