Speight's Coast to Coast - Judkins Picks

Robin Judkins has spent more than a quarter of a century organising New Zealand’s favourite race. The Speight’s Coast to Coast created adventure sports and most of the worlds’ best have cut their teeth in the 243k world multisport championship race across New Zealand’s South Island. Judkins has watched them all and become an astute judge of talent and tactics, with his annual “Top 10” predictions becoming like a book-makers list of champions both current and to come.

“Gordon Walker is the definitive favourite this year,” says Judkins without a hint of hesitation. “He and Richard Ussher have dominated the Speight’s Coast to Coast for the last five years and with Richard having moved more to triathlon, Gordon is the man to beat.”

Truer words have never been spoken. If Gordon Walker can defend his Speight’s Coast to Coast title he will join Ussher as a three time winner. And after a record 31min winning margin in 2009, Judkins says that 2010 is more a case of it being Walker’s race to lose.

That isn’t a likely scenario. The 37 year old Aucklander is one of the sport’s most knowledgeable and meticulous athletes, to the point where Richard Ussher recently took him on as an advisor in his budding Ironman triathlon career. But as Ussher himself discovered in 2007, the Speight’s Coast to Coast is an event that punishes complacency.

In 2007 Ussher was shooting for his third consecutive win but in a rare off day he suffered a humiliating defeat to Walker, who trails only nine-time winner Steve Gurney as the event’s most consistent performer. In the past five years the defending champion has finished either first or second. His breakthrough win in 2007 came ahead of a star-studded field, and last year he set out to win by a record margin. This year he openly admits the mental and physical focus hasn’t been quite the same, but is confident that a more tactical and conservative race plan will net that third win.

Robin Judkins smiles on hearing this: “Gordon is definitely the dominant athlete right now, but there are a lot of young guys waiting to pick up the pieces if things don’t go to plan.”

“There are half a dozen guys who have a shot at ruining the party if they work together,” says Judkins. “Jacob Roberts, Dwarne Farley, Dougal Allen, Carl Bevins, Cameron Durno and last year’s runner-up Trevor Voyce have all been top 10 at the Speight’s Coast to Coast and most of them are youngsters, so you would expect them to improve every year.”

“Trevor Voyce was a real surprise last year. He hadn’t raced here since a 12th place in 2004, so to return for second place five years later was outstanding. He’s still only 29, so you’d expect him to go even better this year.”

Jacob Roberts and Dwarne Farley are among strong contenders returning in 2010. Roberts, a Christchurch cabinet maker, improved from 11th in 2007 to fourth in 2008, but missed 2009 to injury. Farley, from Mt Maunganui, has finished 11th (2004), sixth (2006) and third (2007) and is considered one of the best all round athletes.

But Judkins also points to youngsters Carl Bevins and Dougal Allen, who were seventh and eighth in 2009. “Dougal, in particular, is worth watching,” says Judkins. “The guy’s only 24 and he has already won the Two Day race (2008) and was eighth in the World Championship last year, so he will have learnt a lot about the race and about himself.”

A strong international contingent might also upset the applecart in 2010. Sweden’s Martin Flinta is a renowned adventure racer who has failed to fire at the Speight’s Coast to Coast, finishing 20th (2002) and 21st (2006). At the other end of the spectrum are first time Coast to Coasters like Australian Luke Haines, Canadian Jakob Van Dorp and Brazilian Kenny De Sousa, who are their country’s national champions despite being new to multisport.

The international factor promises to dominate the women’s race at this year’s Speight’s Coast to Coast. West Coast-based Canadian Emily Miazga is looking for her fourth title, but will once again be challenged by arch rival and Nelson-based Finn, Elina Ussher.

Ussher, the wife of three time men’s winner Richard, is perhaps the best athlete never to have won the Speight’s Coast to Coast. After a stand out second in her debut back in 2006, she slumped to seventh and fifth before breaking through again to third place last year.

“Emily is obviously favourite,” says Judkins. “But I think Elina Ussher will go very well because her husband Richard, who has won this race three times, is supporting her rather than racing. A support crew with that sort of experience can make the difference at the Speight’s Coast to Coast.”

Miazga and Ussher, however, will need to be wary of a group of women waiting to pick up the pieces should the battle for line honours break either of them. Taumaranui’s Rachel Cashin, third in 2007 and 2008, is back. But the biggest worry will be the unknown in the shape of Brazilian national champion Camila Nicolau, Canadian national champion Ursula Tracz and Swedish adventure racing ace Emma Wichardt.

“Emily and Elina are the clear favourites, but apart from Rachel Cashin they haven’t raced the other contenders. They don’t know what to expect, and in the Speight’s Coast to Coast it’s the unexpected that is the greatest challenge for any competitor.”