20 YEARS OF WORLD CLASS RACING
Professional athletes have been part of Challenge Wānaka since day one. When the race began in 2007, the world’s best helped shape its reputation — testing themselves against a course defined by beauty, toughness, and community spirit.
In 2026, as we celebrate 20 years of Challenge Wānaka, an outstanding international professional field returns to race here in Wānaka.
From proven champions to emerging talents, these athletes represent the highest level of the sport — and play a vital role in the story, standard, and spirit of Challenge Wānaka. Twenty years on, that legacy continues.
REBECCA CLARKE
We’re stoked to have Rebecca Clarke back on the start line and joining the pro women’s field at Challenge Wānaka. After an injury early in 2025, it was fantastic to see Bec return to racing and back in action at Kona later in the year. Known for her grit, consistency, and connection to the New Zealand triathlon community, she brings experience and determination every time she races. We can’t wait to see Bec out on course, taking on the Challenge Wānaka stage once again.
LUCY BYRAM
Lucy Byram is one of Britain’s most promising middle-distance triathletes, known for her composure, tactical racing, and resilience. After a challenging year, she has returned to racing stronger than ever, with standout performances on the T100 circuit marking her as a top contender.
Lucy will make her Challenge Wānaka Half debut in 2026, bringing world-class talent to the 20th anniversary edition and shaping up as one to watch in the women’s pro field.
MEGAN ARMITAGE
A Paris 2024 Olympian and former WorldTour professional cyclist Megan is now transitioning into long-course triathlon. She brings elite racing experience and a clear strength on demanding bike courses. Her 2026 focus is building consistency and choosing races that reward resilience, patience, and smart execution.
Drawn to Challenge events for their reputation of truly testing athletes, Megan sees Wānaka as the ideal way to open her season. “It’s a course that demands respect and smart effort management,” she says. Embracing long-course racing as a new challenge, she brings the same focus and strategic mindset that defined her cycling career into triathlon.
TAMARA JEWETT
GABRIELLE LUMKES
Gabi began her triathlon journey in 2019 after running at university in the USA, earning her pro licence just three months into the sport while studying veterinary medicine. After working as a farm animal veterinarian in Vermont, she put her veterinary career on hold in 2022 to pursue triathlon full time. Now racing long course, Gabi enjoyed a standout year with fourth place at Ironman New Zealand, her Kona debut, and her first podium at Ironman 70.3 Louisville. It’s been great having her training in Wānaka over summer, giving her some valuable inside knowledge of the course as she takes on one of the most scenic races on the calendar.
JASMINE BROWN
Jasmine Brown enters the professional ranks with an outstanding championship pedigree and rapidly growing elite-level experience. After a standout 2024 season, she claimed two Age Group World Championship titles, winning gold at both the World Triathlon Long Course World Championships and the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships.
She stepped into professional racing in 2025 and has spent her debut season building momentum across Australia while beginning to test herself internationally. Known for her work ethic and consistency, Jasmine continues to translate age-group success into professional progression. Drawn to Wānaka by the stunning South Island setting and a course that rewards resilience and smart racing, she arrives motivated and ready to measure herself against the best.
Sina Ziegler
ANGHARAD LLEWELLYN
Angharad Llewellyn has been building steadily in long-course triathlon since transitioning from short-course racing in 2024. Now entering the 2026 Challenge Wānaka, she brings growing experience and momentum, aiming to convert her development into strong results on one of the sport’s most challenging courses.
With several seasons of racing under her belt, Angharad has developed a solid foundation across swim, bike, and run disciplines, allowing her to tackle long-distance racing with confidence and consistency.
She is particularly looking forward to racing in Wānaka, drawn by the stunning scenery and a course that rewards resilience and smart racing. Angharad arrives motivated and ready to make 2026 a breakthrough season in her long-course career.
DANIELLE DONALDSON
Wānaka local Danielle Donaldson is stepping into the professional ranks in 2026 after a breakthrough age-group career. She claimed victory at Challenge Wānaka 2025 and placed 5th in the 25–29 AG at the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Taupō.
A self-coached athlete known for keeping training fun and adventurous, Danielle combines determination with a fearless, positive approach to racing. “I’m most looking forward to the bike course — the rolling terrain out to Treble Cone is my favourite style of TT riding, and the scenery is stunning!”
Her pro debut comes in Tauranga, with Challenge Wānaka set to be her second race as a pro — a true hometown homecoming for this rising talent.
Paige Cranage
At just 22 years old, Paige is already establishing herself as one of Australia’s exciting emerging talents. After progressing through the junior ranks, she made the transition to long-course racing and is now in her third year competing as a professional. The move has seen her gain valuable experience, build strength, and test herself against some of the sport’s most established athletes.
“I’ve really enjoyed learning and getting stronger racing against the older girls,” Paige says. “I’m excited to see what I can do in the future.”
Paige is particularly looking forward to racing in Wānaka, with the iconic course — and especially the bike leg — high on her list of highlights. With her hunger to learn and love of challenging terrain, she’s one to watch as she continues her development on the professional circuit.
We can’t wait to see what Paige brings to Wānaka.
FREDERIC FUNK
One of the world’s leading middle-distance triathletes. Known for his exceptional bike power, consistency, and international pedigree, Frederic arrives in Wānaka as a genuine contender for the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Half as we celebrate 20 years of racing.
Born into triathlon and racing since the age of five, Frederic has built a reputation for excelling on demanding courses. After a challenging comeback from injury, lining up in Wānaka will be especially meaningful — making his appearance all the more anticipated.
