Hellemans in lead all the way

Press, 10 February 1986, Page 27

Hellemans in lead all the way

John Hellemans, of Christchurch, led from the start to the finish to win the Jazzercise-Tri Sports triathlon in Christchurch on Saturday, just breaking two hours for the standard short-course distance.

Surprisingly, Hellemans led at the end of the swim leg, the discipline which he considers to be his weakest. Hard training has improved his swimming, and he left the water a minute clear of the next competitor. Peter Zyerveld, a Dutchman who has been living and training in .Christchurch this summer, finished minutes be-

hind Hellemans. It was expected that Zyerveld would cut into Hellemans’ lead on the cycling section, but that was not to be, and the eventual winner extended his lead on both those sections. Erin Baker, of Christchurch, the women’s world triathlon champion, withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour because of illness. In her absence the first woman to finish was a junior from Dunedin, Penny Clayton. Aged 16, she. was the youngest competitor in the field of 120, and completed the course in under 2i/ 2 hours, a very good

time. Another outstanding newcomer was Bill Loutit, who won the junior men’s section, but more importantly he was fifth over all in the excellent time of 2hr 13min 50s. Loutit, aged 18, is obviously going to be a threat to the more senior triathletes in New Zealand before too much longer. The triathlon comprised a I.skm swim on flat water in Corsair Bay; a 40km cycle leg; and a 10km run. Results.— Open men.— J. Hellemans, 1:59.49, 1; P. Zyerveld, 2:5.29, 2; B. Snellex, 2:10.15, 3; G. Russell, 2:12.27, 4; B. Loutit, 2:13.50, 5; R. Elvery, 2:13.56, 6. Junior men.— Loutit, 2:13.50, 1; N. Grant, 2:27.50, 2; B. Hennessey, -2:37.15, 3. Veteran men.— M. Holmes, 2:21.13, 1; B. Carpinter, 2:32.15, 2; A. Cudworth, -2:38.41, 3. i Women.— P. Clayton, 229.38, 1; K. Williams, ’ 2:30.09, 2; C. O’Rourke, 2:38.41, 3.