Currie, Orchard win XTERRA New Zealand

Photos / Complete Results / Quick Highlight Video

Braden Currie defended his title and Lizzie Orchard got her first big win in her home country at the 14th annual XTERRA New Zealand Championship on a beautiful day at the Blue Lake in Roturua on Saturday.

XTERRA media liaison Jordyn McLean was on-site to capture all the action and brings us this report (photos courtesy John Cowpland)…

Top Kiwi multisport athlete Braden Currie has defended his pro title at the Paymark XTERRA Rotorua Festival, crossing the line ahead of Rotorua’s Sam Osborne and South Africa’s Bradley Weiss at the Blue Lake today.

The 29-year old from Wanaka was neck and neck with Osborne out of the swim and into the mountain bike, but he managed to pull away towards the end of the bike leg.

“Yea me and Sam swim pretty similar and we ride pretty similar on the flat stuff and I just managed to get away on the big hill. It was great to go into transition with a little bit of a lead cause I knew we would have been real close in the run too,” said Currie. “I’m stoked with the win though. It was always going to be a hard day, I knew Sam was in real good condition and I knew how badly he wanted to win so it was never going to be easy. It was just fun to have a really good race and enjoy it.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Currie though.

“I had an epic crash and I’m really starting to feel it now. I was just sitting on Sam’s wheel and just scored a wrong line and went straight over the bars at full speed and slipped down the bank on my shoulder and head. I came to a stop and collected my bike and lost all my gels. In a way it was good because it made me refocus.”

Currie will head to the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships next weekend in New South Wales, before taking a break to decide what he’ll do next.

Local athlete Osborne had a frustrating swim, but kept the pressure on Currie for the majority of the race.

“I didn’t have the best start in the swim, I actually had to swim back on which was a bit annoying. Braden and I were literally just battling it out the whole bike, but coming into the big climb he just let rip at the bottom of it and I just couldn’t go with his initial surge. It came down to a running race and I think I just burnt too many matches on the bike,” said Osborne.

Osborne had plenty of praise for the new layout of the course at the Paymark XTERRA Rotorua Festival.

“I think this course is a winner. Braden and I both think this would be the perfect World Champs course. It’s good, consistent riding and it’s technical enough that when you ride fast it is actually hard, but not ridiculous either.”

Whakatane teenager Hayden Wilde produced a remarkable result in the long course race, finishing in fourth place.

“I had one of the best swims I’ve ever had, and I came out with the likes of Olly Shaw and then from there I started a good bike, but about 5km into it I got a puncture. I had to stop and put CO2 in it and I lost about 2 minutes. Once I got going again I managed to pass guys who had passed me and then I passed a few others and then gunned it on the run,” said Wilde.  “I was stoked with the result but gutted to have got the puncture, but I guess it’s good to know where I am at. I’m going to the Asia-Pacific Champs next weekend and it will be my first elite race so I’m looking forward to it.”

Pro Men   Pl Name Final 1 Braden Currie, NZL 2:05:42 2 Sam Osborne, NZL 2:07:23 3 Bradley Weiss, RSA 2:11:33 4 Olly Shaw, NZL 2:11:50 5 Kieran McPherson, NZL 2:17:27 6 Cameron Paul, NZL 2:20:03 7 Alex Roberts, NZL 2:28:08 8 Lachlan Davey, NZL 2:37:35 9 Kaon Cho, KOR 2:53:20 10 Kiley Momohara, NZL 3:25:11 Liz OrchardLiz Orchard, womens winner, Paymark Xterra, Rotorua, New Zealand, 16 April 2016. Photo by John Cowpland / Marathon Photos

In the women’s pro race, Lizzie Orchard improved on her second place finish last year to take out the 2016 title. The 30-year old defeated Sarah Backler who finished second and Rachel Challis in third.

Orchard was delighted with the victory and says it was a long time coming.

“I’m super pleased to have won XTERRA in Rotorua. It’s the home town race and you always want to do well here. I’ve actually been coming here for over 10 years, starting as a teenager before eventually trying the full triathlon. It’s always great, loads of support and so many people cheering you on.”

Orchard made her charge in the run, after coming into transition off the mountain bike in third place.

“I don’t think I have ever come out of a bike ride in a triathlon in the lead, so I am used to being on the back foot and I enjoy running so it’s good to have your strength last. It’s also good to have the others a little bit worried sometimes, they know you are coming.”

