Hannah Berry and Jack Moody are the newly crowned winners of the 2024 Calley Homes Tauranga Half.

Saturday’s Calley Homes Tauranga Half produced two incredible elite races, with Hannah Berry beating a top international women’s field to record her third victory in the iconic multisport event and Jack Moody winning his first ever men’s title.

The 35th anniversary of the Calley Homes Tauranga Half attracted world class fields to Mount Maunganui, and near perfect race conditions with little wind and good cloud cover.

Winner of the women's  2024 Calley Homes Tauranga Half Hannah Berry. Photo: Hamish Collie.

The Calley Homes Tauranga Half elite women’s race provided an impressive performance from local multisport legend - Hannah Berry.

Hannah is a two time winner of the event, taking the 2019 & 2020 titles. 

She had to be at very best on Saturday to beat a world class field which included Ironman World Champion – Chelsea Sodaro from the USA, current NZ Ironman champ Els Visser from the Netherlands, and two time defending champion – Rebecca Clarke from Auckland.

Chelsea Sodaro from the USA. Photo: Hamish Collie.

An outstanding swimmer, Rebecca was first out of the water, swimming the 2k swim leg in 23:43. Hannah was right behind her, with Chelsea Sodaro trailling by 1:40, and Els another two minutes further back.

The kiwi duo of Hannah and Rebecca shadowed each other throughout the bike leg, while Els Visser moved into third place after recording the best women’s bike leg of the day.

Rebecca Clarke pre-swim. Photo: Hamish Collie.

After a great transition, Hannah led out the run leg, followed by Rebecca, Els and Chelsea, who trailled  by 6:42 at the start of this final leg.

A world class runner, Chelsea reduced the deficit to four minutes at the half-way stage of the run and moved into second place early in the second lap. 

Els Visser - Netherlands. Photo: Hamish Collie.

Hannah Berry was conscious of the running ability of Chelsea.

“I knew that Chelsea was going to chase me down on the run leg, so I pushed really hard on the bike," says Hannah.

"I looked across at her a couple of times during the run and she looked amazing. I just stuck my head down and focused on my own form.”

Around Mauao base track. Photo: Hamish Collie.

Hannah was jubilant with the victory.

"This is a best place to race, on my home course. To hear people yelling ‘Go Hannah’ throughout the race was amazing.

“It is wonderful to have world class athletes here, and a privilege to win today’s event.”

Men's Winner 2024 Tauranga Half - Jack Moody. Photo: Hamish Collie.

The elite men’s race produced one of the most dramatic finishes in the storied history of the event with Jack Moody outsprinting Mike Phillips down The Mall at Pilot Bay to win his first title.

Saturday’s victory is extra special for Jack Moody after being the event’s perennial place-getter for the past five years. 

He finished second in 2022, 2020 & 2019 and third in 2023 & 2021, but was on top of the podium today after a blistering run leg.

Jack spoke with emotion after his victory.

“I have wanted to win this event for so long," says Jack. "There were moments on the run today [Saturday] when I wondered if I was forever going to be the event’s bridesmaid, so am stoked to finally win.”

Pilot Bay. Photo: Hamish Collie.

Jack has worked hard on his weakest triathlon discipline – the swim, in recent times. 

He came of the water at Pilot Bay in fifth place, just behind Mike Phillips, and two minutes down on Javier Gomez of Spain.

While a late entry to Saturday’s event, legendary triathlete Javier looked in outstanding form after the swim leg. 

However, problems with the handlebars on his bike, put paid to Javier’s chances of adding the Calley Homes Tauranga Half to his illustrious career of triathlon wins.

It was current NZ Ironman champion, Mike Phillips from Christchurch who dominated Saturday’s bike leg to open up a three and a half minute margin heading into the run leg.

Auckland’s Jack Moody was incredibly quick on first lap of the run, cutting the deficit to 50 seconds as they rounded the half-way marker.

Mike showed his wonderful strength to hold off Moody for most of the second lap. 

Mike Phillips leads Jack Moody in the 2024 Tauranga Half. Photo: Hamish Collie.

