MULTISPORT

Top multisporters lining up 3D event

By Dscribe Media Services


Nelson's Trevor Voyce, on his way to second at last year's ThermaTech 3D
Rotorua 50km race.  Credit: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.


Trevor Voyce knows there's very little that separates a trip to the multisport penthouse from a trip to the multisport outhouse.

The Nelson athlete will be one of the leading contenders in this weekend's ThermaTech 3D Rotorua 50km race, which doubles as the New Zealand multisport championships, after nearly scaling the heights last year.

Voyce was only beaten in the last kilometre of the 2014 edition by Australian Jarad Kohlar, though he's realistic about his ambitions in Sunday's race.

"I'm in good shape this year - it's hard to tell exactly how fast I am but I feel stronger than last year," Voyce said.  "My aim is to win but there is a very strong field this year and I could race well and place fifth, so my real goal is to beat last year's time."

Voyce turned 35 this week and has been in decent form, winning the Hutt City Crazyman earlier in the month.  He also finished third in the Speight’s Coast to Coast in February, a spot behind Whakatane's Sam Clark, with the pair set to renew their rivalry this weekend.

There will also be a Coast to Coast reenactment in the women's race, where 2013 3D winner Simone Maier (Wanaka), runner-up in the Coast to Coast, will take on two-time 3D winner Elina Ussher (Nelson), who was third at the Coast to Coast this year.

Cambridge-raised Queenstown athlete Emily Wilson will also add depth to the women's field, with defending champion and local star Nic Leary taking a break from the sport.

The 3D event is New Zealand’s biggest multisport festival, with nearly 1000 athletes competing in the giant Rotorua playground over a range of distances.

With $50,000 in prizes and giveaways, the festival boasts the feature 50km multisport race, which takes athletes around the waters of Tikitapu (formerly Blue Lake) and into the single track-laden Whakarewarewa and Redwood forests.

There’s also a 2km under-10 fun run, 5.5km and 10.5km trail runs and walks, a half marathon, a standalone 9km paddle and 31km mountain bike race, as well as a 42km duathlon.

The duathlon is proving a popular option, with former New Zealand triathlon star Clark Ellice making his debut this year.

"I have been really enjoying my mountain biking of late with a few chasing rides in Woodhill Forest and I've heard great things of this festival, so it should be great fun to be a part of," Ellice said.

This weekend's weather is also likely to continue the proud tradition of magic race days, with only late showers predicted for Sunday.

That's given race director Neil Gellatly confidence the festival will again have a big turnout.

"We always see a big spike in late entries, once people see what the weather will do, but in reality, the trails are so incredible in the Whakarewarewa and Redwood Forests, they'd be fun in most conditions," Gellatly said.  "We are always excited to showcase all ROtorua has to offer through the 3D festival, in what's become a must-do event for multisporters and weekend warriors alike."

For more information, see www.3drotorua.co.nz.  Online entries close tonight (Thursday May 28) although late entries are accepted at the registration expo between 3-6pm on Saturday May 30 at the Rotorua Holiday Inn. There are no on the day entries.