Race Report
The second to last event in this summer’s Reesby & Company Stroke & Stride Series was critical for those wishing to cement a top placing in the Series Grand Prix as it was the last chance
for a competitor to top up their tally of points before the “must do” final race next month. And once again the Auckland
weather was to prove as much a foe as the competition in the battle to the finish line with a gale force wind blowing
buffeting the town throughout the day. Fortunately the wind direction was at least favourable with the howling offshore
leaving the water as flat as a pancake for an undisturbed 750 metre swim out around the cans and back into the beach.
Leading the way for the females in the Pro Division were those stellar swimmers Anna Cleaver and Rebecca Nesbitt with a
30 second lead running up the beach into transition; Anna Cleaver then lead the way out onto the 5 kilometre run course
along a windswept Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay and return. It was an ominous sign for the rest of the field as current
Series Leader and winner of the past two races Samantha Warriner had already opened up a small gap to the rest of the
chasers and headed off onto the run in second place. She was followed out by Marisa Carter, Debbie Tanner and Taryn
McLeod who had only a half a minute lead over a couple of renowned runners in Nicole Cope and Fiona Docherty.
Meanwhile the men’s field were also being blown rapidly around the swim course and the first Pro back on dry land was
Oliver Tompkins with a handy swim split of 9 minutes 24 seconds giving him a handful of seconds lead over the pursuers
including James Elvery, Dean Foster, Bevan Docherty, Thomas Hahn and Carl Cairns. Victory in the first six events of the
season had been shared between Brent Foster and Hamish Carter but both were absent from today’s race leaving the door
open for a first time winner for this season. As the runners charged out onto the run they were all eager to make that
victory their own and secure the maximum points on offer.
The blustery wind may not have affected the athletes in the water but out on the road it was certainly making it’s
presence felt as it gave them a firm shove from behind on the way out to the turnaround. Regrettably this added impetus
would be paid for big time as once the turnaround was reached the helping hand reverted to an invisible wall hindering
the return to St Heliers Bay and the finish line. Wall of wind or not, Samantha Warriner showed her strength out on the
road was on a par with her strength in the water as she pulled out the fastest run of the day to claim win number four
in the Series with a decisive 30 second victory. Anna Cleaver couldn’t foot it with Samantha Warriner but she was too
classy for the rest of the field recording a comfortable second place ahead of the trio of Nicole Cope, Fiona Docherty
and Debbie Tanner finishing within seconds of each other after their hard fought encounter over the 5 kilometres on the
road.
It was Bevan Docherty and James Elvery who ended up running away from the men’s field as they set a cracking pace out to
the turn and then on the return it was the strength of Bevan Docherty into the headwind that allowed him to ease ahead
and go on and take the win. James Elvery has been knocking on the door for a win all season long but once again he is
forced to settle for second place but still secures more of those valuable points in the Grand Prix. Sam Walker was
having his best race to date as his turn of speed on the run lifted him to a podium position but he had to work all the
way as Thomas Hahn was just one second behind at the line. Paul Angland was another to have his best result running
through the field to come home in fifth place.
There may be just one race to go but the point’s situation is far from settled in the Stroke & Stride Series Grand Prix. Current Series Champion Brent Foster’s lead has now been trimmed back to just 12 points by
James Elvery while Bevan Docherty’s victory sees him overtake Reto Waeffler and Hamish Carter and move into third
position. Also in the money at this stage are Sam Walker, Thomas Hahn and Carl Cairns. Samantha Warriner is currently
sitting pretty on 97 points but her lead is not unassailable as Anna Cleaver and Nicole Cope are still threats for the
overall title this season. As in today’s race, again still locked in their arm wrestle for fourth and fifth are Debbie
Tanner and Fiona Docherty while next in line are Taryn McLeod, Nikki Wallwork and Marisa Carter. All of the above will
be looking for a big race to finish the Series.
The next race is Wednesday, March 19, 2003 followed two days later by the end-of-season Awards Dinner.
Results
Female Swim Finish 1 Samantha Warriner 10.16 28m 06s 2 Anna Cleaver 9.44 28 36 3 Nicole Cope 10.54 28 54 4 Fiona
Docherty 10.59 29 05 5 Debbie Tanner 10.24 29 15 6 Taryn McLeod 10.28 29 42 7 Carmel Hanley 11.29 31 13 8 Nikki Wallwork
11.10 31 27 9 Marisa Carter 10.21 31 56 10 Sonia Bracegirdle 11.28 32 32
Male Swim Finish 1 Bevan Docherty 9.33 25m 56s 2 James Elvery 9.28 26 10 3 Sam Walker 9.53 27 02 4 Thomas Hahn 9.34 27
03 5 Paul Angland 10.35 27 46 6 Todd Calkin 10.16 27 49 7 Dean Foster 9.31 27 56 8 Carl Cairns 9.35 28 01 9 Oliver
Tompkins 9.24 28 18 10 Darragh Walshe 10.08 28 28
Stroke & Stride Grand Prix Points after Race #7
Female Points 1 Samantha Warriner 97 2 Anna Cleaver 84 3 Nicole Cope 78 4 Debbie Tanner 67 5 Fiona Docherty 64 6 Taryn
McLeod 50 7 Nikki Wallwork 44 8 Marisa Carter 38 9 Heather Evans 37
Male Points 1 Brent Foster 95 2 James Elvery 83 3 Bevan Docherty 69 4 Reto Waeffler SUI 67 5T Hamish Carter 57 5T Sam
Walker 57 7 Thomas Hahn 52 8 Carl Cairns 48 9T Clark Ellice 41 9T William Green 41