Auckland's Lynley Allison will join the myriad of athletes competing in this weekend's annual Blue Lake Multisport Festival. The 2004 Ironman USA Champion - one of New Zealand's top long distance triathletes - will take part in all three events in the two-day Kaingaroa Timberlands-sponsored festival, which swings into action tomorrowmorning with the aquathon. The festival combines an idyllic setting at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) with top class triathletes from around the Bay of Plenty and North Island chasing the King and Queen of the Lake crowns. Allison, who is training for the New Zealand Ironman in Taupo in March, will compete in the aquathon, 2km swim and triathlon events to be eligible for the Queen of the Lake crown, which is held by Amanda Dunn. Defending King of the Lake, Stephen Farrell has indicated his unavailability this weekend and is, instead, sending down an outstanding cast of young triathletes from the North Harbour triathlon club. Rotorua Association of Triathletes and Multisport president John Lavery said he had received 130 entries for the event Meanwhile, Monday's annual Bendon Women's Triathlon is expecting a packed field, with more than 500 entries already confirmed and 800 women expected for the 400m swim, 10km cycle and 2.5km run or walk. Fifty per cent of competitors will be first timers. The event starts at 9am from Pilot Bay, with roads from there to the end of Marine Parade closed for the cycle course. Entries have come from all over the North Island.
