Athletes keep coming despite entry fee row
Was it a beaut Robin Judkins' publicity stunt or are simmering athletes really in rebellion about the cost of competing in the Coast to Coast and how Juddy runs his race?
In spite of the high-profile complaints about the entry fee, the field has about 100 more athletes than last year.
This week's "row" about the epic multisport event brought it the most publicity it has had in years.
Even Steve Gurney's famous pod was dusted down to help drum up interest in the 2013 race.
However, it's sure to be all hugs at Sumner beach tomorrow if this week's most vocal critic, Longest Day titleholder and five times winner Richard Ussher, crosses the line first. He and wife Elina Ussher scored a unique men's and women's double last year and are bidding to repeat it.
More than 620 other athletes will take part in the 243km bike, run, and kayak classic and as usual just to finish will be the goal for many of them.
The presence of astonishing teenager Lydia Ko and a lineup of "Bunker Babes" who are bringing new glamour to women's golf means the NZ women's open which starts at Clearwater today has garnered as much attention as the men's Open on the same course in November.
Ko has left nothing to chance and spent more than a week at Clearwater preparing for the tournament, because she's played at Clearwater only once before, and not in a tournament.
She tied for seventh in last year's Open at Pegasus.
The entry is the strongest assembled for the women's Open, and includes Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, and European No1 Carlota Ciganda.
There's no doubt who all eyes will be on at the national showjumping championships which run at the National Equestrian Centre, McLeans Island, until Sunday.
Australian rider Jamie Kermond on his brilliant mare Colthaga left the other riders shaking their piggybanks when he won two big $50,000 events in Dunedin last weekend, and leads a strong Australian team.
The championships give the local equestrian set the chance to get a close look at our Olympic riders Katie McVean, Samantha McIntosh, and Maurice Beatson going head to head against Aussie's best.
