Hammond confident after quick Bays run | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

Candice Hammond is adamant she will not be underdone for her third ironman event when she lines up in Australia next month.

The Wanganui 26-year-old used the Heha Round the Bridges fun run in her hometown last weekend as a training session for her upcoming assignment in the Cairns Ironman Distance race in northern Queensland on June 5.

Hammond covered the 10km Round the Bridges event in a tick under 34 minutes, but reckoned the course may have been a tad shorter than the advertised distance.

"I know what I'm capable of over 10km and that time was a bit quick, so I suspect the distance was a bit short. But in saying that I was pleased with my run. I was fourth over the line. There were three boys ahead of me and tried hard to catch them, but wasn't quite able to in the end," Hammond said.

The former Wanganui Collegiate student decided to race ironman after consistently placing in half ironman events beating several professionals in the process.

"I've raced events in Taupo, Karapiro and Taranaki and have finished in the top placings, so I've committed to ironman races now. My first one I had really put in the training and finished 26th, but after preparing more managed ninth.

"My aim is to finish in the top 10 in Cairns and I'm confident I can achieve that. I've done a lot of training and have total confidence in my coach Keegan Williams. I'm adamant I won't be underdone for Cairns," Hammond said.

Hammond is studying for a bachelor of social science at Waikato University and is enrolled in a sports massage therapy course.

She credits her upbringing in Wanganui with its great sporting facilities and events for all age groups which encouraged her to pursue sport at a high level.

Hammond was a keen and successful rower during her school days at Collegiate and a regular on the Round the Bridges event in her younger years.

As a wind down from last weekend's fun run, Hammond helped out at the Rockup rock climbing wall at Kowhai park and even had a crack herself with success.