Almost 800 women took part in the event, which comprised a 3.5km run or walk, a 10km bike ride and another 1.5km run or walk.
Several participants came from Auckland, Wellington or Nelson and while other events may be held closer to their home towns over the next six weeks, the Queenstown appeal and the promise of a ‘‘girls' weekend'' brought them to the resort in droves.
Many women from Southland, Otago and Canterbury made the trip with their proud families cheering from the sidelines and their children holding ‘‘Go Mum'' signs.
Although many were not strangers to a duathlon, many more had never tried anything like it.
Outram teacher Andrea Robertson completed the event with 12 other women - all of whom lived in different areas, more than half of them over the age of 50, all mothers, three of them grandmothers and most of them duathlon novices.
Kelly Jones, of Oamaru, Amie Pont, of Waipiata, Linda McLean, from Christchurch, Jenny Pont, from Taeri, Hayley Laughton, Joss Phiskie, Edie Pont and Megan Reddington, all of Dunedin, and Barbara Shackell, of Mosgiel, formed the ‘‘Tasselled Ladies'' - with tassels on their bike helmets for easy recognition to motivate each other on the course.
The group arrived in Queenstown on Saturday in a 20-seater van and ‘‘thought the course was flat'' until they went for a quick drive along Malaghans Rd.
However, their fear turned to pride as, one by one, they crossed the finish line.
Fellow competitor Gail Goodger, of Dunedin, said the camaraderie on the course was unbelievable.
‘‘Some events can be a bit scary . . . this was just [fun].''
It was the second year Goodger had entered the duathlon and she was ‘‘stoked'' at her personal result yesterday.
‘‘Last time I was in this . . . I couldn't run one kilometre and then this time I could run the whole thing . . . everyone was so nice on the hills and they were yelling out.
‘‘I reckon heaps of women wouldn't get into sport without this . . . it's something they can do and finish.''
Event director Jane Patterson said the event was a ‘‘huge success'' with about 65% growth on last year's entries.
The event is technically in its third year in Queenstown - the first year being known as the Special K Women's Duathlon, before Sparc took over the sponsorship.
Patterson said that even better than the numbers taking part and the perfect weather conditions was the spirit among the women
This year, the duathlon had been marketed as an opportunity for women to have a girls' weekend with two nights at Millbrook a bottle of champagne, and entry into the event followed by a pedicure or other treat yesterday afternoon. The package appeared to be a huge drawcard.