Pro Women   Pl Name Final 1 Lizzie Orchard, NZL 2:39:10 2 Sarah Backler, NZL 2:39:37 3 Rachel Challis, NZL 2:41:04 4 Mary Gray, NZL 2:41:38

Rio Olympics hopeful and National mountain bike champion Sam Gaze took out the 26km mountain bike race in a time of 1:07:50. He’s in good stead heading into next week’s World Cup event in Cairns.

“It went well out there. It was a great course, it was definitely a bit different from the other times I’ve done it but it was quite cool. I just came along with Dad just to enjoy it and test myself for the World Cup next week and everything looks pretty good for it.”

The Waikato rider has had two Olympic qualification races so far this year, one went well while the other didn’t got to plan because of health issues. But he’ll find out whether he makes the Rio Games after the third World Cup event in France around the 20th of May.

2,300 participants took part in the 14th edition of the Paymark XTERRA Rotorua Festival. As well as the XTERRA short and long course races, athletes could choose to walk or run a 5.5km, 11km or 21km distance, and the 26km mountain bike.

Event spokesperson Tony Sangster says they received great feedback on the new bike layout.

“The athletes loved the new bike course and we have seen some great performances. The people have enjoyed themselves. Having an event where you have the opportunity to go to two World Championships is fantastic as well. A lot of athletes are trying to get to Maui (XTERRA World Championships) and Lake Crackenback in Australia (ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships). This Rotorua event is great and it caters for all ages and abilities.”

XTERRA NEW ZEALAND ALL-TIME WINNERS Year Men Women 2003 Sam Mallard Evelyn Willamson 2004 Hamish Carter Sonia Foote 2005 Hamish Carter Sonia Foote 2006 Hamish Carter Gina Ferguson 2007 Tim Wilding Gina Ferguson 2008 Terenzo Bozzone Sonia Foote 2009 Richard Ussher Nicola Leary 2010 Scott Thorne Nicola Leary 2011 Richard Ussher Karen Hanlen 2012 Ben Allen Jacqui Slack 2013 Ben Allen Renata Bucher 2014 Conrad Stoltz Barbara Riveros 2015 Braden Currie Suzie Snyder 2016 Braden Currie Lizzie Orchard

Up Next: The 3rd annual XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship in NSW, Australia on Saturday, April 23

OGASAWARA, ORCHARD LEAD APAC TOUR STANDINGS

After four races Takahiro Ogasawara still sits atop the men’s standings and with the win today Lizzie Orchard moves to the top of the women’s elite standings in the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour points series.

With two races remain (and they count three) it’s about to get interesting with the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship next Saturday at Callala Beach in New South Wales, Australia, then the finale at XTERRA Malaysia in Langkawi on May 7.  (See the press guide for the Asia-Pacific Champs here).

The top 15 amateur, Asian-elite, and professional racers at each event earn series points, with double points being offered at the finale in Malaysia.  Racers will count their best three scores to determine champions in each division.

The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour will award a prize bonus of $10,000 USD to the top five pro men and women in the final standings ($2,000 for 1st, $1,500-2nd, $800-3rd, $400-4th, $300-5th).

The 2016-17 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour season will begin anew at XTERRA Tahiti (May 14, 2016), then continue at XTERRA?Korea with an amateur-only race (no pro prize money or pro points) on August 27, 2016 in Daeahn Reservoir, followed by XTERRA?Japan in Hokkaido on September 3, 2016.

Here’s a look at the tentative elite standings (pending NZ results confirmation) after four:

