Rotorua Set To Host Opening Contact TRI Series Event

Rotorua plays host to the opening round of the Contact Tri Series this Sunday, with a variety of races on offer at Blue Lake on Sunday morning.

From the Contact 3:9:3 for beginner or novice triathletes, including those looking to get back into the sport, to the Contact Trophy races over standard distance for the more confident to elite athletes, Sunday will offer something for everyone.

And that includes the best U19 athletes in the country as they take part in a qualifying race for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival scheduled for January next year.

A strong field of 40 triathletes will line up chasing a place on the New Zealand team bound for Sydney. Tri NZ High Performance Manager for U23 and junior athletes Stephen Sheldrake is excited about the field and the lure of a spot in Sydney.

“It is great to see a large number of U19’s racing in the first event of the series, including the new U19 series. Obviously the carrot of qualification for the Australian Youth Olympics is a huge incentive but it is also the start of a long season for many of them with the NZ Secondary School champs scheduled for the end of the summer in April.

“There are many athletes with a strong chance on Sunday but the main hitters will likely be Jos Hoetjes, Tom Davison and Edward Rawles in the men’s and Rebecca Kingsford, Teresa Adam and Sophie Corbidge in the women’s.”

Barry Maister, secretary general of the NZOC, says youth games are an ideal opportunity for talented youth to experience a multi-sport environment.

“The NZOC provides young athletes with an experience similar to an Olympic or Commonwealth Games. The athletes are housed in a village-style environment and the concept of competing and supporting each other within a wider New Zealand team is encouraged. They are introduced to some of the pressures and complexities of multi-sport events and we know that for the young athletes taking part the benefits will be far-reaching.

The AYOF is an exciting competition and we’re looking forward to bringing the team together.”

Amongst the great stories on the day will include the elite athletes chasing the podium places in the Contact Trophy, with the likes of World Championship U23 bronze mdealist Martin Van Barneveld competing.

Sam Warriner will be ‘taking part’ in the Contact 3:9:3 but not ‘competitively’. The world number one will be there to offer support to her own athletes from her www.sweat7.com coaching group, in particular Kathryn Hunter. Warriner has said her support will extend to all those around her during the race, whether swimming, biking or running!

There will be plenty taking part in an event for the very first time, with the Contact 3:9:3 offering nervous or novice triathletes the chance to race in comfort, while also encouraging former participants back into the sport.