The Defi, a successful Multi-sport event at Terrace Downs
The exclusive Terrace Downs Golf Resort traded golf buggies and tartan for kayaks and lycra on Saturday 24th April as competitors in the Terrace Downs Defi arrived to fill every available space in the car park. Defi is French for ‘call to a challenge’ and as eighty plus competitors took on this test The Defi stood up to expectations!
Canterbury weather for the week prior had reflected warm summer days. However as race day dawned, a stiffening South East provided a tail wind for the Mountain Bike leg and challenging and cold conditions for the 37 kilometre grade 2 paddle on the Rakaia River.
In the Open Women section, two day Coast to Coast winner was never really threatened and dominated the course from the Mountain Bike stage to the final run. Joanna Williams from Ireland completed the course in 6:39:08. Not only did Joanna set the fastest women’s individual time for the day she also set the fastest individual women’s times for all four disciplines resulting in her taking home a total prize package worth over $3500, including return flights to Australia courtesy of Pacific Blue. Katharine Eustace and Wendy Riach secured second and third in the Open Women’s section respectively.
Winner in the Open Male section - Adam Milne
The Open Mens section was a battle of middle aged experience and youthful enthusiasm as Peter Osullivan and Norman Dunroy chased two day Coast to Coast winner Adam Milne for the number one spot. Milne eventually proved that his young legs were just too good for the wit of Dunroy and Osullivan completing in the course in 5:52:22, four minutes ahead of Dunroy and fifteen ahead of Osullivan. Shaun Portegys took out the Veteran Mens section in a time of 6:25:15.
The Two Person Teams section was always going to be close with some of Canterbury’s strongest cyclists teaming up with gun paddlers and runners to contest. In the Men’s Team 17 year old Brad Hudson’s fastest time of 56:16 minutes on the 27 kilometre Mountain Bike course proved not quite fast enough to hold off Ryan Kiesanowski, who set the fastest run time for the day (1:03) and Darren Shea who set the fastest Road Cycle in 1:15:10. Kiesanowski and Darren Shea were eventually first over the line in a time of 5:36:37. In the mixed section team ‘Nearly There’ held off the competition to take the win.
The Social teams section was won by the ‘Four of Us’ in a time of 6:01:42. The fastest men’s kayak time was secured by Ian Huntsman, 2:13:59.
Competitors were all treated to hot showers in the Terrace Downs Clubhouse following the course that consisted of 27 kms of Mountain Biking, 37 kms of pure Grade 2 kayaking, 47 km of road cycling and 13 kms of running. Organisers and key sponsors were excited to receive positive feedback covering each aspect of the event including the quality of the course, level of prizes and general organization.
Terrace Downs would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous assistance; Sisson Kayaks, Smartwool, Fifth Element, Pacific Blue, Salomon, www.multisportevents.co.nz, Torpedo 7, www.sportzhub.co.nz, Export 33, www.fullon.co.nz.CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS
For further information and inquiries please email events@terracedowns.co.nz