Pictured Mona Henderson - tri-legend and BBQ Caterer Extraordinaire

Laraine and Ed had already gone back to New Zealand, back to work and emailing back many of the photos that feature in these blogs. Thanks to both of you.

Leaving day for Tiare, Paul and Ali and Mona brought around the makings of a great BBQ which was cooked beside the pool on the guest BBQ at The Cooks Oasis.

Thanks Mona and all the rest of the Cook Islands triathletes that made our guests so welcome.

Pictured - Paul, Tiare and Ali before the race

Official write up below

Turtles Tour De Raro

The Turtles Tour De Raro annual round the island cycle race became a battle between three local riders on Tuesday afternoon. The final event of the International Triathlon week saw thirty-seven cyclists take off from town heading in a clockwise direction towards the courthouse.

Straightway, the pack split into two distinct groups with single cyclists stuck either between the packs or out the back. The decisive move for victory was made by Geoff Stoddart, Roland Neururer and Richard Vinsen when they jumped off the front of the main pack just before the Titikaveka straight and they were never caught.

The three of them worked together to extend their lead until Panama when Vinsen, on tiring legs, decided to take the lead, leaving Stoddart and Neururer to sprint over the top of him and battle it out for victory. This was achieved by Stoddart by a wheels length over Neururer in a time of 46.27 with the main pack of fourteen riders finishing in 48.12. These fantastic times were still four minutes off the race record set by Australian Ironman athlete, Luke Bell some years ago.

Turtles Tour De Raro

(All are locals unless indicated)

46.27 Geoff Stoddart, Roland Neururer
46.31 Richard Vinsen
48.08 Charles Henderson
48.11 Thomas Henderson

48.12 (Group) Alison Kirkwood, Kevin Henderson, Terry Meyer, Serena Hunter, Craig Hutson, Arama Tom (AUS), Castelle Young (NZ), Michael Vinsen (NZ), Tony Sangster (NZ), Peter Abrahamson (NZ), Paul Watson (NZ), Glynn Pritchett (NZ), Simon Pritchett (NZ)

53.43 (Group) Richard Barltrop, Roger Allison, Jeff Cook, Darren Hoare, Paul Comerford (NZ), Denis Hogan, Jennie George, Marcus Simmons (NZ), Ali Boggs (NZ)

56.34 Jocelyn Scott
59.04 Ed Friend
59.06 Len Edwards

59.08 Andy Olah, Tiare Lund (NZ), Joan Beecroft (AUS)

64.54 Kevin Webb (NZ)
64.57 Noel White (NZ)
74.19 Vivienne Webb (NZ)
Dnf Leighton Hunt (NZ)

Sheryl, Jeff (no trophy),
Tiare, Paul, Ali and Wayne.
Laraine gone walkabout.

Note the names on the trophy that Ali won for first veteran woman this year!
First holder in 1995 was Tiare Lund.
In 2001 Laraine Chase got it - but she will insist that I add that it was awarded for 35 year+ that year!

Results for The Cooks Oasis Guests and Club Mates + the top ten

Tiare's looking strong here but is masking the pain of a foot injury in her first major event since her accident.

Paul came from close to last out of the water and ran through the field to do a great time and win his age group

Looking good!

Looking good here, not so good later!

Pre start

If anyone wants the low down on the whole race, then I can email the full results - just use the "Contact Us" form.

Since this blogging thing can only take one photo at a time, I'll just send a pictorial record of selected photos.

The photo features Ali, Tiare, local tri-legend Mona Henderson, Jeff and Laraine - Paul was off wandering somewhere!

Over the week a bunch of triathletes gathered at The Cooks Oasis, loosely based around the Hibiscus Coast Harriers and Triathlon Club. Guests Ali Boggs, Paul Comerford and Laraine Chase and host Jeff Cook are current or former members. Ali brought her friend Tiare Lund and Laraine brought husband Ed as chief photographer. Joan was team wrangler. Also on the island for the race were Wayne and Sheryl Ross who stayed with family.

The race is an open water swim starting at Trader Jacks (excellent place for non- participants to sip a relaxing beverage and follow the race). The 800m course goes from the beach, around the "boiler" - the principal remnant of the wrecked SS Maitai - and back to the beach.

The conditions were great though there was a biggish swell running which made the return trip tricky for some. The swell was parallel to that part of the course and the occasional white cap tumbled a swimmer down the face of a swell - ending in some spluttering!

The race was a great event with everyone racing pretty well. Jeff wasn't last and Ali was the first woman home.

Kia Orana

This the place where we try to keep you up to date with what has happened in and around The Cooks Oasis.

There will be titbits of interest on the activities of our guests, changes around the place like renovations and extra amenities as we continue to develop our little corner of Rarotonga.

Had we started this a couple of months ago, we would have been reporting the upgrading of units so that we can offer full self catering in every unit.

Also brand spanking new air con units in Units 3 and 4.

Soon we will have a blog about our guests (and Jeff) and how they got on at the Air New Zealand Rarotonga International Triathlon. We just have to wait until they finish their stay and have gone home before we start making cheeky remarks about them.

Kia Manuia

Joan and Jeff