The last time was 15 years ago; and on that occasion, kayakers paddled on nearby Pinders Pond, across the river.
That could not be done this time, as the decision to cancel on Saturday, left organisers with insufficient time to organise a required road plan for runners to access the road after the pond, organiser Ian Cahill said.
Contact Energy was forced to release more water than usual, due to high flows upstream.
The Clutha River was flowing at 850cumecs.
The 9km kayaking section for competitors with a grade two certificate is usually run when the river is flowing at 450cumecs.
The triathletes all entered the duathlon section instead.
Mr Cahill said 36 teams, and 70 individuals, slightly fewer than last year, took part in the event; in optimum conditions.
There was little wind, and cloud cover kept temperqtures below the extremes of two days earlier.
Mr Cahill said the event always drew top class competitors, although the organisers aimed to encourage family participation as well.
Team Bubble, from Ettrick and Dunedin, competed for the second time this year.
The youngest team member, Molly Marsh, ran with sibling Charlie and friends Tiann McKinnel, Brooke Johnston and Becky and Holly Paterson.
The children covered distances of between one and four kilometres.
Kane Johnston completed the course, with his mother, Anne Johnston, and Nicki Paterson and Trudie Marsh.
Coast to Coast two-day winner Kath Kelly was a regular participant and although disappointed she wasn't allowed to do the triathlon, she said she would probably kayak back down the river to her home after the event, as she loved a challenge.
If training allowed, she planned to attempt the the Longest Day, the one-day Coast to Coast event, this year.
Results
Open men: Gavin Mason, Wanaka, 1hr 33min14sec, 1; Andy Willmott, Dunedin, 1:40:52, 2; Wade Rollo, Dunedin, 1:46:33, 3.
Open women: Katie Menzies, Dunedin, 1:44:40, 1; Kath Kelly, Roxburgh, 1:46:42, 2; Ailsa Rollinson, Dunedin, 1:49:47, 3.
Veteran men: Murray Ercy, Dunedin, 1:36:51, 1; Daryl Cleghorn, Gore, 1:38:55, 2; Michael Lawrence, Dunedin, 1:40:05, 3.
Veteran women: Sue Cuthbert, Dunedin, 1:42:58, 1.
Men's team: Teviot, 1:25:50, 1; Crash and Dash, 1:36:02, 2; Aitken/Barton, 1:44:24, 3.
Women's team: The Gun and the Plodder, 1.56.19, 1; Team Bubble, 2:06:45, 2.
Mixed team: Team Lorimer, 2:10:19, 1.
Juniors: Blake Luff, 1:56:40, 1.
Junior Team: Jonty/Callum, 2:02:44, 1; Nicholl Flyers, 2:25:30, 2.
