Triathlon: Tauranga Half to become sport fest

Cameron Brown has won the Port of Tauranga Half a record 10 times. Photo/File

Recent speculation that US-based World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) will take over organising the Port of Tauranga Half have proved to be unfounded.

WTC, who own the Ironman brand, have missed out to New Zealand company SMC Events, that successfully ran the 25th running of the iconic event in January at the superb Mount Maunganui location.

SMC Events and Sport Bay of Plenty will deliver the Port of Tauranga Half as the key focus of a new three-day festival of sport to be known as the Mount Multi Sport Festival. It is designed to celebrate active lifestyles, fitness and family-oriented activities over the summer tourist season.

The inaugural Mount Multi Sport Festival is from January 9- 11 with the Port of Tauranga Half on Saturday, January, 2015.

Sport Bay of Plenty's marketing and sponsorship manager, Melanie Short, is pleased with the outcome and is looking forward to a close working relationship with SMC Events.

"They ran the Half last year and it being the 25th it was pretty cool," Short said. "We are happy to continue to work with them. They have some great ideas. Everything is underway at the moment and those announcements will come out in the next few weeks.

"The other exciting concept is the Mount Multi Sport Festival which still highlights the Port of Tauranga Half as the pinnacle event but brings in a whole lot of other events, so that we can share it among the whole community.

"The spectators can participate or the support crews can participate.

"We just want to give people more reasons to stay and enjoy what the Mount and Bay of Plenty have to offer."