Docherty chases her first ironman | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

A Docherty is back chasing triathlon success - not Athens silver medallist Bevan but his sister Fiona Docherty, who takes on her first venture over the Ironman distance in Australia.

The former Taupo star athlete is one of 15 New Zealanders taking part in the new Ironman Western Australia event this weekend to be staged at Busselton, about 220km south of Perth.

Docherty has a background in duathlon, a former top-10 placegetter in the world championships before her breakthrough victory in the unofficial world long distance championships in Zofingen, Switzerland two years ago.

She had time out with a troublesome stress fracture before moving her attention to the long distance triathlon scene, finishing second this year in the famous Nice event, a three-quarter distance triathlon where Docherty revelled in the hills above the French city.



Docherty is stepping into uncharted waters on Sunday for the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42km marathon run, although there will be none of the hills that she enjoys on this flat and fast course.

She finished sixth in the Noosa Olympic distance event two weeks ago.

There will be keen interest in the efforts of 2002 Ironman New Zealand champion and four-time runner-up, Karyn Ballance.

The Christchurch podiatrist, who is married to 1994 Ironman New Zealand champion Scott Ballance, took her first Ironman title at the Taupo event in 2002 after consecutive second place finishes in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

A consistent performer over the Ironman distance, Ballance again finished second in 2003 before illness hampered her 2004 race.

Training last month on the Gold Coast to escape New Zealand's winter, Ballance is in good early season form to prepare for the challenges she will face from the talented women's field that has been assembled in Busselton.

The women's race is shaping up to be decided on the run, without a noted top-class swimmer in the field.

Others favoured include outstanding Half Ironman exponent Rebekah Keat (Australia), who is stepping up to Ironman for the first time, and Waikato-based Brit, Jess Draskau Peterson who was third at Ironman Austria in July and produced a stunning run leg in Taupo in March.

Taupo's Bryan Rhodes was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury in a Half Ironman in Mexico. There are 12 Kiwis among the 875 starters.