However, as they came off Mount Maunganui’s base track for the second and final time, Jack took the lead and sprinted down The Mall to record an epic eleven second victory.

Jack paid tribute to Mike Phillips at the end of the race.

"He was incredibly strong though out today’s run, and it was difficult to pull back that deficit," says Jack.

The Calley Homes Tauranga Half was the headline event for the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival of Multisport which also featured the Pilot Bay Swim over 800m, 2km & 3.8k distances, an Aquabike event, and the Pressio Mount Festival Half Marathon which was held over 5km, 10km and half marathon distances.  

The highly accomplished Jacob Priddley won the Pressio men’s Half Marathon in 1:09:54, and Amelia Lythe won the women’s half marathon in the incredible time of 1:11:22. 

Another decorated athlete who took part in the half marathon today was 87 year old multisport legend Garth Barfoot.

Results for all events are below.

Website:                             www.mountfestival.kiwi

Calley Tauranga Half Results – Saturday, January 20 2024

Distance                              2km Swim           90km Bike           21.1km Run

Elite Men’s

1. Jack Moody (Auckland)                                 3:33:33
2. Mike Phillips (Christchurch)                         3:33:44
3. Ben Hamilton                                                     3:39:40
4. Scott Harpham                                                  3:40:33
5. Simon Cochrane (Auckland)                        3:42:24

Elite Women’s

1. Hannah Berry (Tauranga)                             3:58:48
2. Chelsea Sodaro (US)                                       3:59:43
3. Els Visser (Netherlands)                                                4:03:22
4. Rebecca Clarke (Auckland)                          4:07:41
5. Deb Fuller                                                           4:13:53

Aquabike Results

Distance              2km Swim           90km Bike

Overall Men’s

1. Jamie Campbell                                        2:24:51
2. Karl Poole                                                    2:32:57
3. Michael Glynn                                           2:34:21

Overall Women’s

1. Georgina Perry                                         2:44:48
2. Amanda Woodd                                       2:56:21
3. Cat Conlan                                                  2:57:35

Pressio Mount Festival Half Marathon – Results

Overall Men’s – 5km

1. Etienne Shamley                                      20:52
2. Kristian Buccus                                          20:52
3. Lachie Veal                                                 21:10

Overall Women’s – 5km

1. Anna Hickey                                               21:23
2. Alaina Smith                                               21:54
3. Sienna Rowe                                              22:40

Overall Men’s – 10km

1. Wynton Richards                                      37:08
2. Lane Madsen                                             37:50
3. Travis Ovalsen                                           42:34

Overall Women’s – 10km

1. Sophie Harries                                           50:19
2. Nicola Farmer                                            50:48
3. Chloe McCurran                                       50:58

Overall Men’s – 21.1km Half Marathon

1. Jacob Priddley                                           1:09:54
2. Daniel Hallam                                             1:12:13
3. Jake Wilkinson                                          1:15:48

Overall Women’s – 21.1km Half Marathon

1. Jemma Guitink                                          1:11:22
2. Jasmine Finney                                         1:30:25
3. Caitlin Bradley                                           1:32:39

Pilot Bay Swim – Results

Overall Men’s – 800m

1. Kiani Woodward                                       11:44
2. Ashton Guitry                                            11:53
3. Luca Dohnt                                                 13:21

Overall Women’s – 800m

1. Tara Lowe                                                   13:29
2. Bailee More                                               15:52
3. Jamie Barbuco                                           15:59

Overall Men’s – 2k

1. Tom Green                                                 25:20
2. Nick Jeffrey                                                                26:54
3. Sam McHale                                               28:39

Overall Women’s – 2k

1. Sally Green                                                 31:57
2. Sina Kamps                                                 32:55    
3. Coral Lambeth                                           35:20

Overall Men’s – 3.8k

1. Quinn Boyle                                               43:47
2. Jack Revill                                                    44:23
3. Brady Cambell                                           48:12

Overall Women’s – 3.8k

1. Eva Goodisson                                          43:51
2. Alice Adams                                               44:06
3. Marina Nadilo                                            48:33