Aloe Up Ambassador Dylan McNeice Challenge Wanaka 2015 Champion
Aloe Up Ambassador Dylan McNeice repeated his 2013 and 2014 Challenge Wanaka wins again on Sunday in a time of 8:37:14. Dylan was first from the 3.8km swim in a record course time of just 45:33.
Dylan had some serious competition from Wanaka's Dougal Allan who set a new course bike record of 4:30:50 knocking 12 minutes of Richard Ussher's 2010 time. Dougal was 42nd from the swim and over 40 minutes behind Dylan MacNeice, he rode past 41 athletes and place second!
Dylan commented: It was a lot harder than last year. Dougal rode so well and I honestly thought he was going to catch me. He pushed me and I ran that first lap [on the run] too hard. I really felt it in the last 15km but I think that got me the title so it was worth the risk.
Aloe Up Ambassador Carl Read was fourth from the swim and held this position to finish fourth just 60 seconds behind Australian Courtney Ogden.
New Zealand's 12 x Ironman Gina Crawford won her 6th Challenge Wanaka title in a time of 9:31:51 followed by a Laura Siddall (GBR), Michelle Bremer (NZ) 3rd and Wanaka's Simone Maier fourth after winning the women's title in the Coast to Coast the week prior! Our Aloe Up Ambassador Candice Hammond who won the race in 2014 is due to have her baby any day now.
Dunedin athletes did well with Ant Jackson winning the Challenge Wanaka 20- 29 age group, Jason Lowe placed 2nd and Glen McSkimming 3rd in their age group 40 -49.
Craig Savage from Christchurch won the Lake Wanaka Half men's title in 4:22:48 with Auckland's Hannah Wells winning the women's race in 4:57:33.
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The 2015 Coast to Coast Coast Director, multi Coast to Coast winner and our Aloe Up Ambassador Richard Ussher placed 3rd in the men's Lake Wanaka Half.
Congratulations to all athletes and a big thank you to The Challenge Wanaka Family, Race Director Victoria Murray-Orr and her team, the hundreds of Wanaka volunteers and all the Sponsors who make this iconic race set amongst New Zealand's stunning Southern Alps such a pleasure to be part off.
