Currie crushes half ironman

Multi-sport star, Braden Currie has started 2023 how he intends to continue it – with success.

The former Mount Hutt College student claimed his fourth Tauranga Half Ironman at the weekend, smashing the previous course record set by fellow star and good mate, Kyle Smith by more than two minutes.

The annual event also doubles as the 2023 New Zealand middle distance triathlon championships, meaning Currie has started what is set to be a big year in the best possible fashion as he eyes a return to the Ironman World Championships later in the year.

“This is the race that sets me up for the year. I normally focus on ironman distance but I am mixing it up this year. Today gave me the confidence that age hasn’t caught up on me just yet.”

But Tauranga wasn’t always on the agenda for the now Wanaka-based athlete.

“I had decided I wouldn’t race the Tauranga Half this year as I wanted to spend more time with my family around Christmas and the New Year period before I got stuck in.

“Then pretty much every Kiwi professional I know put their name on the start list and there was the added incentive of a bigger prize purse.

“I knew I needed to take a concrete pill and make it to the start line.

“My coach planted the seed that if I was going to race, then he wanted me to re-set the bar and break the course record.”

Currie crushed the 2km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run in a time of 3:36.47 – two minutes clear of the record set by their mark on the World Cup, qualifying two players for the final with Debbie Lines emerging as the victory winning the final two games to one.

Smith in 2021.

There’s no rest off the back of the win though with the Tasmania 70.3 Ironman potentially on the cards in a fortnight, but the big aim is using the Ironman NZ in March to book his spot for the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France later in the year.

Female ironman star, Rebecca Clarke was victorious in the women’s event at the weekend.

But Ashburton’s Carolyn Fordyce certainly let the world know who she is with her efforts over the week.