Trinidad Coast 2 Coast Multisport Race
Ussher Paddles to Comfortable Victory
Ryan Mendes (Photos James O'Connor/CaribbeanStockPhotography.com / 09.10.2006
Heavy rains persisted on Day 2 of the Tropical Power Coast 2 Coast Multi-Sport Race, but could not stop New Zealander Richard Ussher from dominating the event, crossing the Finish Line at Williams Bay, Chaguaramas in a new course time of 11 hours and 17 minutes. “The course looks simple enough on paper,� he told the crowd, “but it’s a really challenging one – and a beautiful one too.� Stage 3 of the two-day event began at 5:30 am yesterday morning with a 58 km ride to Diego Martin’s North Post, followed by an 8 km run to Macqueripe. The final stage of the course was the toughest because of the inclement weather. Choppy seas and large swells in the First Boca made the 30 km paddle to Williams Bay so challenging that several athletes opted to drop out of the race.
The first female to finish was Elina Maki-Rautila of Finland, who, though she had some trouble on the kayak leg, toughed it out and crossed the line in just about 13 hours. The first relay team was the trio of Guy Costa, who did the cycle leg, Cantius Thomas, who again made good time on the run and Andrew Blackburn, who paddled a double kayak with Costa.
A large crowd of multi-sport enthusiasts were on hand to cheer on the competitors, who received commemorative medals, trophies and cash prizes worth over US $10,500.
For more information see www.ecoadventurestt.com.
Photos by James O\'Connor/CaribbeanStockPhotography.com.
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