Ritcey wins first sprint series race

Blood, scrapes and mud didn't slow down Salomon team's Jeremy Ritcey who stormed home to win the 12km Repulse Bay Bonaqua Action Sprint yesterday. Ritcey covered the course in one hour, 17 minutes and 47 seconds, beating Mark Western and Dan Parr. More than 260 athletes competed in the race that started with a 400m beach run, before a 2.5m wall jump into the sea, a 20 metre swim, before running over 3km to the top of Violet Hill (420m). Claire Chapman won the women's event in 1:40.10. Race two in the series is in Mui Wo in 13 days.