The 29-year-old completed the 1.6 kilometres course, slippery and treacherous due to the weather, in a time of 3min 13.65sec, despite requiring a restart after a red flag was waved due to an earlier crash.

Blenkinsop’s compatriot Guy Gibbs claimed the silver medal in 3:19.82 with fellow New Zealander Wyn Masters completing the podium lineup in 3:29.77.

Another home athlete came out on top in the women’s race as Virginia Armstrong secured gold in 5:28.60.

Fellow Kiwi Shania Rawson claimed silver in 5:42.91 with no bronze medal awarded as Australia’s Danielle Beecroft failed to finish.

"I am happy to get through it, have no injuries and come away with the win," Blenkinsop said.

"I've been close before but to get the win is great.

"It was also good training in these wet conditions because we can get them in the World Cup season.

“My chest hit the seat and my legs were hanging out the back like Superman but somehow it worked.

“I don't know how I rode it out but I must have got lucky."

The men’s under-19 event was another New Zealand clean sweep as Sam Robbie took first prize thanks to a time of 3:30.29, Josh Oxenham was 6.09 seconds behind in second with Anton Cousins rounding off the podium a further 0.75 seconds back as the event in Dunedin concluded.