Tauranga, NZL, January 5: Kieran Doe won the 2008 Port of Tauranga Half Ironman and denied Cameron Brown his 9th title. In the women’s race Kate Bevilaqua narrowly beat out Joanna Lawn.

First out of the water was as expected Stephen Sheldrake (NZL), but soon after they left T1, his countryman Kieran Doe took charge on the bike. By the time Doe hit T2, he almost had an almost 6 minute gap on the 8 time defending champion Cameron Brown (NZL). Brown then put his amazing running skills to good use and gained back the 6 minutes he had given up on the bike. But in the end Doe won in 3:56:41 and Brown came across in second in 3:58:33. Third was Nathan Richmond (NZL) in 4:00:44.

In the women’s race, Joanna Lawn (NZL) had the fastest bike split but had Kate Bevilaqua (AUS) breathing down her neck most of the race. Once out on the run, the 2 women ran almost the same pace but about a mile from the end Bevilaqua pulled even and then ahead. Bevilqua crossed the line victorious in 4:17:54, just 10 seconds ahead of Lawn’s time of 4:18:04. The early swim leader Gina Ferguson (NZL), finished 3rd in 4:29:39.


Top 5 men

1. Kieran Doe (NZL) 3:56:41
2. Cameron Brown (NZL) 3:58:33
3. Nathan Richmond (NZL) 4:00:44
4. Shane Reed (NZL) 4:01:29
5. Stephen Sheldrake (NZL) 4:03:46


Top 5 women

1. Kate Bevilaqua (AUS) 4:17:54
2. Joanne Lawn (NZL) 4:18:04
3. Gina Ferguson (NZL) 4:29:39
4. Fleur Bromley (NZL) 4:34:30
5. Sue Mellsop (NZL) 4:35:37 *

* AG 40-44