Christchurch's Mike Phillips stormed to victory in the 19th edition of Challenge Wānaka, delivering a commanding performance to claim the title at the 2025 Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Half.

Leading from start to finish, Mike put on a masterclass of racing, showcasing his strength across all three disciplines.

Emerging from the swim in first place, he wasted no time extending his advantage on the bike, powering through the scenic yet demanding course to build an unassailable lead. He continued his dominance on the run, crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 54 minutes, and 26 seconds with a 15-minute margin over his nearest rival.

"It was great to get a hit out and come down and support the race,” Mike said.

Christchurch's Tom Somerville took second, leaving everything out on the run course, stating he had "gone to some dark places on that run." Local triathlete Laurie Watson secured third in an impressive race for the up-and-coming athlete, who started his journey with the Puzzling World Junior Challenge and now competing with the elites. Laurie closed the gap to Tom on the run, finishing only two seconds behind him.

In the women’s race, Wānaka triathlete Danielle Donaldson continued her breakout season with a remarkable victory. 

Danielle Donaldson.

Danielle, who has delivered some standout performances across multiple races this season, finished in 4 hours, 41 minutes, and 38 seconds. With consistent results in the age-group ranks, she is now considering a transition to the professional field in 2025/2026.

She was chased on the run by Deb Lynch, the newly crowned 2025 Coast to Coast Champion, who finished second, 4 minutes and 28 seconds behind Danielle. Wānaka resident, and former professional triathlete, Maeve Kennedy-Birdsall finished third.

A stunning day in Wānaka set the stage for the event. The morning began with calm conditions and no wind for the swim start, but as the day progressed, the hot sun and challenging terrain took its toll on the athletes.

"It’s fantastic to have athletes of Mike’s calibre supporting this year’s Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka and testing out the course," event director Jane Sharman said. 

"His performance [on Saturday] was impressive, and the feedback on the course has been invaluable. It’s a challenging course, and we've received positive suggestions on how it could be refined for the future. Overall, the vibe of the festival has been amazing."

PHOTOS: Supplied