2026 Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half – Women’s Race Report
🥇 Nicole van der Kaay (4:04:29) • 🥈 Hannah Berry (4:07:20) • 🥉 Rebecca Clarke (4:13:02)
Nicole van der Kaay has won pretty much everything there is to win in Oceania short course triathlon. Now the two-time Olympian has ticked off one of the continental mid-distance biggies too to prove once more that she belongs no matter the start line.
The Taupo 29-year-old not only won Saturday’s Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half, she prevented Kiwi long course No.1 and two-time defending champion Hannah Berry a place in history in the process – underscoring the significance of her maiden half distance triumph on home shores.
Berry was shooting for a 5th win in her home race which would have edged her past fellow Tauranga Half legend Jo Lawn. But the PTO world No.12, who struggled with a tight right hamstring on the run, will have to wait at least another year to achieve that with NVDK taking advantage of her slick, short course-honed transitions and that trademark run to win in 4:04:29.
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The PTO world No.87 was a combined 25 seconds faster than Berry in the swim-to-bike and bike-to-run transitions and ticked off the 21.1km run in 1:26:44 to Berry’s 1:29:42 to eventually win by 2mins 51sec. Rebecca Clarke rounded out the podium after another typically strong swim in Pilot Bay alongside NVDK, Berry and Hannah Knighton (eventually 6th).
“It was an honour to race the Tauranga Half and to line up alongside athletes like Hannah [Berry] and Becks [Clarke], New Zealand’s long course Queens. It really was an epic race…the vibe and energy were amazing,” van der Kaay told SBR-Tri.com.
“This race has been on my bucket list for a while. It came quite early in the season for me but it felt like a great opportunity to gain more experience over the 70.3 distance and to put together a solid day of hard work.
“I came off a break in December and have been slowly building again, with the learnings from 2025 in mind as I set up for a big 2026. This race felt like a really positive step in that process.”
Van der Kaay’s 2026 again shapes as an interesting blend of short and longer distance racing, beginning at the Oceania Sprint & Mixed Relay Championships in Napier/Hastings on Sunday March 1 and Monday March 2.
Outside of winning the Oceania Sprint and Super Sprint titles last year after a slow start at World Cup Napier (16th) and her bronze medal at the continental standard distance championship in Tasmania, van der Kaay only competed in one other World Triathlon circuit race in 2025, placing 14th at World Cup Rome in October.
Her focus was on the step up in distance, highlighted by victory at 70.3 Shanghai in May which earned her a slot at the 70.3 Worlds in Marbella. En route to finishing 16th in Spain, NVDK took silver at Challenge Forte Village in Italy and later claimed silver at the legendary Laguna Phuket Triathlon in Thailand.
“Next up is a return to the shorter stuff with Napier in early March, then a mix of short and long racing where it fits best. Most of all, I’m just really grateful to be fit, healthy, and able to train and race properly again. Looking forward to continuing the build,” van der Kaay said.
A front of pack swim set up NVDK’s day on Saturday.
“The race was solid from start to finish, with a quality field of athletes. In the swim, a group of four formed early — Rebecca [Clarke] led us out, with Hannah B, Hannah K, and myself working together while navigating the buoys, boats, and the men we caught along the way.
“The bike was fast and honest, with Hannah B setting a strong pace. It was a great challenge to stay engaged and work to close a few gaps. The run took a little time to settle into, but it’s where things really came together for me.
“Experiences like that are invaluable and I’m grateful for the work and learning that came from the day.”
Full 2026 Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half results
