Speights Coast to Coast
Ussher wins Speight’s Coast to Coast Longest Day 2008
Media Release (Photos from Sportzhub.com) / 26.02.2008
Ussher finished the best known multisport race in the world with a convincing lead over last year’s winner, Gordon Walker who came in at second place after 11hr:23min:59sec. Considering both Ussher and Walker’s extensive multisport experience both competitors were favourites for the first place spot. Dick Brunton, an educational trainer for the DARE program, came in third at Sumner Beach.
“My whole plan during the run was to take it really easy until Goat Pass then really try to hammer it out,� says Ussher. “If you’re a good runner, not only can you run a good time but you get off a little fresher. It’s down-time really.�
“When you’re in the lead you don’t get any information at all, you can never really relax,� says Ussher. “I think for the only time in my entire Speight’s Coast to Coast career I enjoyed that last bike ride.�
Walker, who placed second, bet his last year’s Longest Day time by 15 minutes and 31 seconds and conceded that he was “just beaten by a better man.�
“Ussher is the best adventure racer in the world by a long shot, he’s a hard man to beat,� says Walker. “He eased away and was under control, he had a faultless race. I’m happy with my times but made a couple of mistakes in the paddle which were heartbreaker’s – I just had to keep going.�
In what is traditionally a slow build up to the mountain run, the first cycle leg saw the top six males breakaway within the first 30km’s – Richard Ussher, Gordon Walker, Greg Taylor, Mark Pschebizin, Jacob Roberts and Thomas Pettersson. The next cycle pack followed four minutes behind and included female ‘Longest Day’ top picks Emily Miazga, Rachel Cashin and Jeannie Bomford. What is normally a sedate, pacey ride had quickly turned into a race.
Gordon Blythen missed the leading breakaway in the first cycle leg and was 10 minutes down in the run after losing his water pack and having to retrieve it. Blythen has consistently placed in the top four over past years coming second in last year’s one day competition.
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