Race records tumble at Motatapu Icebreaker

Pre-race predictions of a rain affected course slowing competitor?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s times were turned on their head with three race records broken at the 4th annual Motatapu Icebreaker on Saturday 8 March.

The course received a good dousing the previous weekend but had dried out sufficiently by race-day to provide excellent grip for both the 2,300 mountain-bikers and 600 marathon runners. A tail-wind also helped speed competitors over the Wanaka to Arrowtown high country route.

Ideal conditions and an increasingly competitive field drove the men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s and women?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s mountain-bike and women?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s marathon winners to all break previous race records.

Marcus Roy slipped under the magic two hour barrier over the fifty kilometre mountain-bike course to record an extraordinary fourth race win. Roy was chased hard throughout by traditional rival Ashley White and Tony Hogg but was never headed.

Another recidivist winner, Sara Macdonald, produced a not dissimilar result to Roy, scoring a three in a row win and also breaking the women?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s course record.

?¢‚Ǩ?ìI had a good start and followed my plan of keeping with the top guys for as long as possible?¢‚Ǩ¬ù said Macdonald. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìI hung on for about twenty minutes and then rode the rest of the race without seeing any of the other girls?¢‚Ǩ¬ù.

In the marathon run, John Winsbury followed a break them early strategy, clearing out convincing from the field. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìI pushed hard for the first twenty k and they just dropped off?¢‚Ǩ¬ù said Winsbury. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThey?¢‚Ǩ¬ù included Queenstown farmer and super-vet Chris Dagg and his initial shadow, Jason Cameron. Dagg?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s time of 2:47:19 was not only good enough to convincingly win his veteran category, but good enough to record second overall.

Top mountain runner Melissa Moon made no contest of the women?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s marathon. Back refreshed from a year off competitive running, Moon was bubbling at the finish. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThat was such a beautiful valley to run through she said. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìIt reminded me about how wonderful off-road running is and how great the people involved in it are too. I just might have a crack at the NZ Mountain Running Champs as a result of today?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s experience?¢‚Ǩ¬ù.

Of course the experience is what it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s all about for the majority of the field in this country?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s largest off-road event. Like Olympic gold cycling medallist Sarah Ulmer, who swapped wheels for running shoes and a first ever marathon attempt. Ulmer finished in a time of 5:19:29 and 68th place at Motatapu Icebreaker.

?¢‚Ǩ?ìI?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve never done a marathon before and trained for this event to get fit after retiring from sixteen years of competitive cycling?¢‚Ǩ¬ù said Ulmer at the finish line. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìAt the moment my knees hurt and I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m not sure I will ever do another marathon. Unless of course it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s in an amazing place like this?¢‚Ǩ¬ù.

Race Results

Mountain Bike – Elite Men

1st Marcus Roy 1:57:51
2nd Ashley White 2:01:28
3rd Tony Hogg 2:2:02:17

Mountain Bike – Elite Women

1st Sara Macdonald 2:25:42
2nd Kaytee Boyd 2:27:49
3rd Philippa Riches 2:52:15

Marathon – Open Men

1st John Winsbury – 2:46:15
2nd Jason Cameron 2:55:41
3rd Adrian Bailey 2:58:36

Marathon – Open Women

1st Melissa Moon 3:19:56
2nd Elyshia Hankin 3:31:53
3rd Kristina Crane 3:35:01