Multisport athlete Matthew Clough makes his way through the jagged terrain of the Coast to Coast on his way to first place in the U19 schoolboy’s section. Photo suppliedFor local multisport athlete Matthew Clough, the top of the Xterra world is the target, but only by taking things year-by-year.

Competition has always been part of Clough’s life, starting out in competitive swimming. However, after reaching the age of 13, he knew it was time for a change and made use of his swimming skills to make the jump to triathlons.

Also competing in the sport of aquathlon, the Ashburton College student travelled to Mexico last year to compete in the U19 2016 ITU World Aquathlon Championships. There, he finished third in his field of competitors.

From then he said he chose to set his sights on the world of Xterra Events. Late last year he thought it was the perfect opportunity to give the Coast to Coast a go.

“I was going to do the two day event, but I had never paddled a kayak before,” said Clough. “Because of that I settled on just competing in the mountain run.”

Compete was something he certainly did, placing first in the U19 school boys’ section and second in the overall standings.

Clough finished with a time of 3hr and 34min, comfortably ahead of notable competitor and former All Black Richie McCaw, who ran the race in 4hr and 20min.

However, injury nearly spelt the end of his race 22km in. “I fell and heard a crack from my ankle,” he said. “I knew I just had to get up and keep on going before it stiffened up.”

Clough believed the race was a huge mental challenge.

“In those last 10 kilometres every single kilometre feels like another ten,” he said.

The next race in his sights is the New Zealand Xterra Championships. The race, held in Rotorua, is raced in three parts, the swim, a cycle and then the run.

While his main goal is to be World Xterra Champion, the Year 12 student is taking things slowly.

“Most people have a goal like the Olympics or to be world champion,” he said. “For me, I just want to take things slowly, year by year, because you never know what will happen.”

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 17 February 2017