By Michelle Pickles
A blustery southerly forced organisers to rejig the kayak section for what was the 21st version of the Crazyman multisport race in Lower Hutt.
Of the nearly 400 athletes who set out Richard Ussher was always going to be the one to beat. They didn't get close. The four-time Coast to Coast winner cleared out early on the 18 kilometre run over Mt Lowry.
The kayak stage was moved from the Petone foreshore to the Hutt River and Ussher powered away. He only increased his lead on the mountain biking stage to win in 4 hours and six minutes - half an hour better than anyone - it was his fifth win in the event.
“There's been like literally thousands of people in this event that's a testament to the competitors and the organisers so it's great,” he says.
Making it a 21st to remember, Richard's wife Elina was the first woman home and was third overall in four hours 46 minutes.
This was the Finnish-born former world champion's third win, though it was no weekend stroll.
“The bike was tough because the run was hard, it felt like it was all uphill,” she says.
Then again it's not meant to be easy, it's called Crazyman for a reason.
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