---

Former Champion Determined to Retake Title

Michael Jacques / 31.12.2011

In 2011 Elina Ussher was odds-on favourite to dominate the Speight’s Coast to Coast. After a resounding victory in 2010, there didn’t appear to be anyone capable of challenging the Finnish-born racer. So it was something of a surprise when Sophie Hart put up a breakthrough performance to win the 2011 race. Needless to say, Ussher is more motivated than ever for 2012’s 30th anniversary of the 243k race across New Zealand’s South Island.

The Finnish-born multisport and adventure racing star knows from experience that the multisport world championship doesn’t come easy. Born Elina Maki-Rautila, Elina Ussher was also born to adventure sports. Starting with cross country skiing, where she represented Finland, she was talent spotted by Team Nokia.

That was back in 2000 and with Team Nokia Ussher quickly realised she could make a living from adventure racing. Along the way she also met and married three-time Speight’s Coast to Coast champion, Richard Ussher, which obviously led to her own relationship with the world’s premier multisport event.

In 2006 Ussher became the next ‘big thing’ when she finished second in her debut Speight’s Coast to Coast. She led that year for more than half the race before succumbing to Canadian-turned Kiwi Emily Miazga.

But whereas Miazga went on to win three Speight’s Coast to Coast titles, Mrs Ussher struggled to come to grips with the world championship event, following up her Speight’s Coast to Coast second place debut with consecutive fifth, seventh and third placings.

In 2010, however, she defeated arguably the deepest female field ever assembled and such was her dominance that 2011 seemed a shoe-in. But despite clocking the third fastest female time in history, she trailed the near record win of Nelson doctor Sophie Hart.

Hence, Elina Ussher is not short of motivation for the 2012 race, which will be her seventh consecutive Speight’s Coast to Coast. But she won’t be short of competition. Defending champion Sophie Hart is expected to be on the start line, and Christchurch’s own Fleur Pawsey, the winner in 2007 and runner up in 2008, is returning to the One Day world championship event after two years of winning the team competition with Christchurch-based Dane, Sia Svendsen, who is also stepping up to the world title race.

Ussher, however, isn’t worrying too much about the competition yet. Regardless of competition she admits her focus revolves around, “Mainly concentrating on my own business, really.”

“Of course it's nice when the field is strong. It makes the competition much more interesting.”