To end the season a few nrg2tri athletes and a couple of ring-ins headed over to New Caledonia to take part in the Noumea International Triathlon. With a group of seven, five of who were racing, we spent 6 days in New Caledonia. While the race was the main reason for being in the country there where many other things to see and do, from sightseeing on the mini train to scuba diving and loads of eating.

New Caledonia is a mountainous island approximately 50km  wide and 450km long. The beaches are sandy white and the water nice and clear. Being an island it is also very windy, and being the tropics also quite humid, and this was how the race turned out. Our group had Nadelle racing in the Elite race and Gavin, Jamie, Kent and Patrick racing in the age group race. Good money was up for grabs in the top eight for the elites and top 3 in the age groups, so everyone was charged. Although with a stacked pro field Nadelle was going to have her hands full.

Race morning dawned and with it the windy conditions. Being overcast we hoped the temp would be kept down for some of the race. Following the check-in a few photos and wishing each other luck it was down to the start line. In no time at all the race was underway. First out of the water from our group was Kent in 25 min 39 sec, not to fare behind the pros. Next was Gavin, having spent the whole swim on Jamie’s toes, he then produced the trade mark Gavin move of running past his tow into transition, 1 min back was Patrick and then Nadelle. The ride proved quite tough for everyone with 3 laps and 2 hills per lap to climb on the way out and back, not to mention the wind. Kent dropped a little while Jamie stormed the bike, and Gavin held his position. In the women’s elite race Nadelle had been last out of the water, and while not making any time on the leaders she was pulling back time on a number of other girls. Jamie topped the ride times for the group with a 1 hr 4 min and 48 sec ride not that much slower than the pros. Out onto the run and Jamie lead from Kent and Gavin, with Patrick bringing up the rear. Nadelle meanwhile was back in eleventh place in the women’s race, heading into the run, with two girls only seconds in front of her. Jamie and Gavin went within a few seconds of each other in the run, both breaking 40 min, while Kent found the heat and humidity getting to him. All three however went under 2 hrs and 17 min. Patrick melted in the heat and finished well back with a slow run. Nadelle on the other hand blitzed the run with a 36 min 07 sec run taking her up to 8th elite at the end of the day and into the money. Kent and Jamie both pulled of 2nd in their age groups and Gavin took 6th and a pb. Patrick finished out of the placings but still had a fun race.

Results were:

    Jamie Morgan      - 2 hrs 10 min 58 sec    2nd 35-39 AG

    Gavin Stuart         - 2 hrs 15 min 02 sec    6th 35-39 AG

    Kent Cuthbert       - 2 hrs 16 min 57 sec    2nd 40-44 AG

    Nadelle Legge      - 2 hrs 18 min 59 sec    8th Elite W

    Patrick Legge       - 2 hrs 35 min 13 sec    20th 35-39 AG

The rest of the stay was spent eating, drinking and site seeing, with an amazing trip scuba diving and seeing many sharks and tropical fish, and an equally impressive trip to the cultural centre, an amazing looking building on the south end of the island.