PL NAME JPN PHI SAIPAN NZL TOT 1 Takahiro Ogasawara, JPN 82 75 90 DNS 247 2 Brodie Gardner, AUS DNS 82 100 DNS 182 3 Bradley Weiss, RSA DNS 100 DNS 82 182 4 Kaon Cho, KOR 53 DNS 75 49 177 5 Charlie Epperson, USA 75 69 DNS DNS 144 6 Joe Miller, PHI DNS 53 82 DNS 135 7 Cameron Oneal, USA 63 58 DNS DNS 121 8 Courtney Atkinson, AUS 100 DNS DNS DNS 100 9 Braden Currie, NZL DNS DNS DNS 100 100 10 Cedric Lassonde, FRA 90 DNS DNS DNS 90 11 Ben Allen, AUS DNS 90 DNS DNS 90 12 Sam Osborne, NZL DNS DNS DNS 90 90 13 Olly Shaw, NZL DNS DNS DNS 75 75 14 Taro Shirato, JPN 69 DNS DNS DNS 69 15 Kieran McPherson, NZL DNS DNS DNS 69 69 16 Michal Bucek, SVK DNS 63 DNS DNS 63 17 Cameron Paul, NZL DNS DNS DNS 63 63 18 Jason Hsieh , HKG 58 DNS DNS DNS 58 19 Alex Roberts, NZL DNS DNS DNS 58 58 20 Lachlan Davey, NZL DNS DNS DNS 53 53 21 Barry Lee, MAS DNS 49 DNS DNS 49 22 Kiley Momohara, NZL DNS DNS DNS 45 45 PL NAME JPN PHI SAIPAN NZL TOT 1 Lizzie Orchard, NZL 90 100 DNS 100 290 2 Mieko Carey, USA 100 82 90 DNS 272 3 Carina Wasle, AUT DNS DNS 100 DNS 100 4 Jacqui Slack, GBR DNS 90 DNS DNS 90 5 Sarah Backler, NZL DNS DNS DNS 90 90 6 Renata Bucher, SUI DNS DNS 82 DNS 82 7 Rachel Challis, NZL DNS DNS DNS 82 82 8 Belinda Hadden, AUS DNS DNS 75 DNS 75 9 Mary Gray, NZL DNS DNS DNS 75 75

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2016 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

The New Zealand Championship was the 8th of 37 events where the fastest amateur athletes from around the world could qualify to race at the 21st annual XTERRA World Championship at Kapalua, Maui on Oct 23.

DATE WORLD TOUR EVENT LOCATION or WINNERS
7-Feb XTERRA Philippines Brad Weiss/Lizzie Orchard 21-Feb XTERRA South Africa Brad Weiss/Flora Duffy 5-Mar XTERRA Motatapu Olly Shaw/Mary Gray 12-Mar XTERRA Saipan Brodie Gardner/Carina Wasle 20-Mar XTERRA Costa Rica Karl Shaw/Myriam Guillot-Boisset 26-Mar XTERRA Argentina Josiah Middaugh/Myriam Guillot-Boisset 3-Apr XTERRA Malta Roger Serrano/Brigitta Poor 16-Apr XTERRA New Zealand Braden Currie/Lizzie Orchard 17-Apr XTERRA La Reunion La Reunion Island 23-Apr XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia 7-May XTERRA Malaysia / XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour Championship Langkawi 7-May XTERRA Brazil Ilhabela, São Paulo 7-May XTERRA Greece Vouliagmeni 14-May XTERRA Tahiti Papeete 21-May XTERRA Oak Mountain State Park Pelham, Shelby County, AL, USA 21-May XTERRA Portugal Golega 11-Jun XTERRA Belgium Namur 25-Jun XTERRA Switzerland Vallee de Joux 25-Jun XTERRA Mine over Matter Milton, Ontario, Canada 3-Jul XTERRA France Xonrupt 10-Jul XTERRA Victoria Victoria, B.C., Canada 16-Jul XTERRA Beaver Creek Beaver Creek, CO, USA 23-Jul XTERRA Parry Sound Ontario, Canada 31-Jul XTERRA Italy Lago Di Scanno 31-Jul XTERRA Dominican Republic Barahona 6-Aug XTERRA Mexico Tapalpa 7-Aug XTERRA Poland Krakow 13-Aug XTERRA Sweden Hellsgaarten, Stockholm 14-Aug XTERRA Canmore Canmore, Alberta, Canada 20-Aug XTERRA Germany – XTERRA European Championship Zittau 27-Aug XTERRA Sleeping Giant Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada 27-Aug XTERRA Korea Daeahn Reservoir, Wonju City 3-Sep  XTERRA Japan Hokkaido 4-Sep XTERRA Denmark Mons Klint 4-Sep XTERRA Quebec Quebec City, Quebec 11-Sep XTERRA Woolastook New Brunswick, Canada 17-Sep XTERRA USA / Pan Am Championship Ogden, Utah, USA 23-Oct XTERRA World Championship Kapalua, Maui

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