Mount Festival of Multisport begins Saturday

WINNING FEELING: Braden Currie celebrates winning last year's Port of Tauranga Half. PHOTO/FILE

The third edition of the Mount Festival of Multisport is set to captivate the huge post-New Year crowds in Mt Maunganui this weekend.

The festival is built around iconic triathalon the Port of Tauranga Half and includes a wide range of athletic and community events.

The 28th running of the Port of Tauranga Half has assembled New Zealand's top long distance triathletes for the men's and women's race early on Saturday morning.

Last January two new champions were crowned in blustery conditions at Pilot Bay.

Braden Currie and Amelia Rose Watkinson notched their maiden victories in the event that also doubles as New Zealand's long-distance championship.

Currie, who is from Methven, won at his third attempt in 3hr 52 min 26 sec after a second and third placing.

He is a powerful athlete with a killer-kick on the run leg similar to race legend Cameron Brown, the 10-time Port of Tauranga Half winner who finished third (3:55.06) last year behind second-placed Mark Bowstead (3:54.00).

Currie has had an outstanding year in a variety of multisport races and disciplines. His victories in 2016 include the NZ Olympic Distance Triathlon Champs, XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship and Ironman Taupo 70.3 in December.

Immediately after winning the Ironman last month his focus switched to the Port of Tauranga Half.

"I was pretty happy to have taken the win today and it sets me up well for the months ahead," Currie said.

"I'm looking forward to getting into some more consistent training building towards Port of Tauranga Half in January."

Legendary multisport athlete Brown is chasing his 11th title, having won seven straight from 1998-2004, and again in 2007, 2012 and 2014.

The women's field also has the defending champ returning with Watkinson back after an outstanding year on the Asian circuit. She started 2016 with a 12-minute 56-second victory in the Port of Tauranga Half before going on to win 10 events in Asia.

Watkinson will have strong competition on Saturday from 2011 runner-up Anna Cleaver and 2015 third place-getter Julia Grant.

Later on Saturday afternoon are two events more suited for people of all ages and athletic abilities in the Under Armour Mount Run and Jetts Dash for Cash.

The Mount Run starts and finishes on Pilot Bay from 1pm. The 5km course takes runners around the base of Mauao while the 9km event has runners heading around and up the mountain.

The Dash for Cash begins at 3.30pm and is a real crowd-pleaser, with elite athletes and social runners making a 400m dash down Pilot Bay.

Another popular part of the festival programme for the thousands of holiday-makers in the area is the Bay of Plenty Times NZ Beach Volleyball Champs from 9am on Saturday and Sunday at Mount Main Beach. It features New Zealand's top players plus international teams from Japan and Germany.

Festival director Wendy Boyce is looking to "create a festival of events and activity which the public can watch, enjoy or participate in at one of New Zealand's most popular holiday destinations".

"The Mount Festival of Multisport has something for everyone, from the elite fields in the Port of Tauranga Half, to the Under Armour Mount Run and Jetts Dash for Cash, and for those who just want to soak in some sunshine and sport, there is beach volleyball on the main beach," she said.

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