March 10, 2004, Taupo, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
The utility of epic mileage packed into twelve days was evident at Ironman New Zealand this year, as perennial winner Cameron Brown had to overcome epic charges from in front and behind to win his fourth IM NZ title.
Swede Björn Andersson gave the Kiwi something to think about as the 24-year-old rode to an 18-minute lead into T2. Brown is used to running into the win on this course, but he's not used to having someone take time out of him while afoot. Andersson's countryman Clas Björling did just that, running 2:42 to Brown's 2:46.
Björling, also young for an Ironman at age-25, ran out of real estate and came home in 8:36:35 to Brown's 8:30:30. Andersson gamely hung on for third in 8:41:35.
Next across in 4th was Epic Camp co-producer Gordo Byrn in 8:46:37. Byrn's Epic Camp partner, former Ironman champ, 44-year-old Scott Molina, acquitted himself well at 9:29:29, second master and 17th overall.
Clas Björling's run was not a surprise to Cameron Brown, who closed on the run to finish a close second to Brown by just 23 seconds in the Auckland Half-Ironman Jauary 25th. This, in the middle of the most recent New Zealand Epic Camp, 12 days of back-to-back mega mileage.
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Brown, Ballance, score wins for the home team
March 4, 2002, Taupo, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
It was a great day for the home team at Ironman New Zealand on Saturday as Kiwis Cameron Brown and Karyn Ballance both wound up the day atop the podium.
For Brown, the win meant a successful defense of the title he first won last year after two years of frustrating runner-up finishes. For Ballance, victory brought an end to three years’ worth of second-place finishes.
The race, which began in chilly rain that continued for much of the bike ride, is in its 18th year and drew 1,003 starters.
Brown was down more than two minutes on the leaders after the bike and again relied on his footspeed to move through the field. He passed bike leader James Bonney of Texas at the halfway point of the marathon and never looked back.
Bonney had taken the lead of the bike at about the 135k mark, entering T2 in the lead with 1:30 on the rest of the field. Although he faded a bit on the run, he hung on for a podium finish, coming home in fifth in 8:43.
The women’s race saw fast-rising first-year pro Lynley Allison, who won her age group in Kona last fall, take the lead on the bike ride and hold it until about mile 12 of the run, when Ballance swept by. She wound up third on the day, behind fellow Kiwi Jo Lawn, a former elite cyclist.
American Wendy Ingraham, pegged as a pre-race favorite along with Brown, came fourth and set a new swim course record in 49:48. Brazilian star Fernanda Keller finished the day in sixth, and Taupo veteran Lene Walqvist of Sweden was 9th.
(RESULTS)
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Taupo keeps IM New Zealand, Air New Zealand dumps it
April 3, 2001, Auckland, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
After sixteen years as an Ironman licensee, Air New Zealand has relinquished that status. IMG (specifically its New Zealand office) will both own and run the event under a 5-year license granted it by World Triathlon Corporation, owners of the Ironman Triathlon. IMG has run the event for Air New Zealand since the first such New Zealand race in the mid 1980s.
The race will stay in Taupo, where it has been for the past two years. "We are pleased to announce that Taupo will remain the host venue for Ironman New Zealand Triathlon," IMG (NZ) Managing Director Paul Gleeson said. "We prompted the move to Taupo after 14 years in Auckland in the first place. As long as we are involved with Ironman New Zealand, we want to work with Taupo."
This deal expands the number of Ironman races run by IMG. The global sports conglomerate already owns and runs Ironman Australia, Ironman Korea and Ironman Japan. In signing with IMG the Ironman owners again demonstrate their desire to grant additional licenses to proven partners. It should be noted, though, that this is not a global IMG deal. The New Zealand office has always run the race with a good deal of autonomy, and has repeatedly stressed that its relationship with IM New Zealand has always been a New Zealand-specific endeavor.
Air New Zealand said the change fits the company’s profile. "Our business is not owning sports events," Air New Zealand Project Manager, Inbound Markets Murray Vaile said.
If Air New Zealand’s "business is not owning sports events," though, why did it own one for sixteen years? Profitability for the event––and Air New Zealand’s interest in it––seems to have waned in proportion to the difficulty in finding title sponsorship in recent years. Having its name in the title seems never to have been important to Air New Zealand, and the race has been variously known as the Wheetabix, Double Brown, and Colorsteel New Zealand Ironman. In recent years, though, IMG has had a difficult time selling the top sponsor spot, and the race has run at a loss as a result.
