Wanaka based athletes won two major titles in the inaugural Challenge Wanaka Multi event held last Saturday (October 31) which exceeded expectations with 120 competitors entered.

Wanaka multi-sport athlete and coach Dougal Allen won the men’s individual open section and Simone Maier won the women’s individual veteran event, setting a course record in the process.

Christchurch’s Fiona Dowling won the women’s individual open and Craig Nieper of Dunedin won the men’s individual veteran event.

Although he led his race from the start to finish, Dougal was hard pressed by Hamish Elliot from Gore and Hāwea Flat triathlon coach Tim Brazier, who finished third - an impressive feat coming back into competition after a ten year break. 

Simone Maier winds her way along the Hāwea River track while setting the course record for women in the Challenge Wanaka Multi.

Dougal was thrilled to win the inaugural race, particularly as during lockdown there was doubt the event would even occur.

“Huge respect to the Challenge Wanaka crew for stepping up and giving us this opportunity to take part in this multisport event....Who would have thought in April this year we would be here now racing?” he said.

“I thought about that a lot today, and the gratitude I felt to the team behind the event and thanks to all the competitors who took part and supported it.”

Simone, who had the fastest overall time across the womens’ events, was also pleased with her win.

“We were lucky with the weather because the front passed through at the end and I think everyone was nervous about that at the start on the paddle. It was an amazing paddle with a high river flow which made it fast. The course is awesome,” she said. 

More than 100 kayakers began the Challenge Wanaka Multi on Lake Wānaka.

“We are stoked that we were able to race, especially at the moment. I was really happy with my performance as I haven’t really raced since the Coast to Coast. And what a great turn out and great support from the volunteers. The team put on a great show.”

The event proved so popular the number of competitors, which had been capped at 100, had to be extended to meet the demand, Challenge Wanaka communications manager Sophie Luthor said.

Sophie said on race day 120 competitors entered the 11 individual and tandem/team events.

The race started with more than 100 kayakers lining up to paddle the 25km course, from Wanaka’s Watersports Facility at Roys Bay across the lake, down the Clutha River, finishing near Luggate’s Red Bridge.

From there they grabbed bikes to begin the 43km mountain bike trail along the Newcastle track to Deans Bank, to Lake Hāwea, across the Dam and back down the Hāwea River Track to the Albert Town bridge.   

They transitioned to the 12km run at Albert Town which took them along the Outlet Track back to the Watersport Facility. 

Dougal completed the course in 3 hrs 53 mins and Simone in 4 hrs 20 mins. Full race results can be found here.

The Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka team is already looking to make this an annual event after this year’s success, and the timing in the calendar suits as a kick-off event for the multisport season, Sophie said. 

PHOTOS: Lennon Bright Photography