“Over the past few years, I’ve heard so many great things about Challenge Wānaka that it quickly became a bucket-list race for me. After my injury, standing on that start line will mean a great deal.”
THOMAS BISHOP
Tom Bishop is one of Britain’s leading long-course triathletes, bringing a wealth of international experience and recent standout results to the professional circuit. After a successful career in short-course racing, Tom has transitioned seamlessly into middle- and long-distance events.
His breakthrough long-distance performance came in 2024 at Challenge Roth, where he finished second overall in a blistering 7:37:54, briefly setting a British long-distance record. He backed this up with consistent performances across the global racing calendar.
Known for his toughness, tactical racing and depth of experience, Tom continues to establish himself as a serious contender at the world’s biggest long-course events.
JACK MOODY
Former Challenge Wānaka Champion (2023), Jack Moody returns to Wānaka as a familiar and respected presence in the professional field. Based in Auckland, Jack has built a career defined by consistent performances and results across domestic and international racing.
He begins the season in good form following a win in Tauranga and remains closely connected to Challenge Wānaka, having never missed a professional start at the event. Known for his ability to handle demanding terrain, Jack was one of the athletes who thrived on the tougher run courses of earlier editions, including the Glendhu Bay ascent and Gunn Road climb.
With the race returning to town as part of the 20-year celebration, Jack arrives motivated, experienced, and fully aware of what it takes to win on one of triathlon’s most honest and challenging courses.
MIKE PHILLIPS
Mike Phillips (New Zealand) returns to Challenge Wānaka as one of the country’s most accomplished professional triathletes and a regular podium finisher on the international circuit and at Challenge Wānaka. Based in Christchurch, Mike claimed the Wānaka title before going on to win in Taupō last year, underlining his strength and consistency at the highest level.
Well suited to the demands of the Challenge Wānaka course, Mike brings experience, confidence, and class to the professional men’s field as he lines up on home soil ready to contend once again.
BRETT CLIFFORD
Christchurch-based professional Brett Clifford brings passion, balance, and purpose to the Challenge Wānaka start line. Brett turned professional in 2023 after four years racing as an age grouper, driven by a lifelong dream of becoming a professional sportsperson.
Challenge Wānaka holds special significance for Brett, as it was the site of his first half-distance triathlon, and he continues to return to race on a course he describes as both honest and challenging, set in one of the sport’s most iconic locations. Alongside his racing career, Brett combines his love of sport with helping others achieve their performance goals.
DYLAN CLOUGH
Hailing from Sydney, Dylan Clough arrives at Challenge Wānaka off the back of an impressive 2025 season and will be making his debut into the professional ranks on the iconic Wānaka course.
A rising talent in the Australian triathlon scene, Dylan has been steadily building momentum with consistent performances and a growing reputation as a tough, all-round competitor. Challenge Wānaka marks an exciting next step as he tests himself against an international field on one of the sport’s most respected courses.
Known for his work ethic and determination, Dylan is no stranger to hard racing and long days — and Wānaka’s demanding terrain and stunning setting provide the perfect stage for his first appearance at the event.
OLIVER PRITCHARD
CALVIN AMOS
Australian professional Calvin Amos enters the 2026 Challenge Wānaka ready to test himself on one of the sport’s most challenging courses. Now in his fourth pro season, Calvin has built a strong international reputation, highlighted by his first Ironman and a career-best 3rd at the Hervey Bay 100 in 2025, as well as top finishes at Challenge Canberra, Taiwan, and Gunsan.
Returning to New Zealand’s South Island for the first time since his early teens, Calvin is eager to tackle a course that rewards strength, strategy, and endurance, arriving in Wānaka prepared to push himself to the limits.
SCOTT HARPHAM
Scott Harpham is a Kiwi professional triathlete based in Carterton, in the heart of the Wairarapa (Lower North Island, for those playing geography at home). A latecomer to the sport, Scott only discovered triathlon in 2020 at the age of 27, turning professional in late 2022. Since then, he’s been steadily building his career racing across New Zealand and Australia, embracing the learning curve and loving the journey as it unfolds.
Reflecting on Challenge Wānaka, Scott says two things stand out: the setting and the atmosphere. “Racing in a place like Wānaka is something I never take for granted—it’s absolutely stunning. And the Challenge Family really know how to create a festival of sport. The energy throughout race week and on race day lifts everyone and makes for some seriously exciting racing.”
TOM SOMERVILLE
Tom Somerville (NZL) is a professional triathlete based in Christchurch, balancing the demands of full-time work alongside training and racing at the elite level. A passionate and vocal advocate of Challenge Wānaka, Tom will line up for his fifth start in 2026, bringing with him a unique race history that spans an age-group win, a hard-earned lesson finishing last in the pro field, and a standout 2nd overall result last year.
Asked what draws him back to Wānaka year after year, Tom admits it’s hard to narrow it down. “The scenery, the weather, the lake, the crowds, the atmosphere — and the return of the pro race. There’s so much about this event that makes it special. I’m excited to see what this year’s race brings.”
ROBERT HUISMAN
Robert Huismsan is a Kiwi pro with a passion for racing and a love for Wānaka. Last year, he claimed the Challenge Wānaka Aquabike title, marking a successful return to pro-level competition after coming out of retirement in 2025.
A former elite short-course triathlete, Robert represented New Zealand internationally, winning U23 National and Oceania titles in 2013 before stepping away from the sport in 2015. He has fond memories of racing the NZ elite short course triathlon in Wānaka during his early career.
Off the bike and out of the water, Robert runs a Pilates studio with his partner Loren, has managed a dairy farm, and enjoys playing bass guitar.