Air New Zealand will continue to be associated with the event––probably as the official airline––but details are still being worked out. Selling seats for inbound and international travel to the race was Air New Zealand’s chief interest all along. Presumably it will still retain its share of the IM New Zealand travel business.
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Molina on NZ IM champ Cameron Brown
March 7, 2001, Christchurch, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
He's very fast and orthopedically sound. With those two characteristics he's got a lot of potential, and he just needed some prodding––someone to help him draw it out.
Don't give me too much credit. He's gotten second here twice already so he really didn't need that much prodding. He's had as lengthy an apprenticeship as any one around today, even though he's only 28. So he has that base of fast racing and years of experience.
Like Lori [Bowden] he really just needs someone to bounce ideas off of now and then. He just needed a bit of coaxing to train more, and he finally has reached that point of maturity where he's ready to do what-ever training is required. A lot of athletes SAY they are committed but it doesn't show in their work ethic.
Cameron hasn't ridden enough consistent miles to ride with Zack or Hellriegel yet but in preparing for this one he's started the process of learning how much and how hard he needs to ride. He also did some consistent weight training for the first time and that has contributed to his overall strength to hold it together for over 8 hours.
I have a feeling he's going to be able to translate the base work he's done for this race into some better results in some shorter races as well.
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A complete rundown of the field
March 4, 2001, Taupo, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
As his countrymen cheered wildly along the course, New Zealand’s Cameron Brown ran down world long-course champion Peter Sandvang of Denmark in the final two kilometers of Ironman New Zealand on Saturday to bring home the championship in 8:24. After two years of tantalizingly close second-place finishes in Taupo—in 1999 he was just 13 seconds behind American Tim DeBoom at the finish, and closing fast—Brown’s win caps a spell of hard training under new coach Scott Molina.
Sandvang, who put more than 10 minutes into the field on the bike, finished less than 90 seconds behind Brown, with Germany’s Stefan Holzner third in 8:31. Brown turned in a 2:45 marathon to put the race away in cool and occasionally wet conditions.
In fourth was John van Wisse of Australia, a minute behind Holzner, Scott Balance––the most recent Kiwi prior to Brown to win this race––in fifth with 8:41.
Notable DNFs, according to race reports, included Australian Chris Legh, winner of last year’s Ironman California, and New Zealander Bryan Rhodes, the winner of the first Ironman of 2001, in Malaysia.
Two course records were set. Auckland’s Brent Foster, former world surf lifesaving champion, broke Ric Wells’ 1994 swim record by 51 seconds to clock 45.41 for the 3.8km swim on Lake Taupo. Sandvang rode through the field to break the cycle record set by last year’s Ironman NZ winner Thomas Hellriegel (Germany). He recorded 4:34.49 while opening a seemingly impenetrable lead over the chasing bunch of seven led by Brown.
Canada’s Lisa Bentley successfully defended her 2000 Ironman New Zealand championship by again charging through the field on the run Saturday, posting a 9:36 for the win. New Zealander Karyn Ballance finished second to Bentley, as she did in 2000, in 9:41. Bike leader Lena Wahlqvist of Sweden turned in a 5:14 bike split but could not hold her lead through the marathon, finishing in third with a 9:44. Bentley’s 3:14 marathon also helped her chase down New Zealander Joanna Lawn, who was making her pro debut and finished fourth in 9:46.
New Zealander Tara-Lee Marshall saw her race end on the bike course after three punctures and a staple in her tire, according to race reports. Australian Robin Roocke, one of the pre-race favorites, struggled on the run but walked it in to finish ninth, according to race reports.
Finally, there was another Bentley on the course Saturday: this one in the men’s 30-34. Lisa Bentley’s husband, Steve, finished in 9:46.
Top seeds Cameron Brown (Auckland) and Lisa Bentley (Canada) lived up to their No 1 rankings to take out the 17th Air New Zealand Ironman at Taupo on
Saturday.
(RESULTS)
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Taupo tops 900
February 28, 2001, Auckland, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
In its 16 previous years one of the most venerable of Ironman races has inexplicably struggled to draw a large field.
Air New Zealand Ironman is always listed among the favorites by those who travel there to race. Its scenic beauty and friendly people are its draw. New Zealand is the typical "you can’t get there from here" location, however, and the investment in travel expense and travel time have traditionally made IM New Zealand starters feel a bit of pain even before the race.
It is the Kiwis themselves, though, who’re feeling the pain now, through an excruciatingly low valuation of their New Zealand dollars. Paradoxically, this has led to a record number of sign-ups––970––en route to a starting field that my top 900 for the first time.
The increase in competitors this year has come mainly from Australia and North America. Competitors from across the Tasman have nearly doubled this year to 240 while North American triathletes number 165, up 20% from last year.
