Fifth year in a row for Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race winners

7:23 AM Mon 13 Apr 2009 GMT

'Rowing and Sailing Race - 2009 Hydro Three Peaks Race - 2009 Hydro Three Peaks Race' Holly Ranson Click Here to view large photo

It was a two horse race this morning, in the 21st annual Three Peaks Race as Neil Buckby Motors Subaru pulled away from its challenger Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy, after the two exited the Denison Canal at Dunalley within an hour of each other.

Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy was five nautical miles behind at John Garrow Light when the first catamaran docked, but with a northerly breeze filling in sailed the final miles in just 40 minutes

Thirty minutes may have been too long for Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy's runners Andrew Kromar and Clarence Blake to catch up on a three hour run - but they were determined to give it their best shot.

After all Kromar is King of the Mountain. He set the race record, 2 hours 28 mins, in 2003.

Kromar and Blake left constitution dock at 12.37, 32 minutes after their Tim Piper and Mark Guy from leading team Neil Buckby Motors Subaru.

Piper was confident the pair could bring the team home strongly to its fifth consecutive race win.

"We couldn't see the other boats behind us, so (our sailors) have given us a pretty big lead," Piper said.

"We thought we could do it if we were 10 minutes ahead so we should definitely make it.

"We'll take it easy on the way down if we need to because it is steep and rocky and you can fall."

Although competing in his fourth Three Peaks, Piper said he was still extremely nervous as he was not used to the pressure of leading the race.

Piper and Guy summitted at 1.38, Kromar and Blake at 2.10pm. The difference, 32 minutes, was exactly the same as it was when they left race control.

Andrew Kromar and Clarence Blake finished their run at 3.13, half an hour after Piper and Guy. They took 2 hours 31 minutes, slightly faster than their rivals.