Balchin wins a windy Three Peaks

FORMER Dunedin runner Daniel Balchin overcame difficult conditions to claim victory in the Three Peaks mountain race yesterday.

The 27yearold, now based in Canterbury, completed the course in 2hr 09min 14sec to win by more than six minutes.

The event was the first offroad race for the former Caversham runner, who is one of the country’s top road and track racers.

However, that did not stop him dominating the field in difficult windy conditions.

A strong side wind made the section between Flagstaff and Swampy Summit difficult, and a headwind up Cowan Rd on the Mt Cargill section was tough to battle.

Competitors climbed all three of those peaks, which started by the bridge on the corner of Malvern St and Woodhaugh St and finished at Chingford Park.

The overall course was 26km long, although there was also an 11km ‘‘Race to the Summit’’ course in which competitors completed just the first part of the Three Peaks.

While the winds did not impact on the competitors, times were slower than normal across the board.

Jonah Smith came in second with a time of 2hr 15min 27sec, and Thomas Spencer was third in 2hr 20min 29sec.

Sarah Douglas was the fastest woman home and her time of 2hr 35min 14sec meant she finished ninth overall.

Danny Baillie won the Race to the Summit in 1hr 03min 35sec.

Somewhat ironically, the race officials were nearly impacted more by the wind.

Race director Alan Funnell said a fallen tree blocked Cowan Rd, initially preventing the marshals from getting to the top of Mt Cargill.

Because they had to be at the top before the runners — to keep keep tabs on each competitor as they reached the summit — the situation was potentially problematic.

However, a local farmer came with a chainsaw to clear the tree, allowing the marshals to get to the summit ‘‘just’’ before the runners.