Happy Hunttiing grround

IT was all in a day’s work for Alex Hunt as the multisport specialist racked up a record fifth consecutive title at the Freycinet Challenge event on Tasmania’s East Coast yesterday, while Sydney triathlete Wendy McAlpine claimed the women’s crown.

Hunt, 28, of Hobart, went into the second day leading by 19min 22sec over another Hobart competitor, Callum Fagg, and his brother Robbie Hunt by 23.27. Alex was faster than all rivals on the four stages yesterday, though Robbie was only seven seconds slower on the run leg.

Hunt (pictured above) meant business from the first stroke of the paddle stage to start the day. The water was flat and the Hazards of Freycinet National Park made a spectacular backdrop for the throng of paddlers.

Hunt hit the beach with a 2min 17sec advantage for the start of the road cycle. By the end of the testing tarmac ride, Hunt headed Fagg by 3m51s and Robbie by 20:24, making it a two-horse race for the title.

Hunt blazed through the forest on the mountain bike stage — which was mostly dry with the occasional water jump along the way, courtesy of a downpour on Friday night — more than doubling his lead on Fagg. A blistering run of 41min 2sec saw Hunt win the event in a combined two-day effort of 7hrs 54min 27sec, with a gap of 32:38 over Fagg.

Robbie, who was second last year, had to settle for third while Daniel Bloomfield and Andy McDavitt rounded out the top five.

The withdrawal of World Rowing Cup gold medal rower and two-time Freycinet defending champion Georgia Nesbitt saw McAlpine the sole competitor in the women’s solo event. McAlpine covered the course in 10:17.40, which was outside Nesbitt’s 2018 championship-winning effort of 10:08.28.

In the teams events, Next Level Kayaking won the fourathlete women’s event and Bike Ride won the four-athlete men’s race, and in the twoathlete teams events K&M won the women’s and Underwater Seals won the men’s event.