MyPE

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Winning the Ironman whilst playing Super Rugby – REALLY?

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It was a really busy sporting weekend for at least one athlete in Port Elizabeth this past weekend who, according to The Citizen, won the Standard Bank Ironman whilst playing a game of Super Rugby in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium… on a bicycle! Maybe it was the strange helmet that American Ben Hoffman was wearing that caused the confusion?

Ben Hoffman Ironman Super Rugby
First a game of Super Rugby then winning the Ironman – REALLY! The Caption reads: “PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 10: Ben Hoffman (US) during the 2016 Super Rugby match between Standard Bank Ironman South Africa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on April 10, 2016 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)”

The report in The Citizen – Hoffman, Lehtonen win Ironman SA titles:

American Ben Hoffman and Finnish athlete Kaisa Lehtonen dominated the Ironman South Africa triathlon in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, securing victory in the men’s and women’s categories.

Hoffman, a former Ironman World Championships silver medalist, covered the grueling distance – including a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a 42km run – in 8:12:37.

Australian Tim van Berkel took second position in 8:14:51, a little more than two minutes off the pace in a tightly-fought contest.

Matt Trautman was the first South African home, earning fourth spot in 8:19:25, just 33 seconds outside a podium place. It was the third year in a row he finished among the top five at the event, which incorporated the African Championships.

Lehtonen won the elite women’s race in 9:06:50, nearly three minutes ahead of Great Britain’s Susie Cheetham (9:09:49).

Annah Watkinson was the first local woman to finish, taking eighth place in 9:44:11.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.