``The exchange rate has perhaps been the deciding factor," said IM New Zealand’s race director Jane Patterson. "We have Americans able to come down to race in Taupo for less than it costs to travel to an ironman in their own country.’’
But the Air New Zealand race organizers can't win for losing. While the attendance is way up, they must pay out a record amount in prize money. The prize list in New Zealand dollars will top six figures for the first time this year because it is locked to the international Ironman total of $US50,000.
``And now with more than $NZ110, 000," says Patterson, "we are probably the richest for an individual one-day sporting event in New Zealand.’’
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Bentley set to defend Taupo title
February 7, 2001, Auckland, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
In a bid to defend her IM New Zealand title, Canada’s Lisa Bentley has spent the Southern Hemisphere summer training in Queensland with her coach, Lance Watson. One of her training partners in Watson’s camp is American Andrea Fisher, who will try to dethrone Bentley in Taupo next month. (Also in that Queensland training camp, but not racing at Taupo, is Bentley's fellow Canadian Melissa Spooner).
Bentley and Fisher will not do battle alone. Kiwi Tara Lee Marshall – twice an Ironman winner last year, in Florida and Switzerland – will challenge, as will Australian Robin Roocke, third in this race a year ago and second in lat year's IM Switzerland.
Also challenging will be Swedish long-distance expert Lena Wahlquist, and Argentine Barbara Buenahora.
IM New Zealand will also serve as the debut race for a pair of talented age-groupers. American Alexis Waddell – overall age-group women’s champ at the Wildflower half-IM ast year – and Kona’s top age-grouper, Auckland’s Joanna Lawn, will place their bikes in the pro racks for the first time this year at Taupo.
IM New Zealand's female pros:
Barbara Buenahora (ARG)
Robyn Roocke (AUS)
Lisa Bentley (CAN)
Pamela Ens (CAN)
Nina Kraft (GER)
Yoko Hori (JAP)
Karyn Balance (NZ)
Joanna Lawn (NZ)
Tara-Lee Marshall (NZ)
Lena Wahlquist (SWE)
Andrea Fisher (USA)
Alexis Waddel (USA)
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Sandvang headlines IM New Zealand
February 4, 2001, Auckland, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
World long distance champion Peter Sandvang heads a strong field for next month’s Air New Zealand Ironman at Taupo.
Sandvang (Denmark), who successfully defended his world long distance title at Nice, France last year, is one of three former champions to line-up in the men’s field for the 17th Air New Zealand Ironman on Saturday 3 March.
He’ll be challenged by New Zealand’s own Cameron Brown. The Scott Molina trained Brown was runner-up for the second time in a row at New Zealand last year, and third in
Ironman USA. He is coming off a convincing victory at the Port of Tauranga Half-Ironman four weeks ago, beating Ben Bright, Tony O’Hagan, and IM Malaysia’s recent victor Bryan Rhodes. The frequent-racing Rhodes is also scheduled for Taupo.
Also sure to be in the hunt is last year’s Wildflower and IM California champion Chris Legh from Australia. He faltered later in the year with a DNF in Hawaii, but when Legh is on he’s very hard to beat.
Also racing is IM Florida champ Jamie Cleveland, and Kiwis Tony O’Hagan (3rd in Port of Tauranga, 4th in NZ Long-Distance Champs), and Scott Balance (2nd in NZ Long-Distance Champs). Top Japanese athlete Shingo Tani is certain to apply pressure on the leaders from behind with a top-notch run.
The top men’s seeds are:
Sturla Eduardo Argentina
Juan Mutti Argentina
Jasper Blake Australia
Sean Foster Australia
Mark Howard Australia
Sam McLean Australia
Francois Modave Australia
Evan Moore Australia
Jeff Beech Canada
Jamie Cleveland Canada
Nigel Gray Canada
Michal Pilousek Czech Republic
Jensen Mogens Denmark
Peter Sandvang Denmark
Carpanese Nicola Italy
Shingo Tani Japan
Guido Gosselink Netherlands
Scott Ballance New Zealand
Jeremy Boyd New Zealand
Cameron Brown New Zealand
Stephen Farrell New Zealand
Michael Grantham New Zealand
Giannis Koutsogiannis New Zealand
Tony O'Hagan New Zealand
Bryan Rhodes New Zealand
Stephen Sheldrake New Zealand
Walter Thorburn New Zealand
Chad Hawker USA
Kevin Joyce USA
Chris Lieto USA
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Bentley joins Canada's top tier
March 4, 2000, Taupo, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
Lisa Bentley's Air New Zealand Ironman win on Saturday provided the international breakthrough she has been waiting for.
