Sports series up and running
A gleaming golf trophy carrying the names Jason Day and Adam Scott will grace the Hillier family home in Wellington for another year.
And by the end of Daniel Hillier’s dream 2016, the gun New Zealand amateur will have played against both the Australian stars and maybe even picked their brains in a practice round at Royal Sydney in November.
The 18-year-old Aotea College student achieved what is thought to be a first when he defended his New Zealand under-19 men’s title with a blistering final round of five-under 66 at Nelson Golf Club on Friday, a year after winning it for the first time at Shandon.
It meant Hillier, of Manor Park, extended his impressive feat as holder of both the under-19 and national men’s amateur titles as he prepares to defend the latter on familiar turf at Heretaunga in October.
He was also the top amateur at the New Zealand Open in March. With challenging courses and ideal weather for the more than 130 athletes taking part, Upper Hutt’s traditional ‘‘Fathers Day’’ Scorcher Duathlon on Sunday was another sporting success.
Event organiser Darryl Bloomfield was especially pleased to be able to brief the competitors and get the run and cycle action underway. The send-off came after the future of the long established Wellington multisport series had looked most uncertain.
A lack of sponsorship meant Bloomfield had earlier made the decision to announce his intention to end the event after 13 years.
However, after a huge response to his announcement, he came up with a way to ensure the future of the series.
Sportsmen and women banded together with a handful of businesses to sponsor and save the multisport events.
The 2016/17 Scorcher season comes in a reduced form with the usual nine event days dropping to five with Sunday’s Upper Hutt opener ahead of three triathlons, including one half ironman, and one mystery event yet to be announced.
Bloomfield was confident having a reduced season was the best option in the shortterm.
‘‘I’m committing to at least another two years in reduced format.’’ a
Sunday offered the choice of long, medium and short courses with hill and flat options in the middle category.
Nearly 70 duathletes took part in the long distance event, a 10 kilometre run, 40km ride and 5km run. That included twice climbing the 700-metre long and 70-metre elevation Tank Hill and, on the bike, there were two climbs of Wallaceville Hill.
Lower Hutt fitness trainer Nathan Martin was the long course winner, finishing in 2hours 14.27m and more than 10 minutes ahead of Matthew Berg of Island Bay.
Christina Tawhara was the stand out Upper Hutt performer, wining the women’s long event in 2:38m, five minutes clear of Wellington’s Helen Bradford.