Record entries for Tauranga Half Triathlon and Mount Festival 2021

Athletes will flock to Mount Maunganui for the 2021 edition of the Mount Festival. Photo / Supplied

The 2021 edition of the Tauranga Half Triathlon and Mount Festival is shaping to be the strongest in its 32-year history.

Both events, at Mount Maunganui on Saturday, January 23, have received record entries.

Although Covid-19 has led to cancellation of many events this year, the Mount Festival is bucking the trend and receiving strong entries for all the multisport events on the festival programme.

The 2021 Mount Festival has four key events, which will transform Mount Maunganui into a multisport mecca.

Headlining the festival is the Tauranga Half, which is being held for the 32nd time next year. For athletes wanting a longer challenge, there is the Enduro event, and for athletes keen to avoid running there is the increasingly popular Aquabike event.

The Mount Run has distances for runners of all abilities with 5km, 10km and half marathon (21.1km) options.

Mount Festival general manager Lauren Watson said the response to next year's event was "incredible".

"We have the highest entries ever at this time of the year and the online banter for the event is phenomenal. Everyone is so excited to race."

When asked what has led to the response, Watson said: "We started our athlete communications several months earlier than normal, and ran some virtual events during the first lockdown.

"This helped build interest and a strong culture around our event. There is also the fact that people can't travel overseas to race at the moment, so are looking to well established New Zealand events such as the Mount Festival.

"As the country's long-running triathlon, we have become the go-to event for triathletes this summer."

The 2021 Tauranga Half field is the strongest in over a decade with several former champions set to be on the start line at Pilot Bay.

Defending champion and race record holder Kyle Smith is back and faces incredible competition from the likes of 2019 winner Mike Phillips, former race record holder Braden Currie, 10-time champion Cameron Brown and former world champion Terenzo Bozzone.

In the women's field for the Tauranga Half, defending champion Hannah Wells is seeking a three-peat of wins on her home course. Other elite female athletes already confirmed are 2020 runner-up Rebecca Clark and the strong performing Melanie Burke and Emily McNaughton.

The start-line for all Mount Festival events is Mount Maunganui's picturesque Pilot Bay. More than 1500 athletes are expected in Pilot Bay for the various events.

To enter go to: www.mountfestival.kiwi

Mount Festival of Multisport Events
Tauranga Half: 2km Swim, 90km Bike, 21km Run.
Enduro: 3km Swim, 120km Bike, 25km Run.
Aqua Bike: 3km Swim, 120km Bike.
Mount Run: 5km, 10km or 21km.