Twelvth in last year's Hawaii Ironman, Bentley finally got the race that rises her to the ranks of Canada's other great long-distance women, namely Lori Bowden, Heather Fuhr and Melissa Spooner. Although she had been fifth in the ITU World Long Distance Championships at Sado, Japan, in 1998, and third in the St. Croix Triathlon last May, she had still to crack that top tier of Canadian long-distance aces that date back to the Puntous twins in the '80s.
Bentley won in 9:28:14, more than nine minutes ahead of New Zealand's Karyn Ballance. Her 3:05:27 marathon was the key, as she pulled back the lead from Australia's Robyn Roocke.
American Sian Welch had been the race favorite by all accounts, but pulled out at the second transition after actually getting sick on the bike segment. -- KW-
(RESULTS)
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Hellriegel adds the Taupo title
March 4, 2000, Taupo, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
Germany's Thomas Hellriegel made good on his favorite's status in winning the 16th Air New Zealand Ironman at Taupo. His 8:22:46 will even count as a course record, because this is just the second year for the race in Taupo, since it was moved there from its previous home in Auckland.
Hellriegel won by four minutes over New Zealand's Cameron Brown (8:26:45), second for the second straight year.
Hellriegel, winner of the Ironman USA in Lake Placid last August, but "only" sixth in the Hawaii Ironman in October, achieved the fastest bike split of the day, 4:39:48. That was in keeping with his nickname, "Hell on Wheels." He finished with a 2:51:10 marathon split, which was third-best.
Brown's 2:47:19 was the fastest run of the day, but his 4:51:04 bike split put him well out of contention for actually winning. Brown, who lost last year to Tim DeBoom by 13 seconds, and fifth-placing Bryan Rhodes, also a Kiwi, were the only men to return to the top 10 from the 1999 list.
(RESULTS)
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It's time for Taupo!
March 3, 2000, Taupo, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
For those who haven't figured out time zones and differences, the chances are good that the Air New Zealand Ironman is occurring just as you are reading this.
The race is Saturday morning in Taupo: However, start time is, for Americans, Friday, 1pm Eastern time, 10am Pacific. For Europeans, start time is Friday, 7pm in Paris.
The Ironman folks have promised, through the New York City company SportVision, a far better version of "live Internet broadcast" than what they delivered last October, using SportVision. The SportVision web specialists will be broadcasting live from every single Ironman-family event in 2000 (except for South Africa, which was February 5).
The race favorites are Sian Welch (USA), Karyn Ballance (New Zealand) and
Lisa Bentley (Canada); and, for men, Thomas Hellriegel (Germany); Olivier Bernhard (Switzerland) and Cameron Brown (New Zealand). Neither Tim DeBoom (America) or Melissa Spooner (Canada), the 1999 champions when the race first was transferred to Taupo out of Auckland, are back to defend their titles.
There is a record field of 825 competitors from 39 countries. --KW
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Hellriegel to Race Air New Zealand Ironman
January 17, 2000, Taupo, New Zealand (www.slowtwitch.com):
Germany's Thomas Hellriegel has agreed to race the Air New Zealand Ironman on March 4. He lines up, according to race organisers, as "the biggest name to take part in Ironman New Zealand since Americans Scott Molina and Scott Tinley in the first two races 15 years ago."
Hellriegel, 29, is indeed a headliner: He is one of just six Ironman ever to break eight hours. He has won four Ironmans, including Hawaii, setting course records in three of them: Lanzarote (1995), Canada (1996) and USA-Lake Placid (1999), as well as the bike couse record on Hawaii (4:24:50).
Hellriegel's appearance means a rematch with Kiwi Cameron Brown, who was second to him in Lake Placid last August. Brown, who was also second (to Tim DeBoom) at Ironman New Zealand last year, just won the New Zealand Long-Distance Championships at Mount Maunganui in the January 8 half-Ironman.
Bryan Rhodes and Scott Ballance are the other top Kiwis expected in the race. The full elite field will be announced next week.
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• Epic Campers take two-thru-four at Taupo
• Brown, Ballance, score wins for the home team
• Taupo keeps IM New Zealand, Air New Zealand dumps it
• Molina on NZ IM champ Cameron Brown
• A complete rundown of the field
• Taupo tops 900
• Bentley set to defend Taupo title
• Sandvang headlines IM New Zealand
• Bentley joins Canada's top tier
• Hellreigel takes Taupo title
• It's time for Taupo! IM NZ ready to go.
• Hellriegel to race Ironman NZ