Powerade Triple Challenge
Don-Wauchope dominates at the Powerade Triple Challenge
Powerade Press Release / 28.11.2005
Iain Don-Wauchope's outstanding performance to win the men's elite title in a new record time of five hours, twenty-one minutes and 30 seconds set high standard of racing which must have been stimulated by the depth of talent chasing him from behind. Don-Wauchope's devastating run of one hour and seventeen minutes over the testing 22km run leg gave him a six minute advantage over second placed Philip Hayward. The dynamics changed during the 52km cycle leg down to Inanda Dam with Jean-Paul van der Linde hauling through the field to arrive at the transition to the paddle in second but Don-Wauchope remained out of sight in his pursuit for glory. Not even the likes of canoeing greats Kelby Murray, Lance Chapman and Wayne Thompson could make an impression on Don-Wauchope's by now unassailable lead which saw him cross the finish line nearly seven minutes clear of a determined effort from Philip Hayward to place second. Kelby Murray clocked the fastest paddle split to move into third place overall followed by Wayne Thompson and Lance Chapman claiming the last of the Harmony Gold medals.
An equally exciting race unfolded amongst the elite women. Su Erskine was no surprise in the leading the race through the run leg. It was not long before Landy Taylor seized control on the cycle leg and led onto the paddle until Abbey Miedema showed her true talent and ploughed through the field making up a fifteen minute deficit from fifth to take the honours with a blistering paddle leg comparable to that of the top elite men. Taylor took a deserved second ahead of adventure-racer Jeanette Walder with local women Sue Chapman and Erskine fourth and fifth respectively.
Competition amongst the teams was fierce with the three-man Mr Price combination recording the fastest time of the day of four hours fifty-three minutes and 56 seconds. The event showed growth in the 4B Corporate category with the Smith Company arriving home first ahead of Stowell & Co with Bo's Plant Hire third. The disappointing turnout amongst the schools and junior categories is one of the reasons the organizers have decided to shift the Powerade Triple Challenge one month earlier (diarise 14 October 2006) to avoid year-end examinations.
The Powerade Triple Challenge continues to establish itself as SA's biggest one-day multisport event with nearly eight hundred athletes taking part. "The positive response to this year's event from the public, athletes and sponsors has been overwhelming. Multisport is here to stay and we are already planning for next year" concluded race organiser Max Cluer. Full results in the Weekend Witness and on www.triplechallenge.co.za
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