Lawn Wins European Season Debut in UK

Ironman New Zealand champion Joanna Lawn has made a winning start to her European campaign in England today.

Lawn has won The Outrageous Half which is part of a new European series, beating off a strong field including Leanda Cave, former world champion at both Olympic and Long Distance.

The New Zealander trailled Cave out of the 2km swim at Leybourne Lake in Kent but she took advantage of the tough 90km bike with some steep climbs and rolling hills, to move into the lead.

Lawn them outran her main challengers with a 1:22.54 effort for the 21km half marathon to win in 4:36.20.

Cave was second more than three minutes behind with Spain’s Eva Ledsma a further minute back in third.

Lawn will race in the next round of this series in Spain in two weeks.

Fellow New Zealander Julia Grant (Christchurch), racing mostly over the Olympic distance, impressed with her fifth placing. She won the South island Half last year.

Results, The Outrageous Half, Kent, England (2k swim 90k bike 21k run):
Joanna Lawn (NZL) 4:36.20, 1; Leanda Cave (GBR) 4:39.58, 2; Eva Ledesma (ESP) 4:40.37, 3; Alison Rowatt (GBR) 4:44.29, 4; Julia Grant (NZL) 4:46.59, 5.