Engaged Couple Win Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa 2008

Bayliss and Comerford win in Port Elizabeth, as reported by Rory Petzer and Deborah Thomas

It is said that the Ironman event is never won until at least halfway through the run. The Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa 2008 certainly proved that point. In an incredible men's race, Great Britain's Stephen Bayliss paced himself phenomenally to take the lead with only eight kilometres to go, leaving Raynard Tissink once again in second place. The drama was far from over as Bayliss's fiancée, Bella Comerford, crossed the line only five seconds ahead of Italy's Edith Niederfriniger.

Nearly 1,600 athletes raced towards the water at Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth today as the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa 2008 began. An enormous crowd of excited fans erupted into a frenzy as soon as the race commenced.

The first female out was Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) who spent exactly 50 minutes in the water. Kathryn Cronje (RSA) left the water 51 seconds later, followed by fellow South African Kim Carter and Niederfriniger (ITA).

In a dramatic turn of events in the 180km cycle, Niedrig took the lead before being forced to stop in order to repair a puncture. Also hindered by a puncture was local hero, Raynard Tissink.  Both men were back on the track in next to no time. Francois Chabaud (FRA), who passed them and extended the lead, was the first male into the run transition with a time of 05:15:34. Coming in second, just over 7 minutes behind Chabaud was Tissink, while in third place, not far behind him was Spaniard Marcel Zamora Perez.

Of the females, Lucie Zelenkova maintained her lead while Bella Comerford (GBR) and Edith Niederfriniger, in second and third place respectively, kept a close eye on each other. Comerford, who also suffered a puncture, lost nearly 12 minutes after struggling to find a pump. She rejoined the race and made sufficient progress to be the fourth woman to finish the cycle leg. The first in of the women was Zelenkova with a time of exactly 6 hours, while Kathryn Cronje followed just over 15 minutes later. Amber Monforte (USA) came in third, 12 seconds behind Cronje.

Chabaud initially enjoyed a huge psychological advantage as he was on the road before Tissink had even entered the transition area. He maintained a healthy lead until the 28km mark, when he seemed to break down and started walking. Soon afterwards, hometown favourite Tissink passed him and took the lead, while Stephen Bayliss followed quietly about a minute behind. Bayliss, who had clearly paced himself well throughout the day, had reduced Tissink’s lead to only eight seconds by the 32km mark. By the 34km mark Bayliss had passed Tissink and started to pull away with a renewed burst of energy, while Chabaud drifted further back. With a total time of 08:18:34, Bayliss crossed the finish line to win his first ever Ironman title. Tissink, who has come second for the past two years at the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa, crossed the line five minutes after Bayliss.  Austrian Peter Schoissengeier finished in third.

First into the run of the ladies was Zelenkova, whose lead slowly dissolved as Comerford and Niederfriniger edged closer and closer. With less than 10 km to go both Comerford and Niederfriniger overtook Zelenkova. Comerford moved into the lead, with Niederfriniger just over a yard behind her. Zelenkova fell back while the two new leading females continued to fight it out. Comerford and Niederfriniger remained almost shoulder to shoulder until, in arguably the most dramatic finish, Comerford crossed the finish line a mere five seconds before Niederfriniger. Waiting for her was her emotional fiancé and fellow new champion Bayliss. Never before has an engaged couple won the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa.

The day will long be remembered for the thrills provided by both the men and women who took part. As two more Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa champions are named, the buzz will continue until midnight, as the majority of the athletes continue to sweat it out along the gruelling course.

For a look at our complete day of coverage, click on the race coverage tab of the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa page.