Queenstown, New Zealand (Monday, July 22, 2002) - A shared victory for the Meadow Fresh Peak to Peak multisport race in Queenstown Saturday saw last year's winner Hadyn Key cross the finish line in first place, hand in hand, with fellow athlete Richard Usher.

The Queenstown duo had just arrived back in the country on Friday, after competing together in the USA adventure race, Primal Quest, and only decided to race at the last minute.

"We thought we would see how we felt on Friday night as to whether we would race and it was a standing joke when we were trying to get our bags through the international airports that we had to get back in time for a race," said Usher.

"Both of us felt pretty flat to be honest so it was a real grind on the paddle and the run and then we managed to stay just close enough to Eric Billoud to pip him on the mountain bike."

The start line ski leg on the Remarkable ski field was altered due to lift closure with the race starting from the top of the Alta chair on the Remarkable ski field and finishing at the bottom of the Shadow chair.

The kayak leg on Lake Wakatipu was also shortened due to gusty winds.

Key and Usher set an extremely fast time completing the course in just 1 hour, 58 minutes and 36 seconds. Keys 2001 time was 2 hours, 1 minute and 35 seconds.

Queenstown's Eric Billoud was third placed individual man in a time of 2 hours 20 mins and 55 secs.

The Queenstown Physiotherapy Bio mechanical Analysis team were the first team across the line winning the 'open men's' team award for the second year in a row. The team consisted of Russell Tillsley, Tony Moore, Chris Dagg and Anthony Bush and Brendon Quill. In second place was the Browns Avanti/Ra team from Dunedin with Errol Kingi, Steve Dyet, Finn O'Conner, Eddie Smith and Geoff Keogh. Third was the Copeland Team from Oturehua which included Todd Copeland, Paul Gough, Martin Powley, Graham Sinnamon and Ray Dunstan.

In the veteran section Kevin Smith from Christchurch placed first, Geoff Miller also from Christchurch was second and Cromwell's Bill Godsall was third. The Veteran team trophy went to Invercargill's Team Jo Joes , second place went to Team Murray Kawasaki from Gore and third place to Queenstown's Team Bonz.

First place in the mixed team went to the Resort Radio police team from Queenstown, second place went to Queenstown's Eakin/Morgan team and third place to the AJ Gear team.

The business house trophy was picked up by Team Wakatipu High school with second place going to The Heritage Hotel and third place to the Flight Centre 1 team.

In the women's categories, Queenstown's Rachel Barton was first across the line in a time of 2 hours 48 minutes and 32 seconds followed by Lynne ODonaghue of Christchurch in second place in a time of 2 hours 57 minutes and 24 seconds. Third went to Kerry Fitzgibbon of Wanaka.

And placing first out of the women's teams was last years winners Team Wanaka Physiotherapy, second place went to the GE girls from Christchurch,Cromwell and Dunedin and third place went to the Alleged Angels from Christchurch.

The second and finale race in the nzski.com winter multisport series will be the Peak to Pub race at Mt. Hutt on the 29th of September with the overall winner of both races winning an nzski.com season pass.