Reid and his coach both in the Tinman

Tayler Reid

GISBORNE triathlete Tayler Reid came off his bike in training yesterday but is expected to line up against coach Stephen Sheldrake in the standard distance of the Sovereign Tinman in Mt Maunganui on Sunday.

Reid, 19, is in the Triathlon New Zealand national talent squad but is no longer a junior. The Tinman is seen as an ideal opportunity for him to step up in distance to the standard course — 1500-metre swim, 36-kilometre bike and 10km run.

Reid’s Gisborne-based coach Sheldrake is also tackling the standard course, but in the 40-to-44 age group.

Sheldrake described himself as a “participant” rather than a “competitor” but he may have some age-group goals in mind.

Reid’s training accident yesterday resulted in cuts and grazes, but they are not considered serious enough to stop him from competing on Sunday.

The Tinman is the second race in the seven-event Sovereign Tri Series, and the standard distance event doubles as the North Island championships.

Event director Stuart Dwight, who was raised in Gisborne, said the Tinman — now in its 27th year — included Hamish Carter, Cameron Brown, Heidi Alexander and Nicole Cope among its previous winners.

The men’s race for line honours was shaping as an intriguing battle among a group of “next generation” athletes.

Gisborne’s Reid and Aucklanders Cooper Rand, 22, Jay Wallwork, 20, and Matt Franklin, 22, should be in that group.

The organisers’ aim has been to provide an event for everyone. Events range from the 100m swim/1km run “splash ’n’ dash” for five- to 10-year-olds, through 300m swim/9km bike/3km youth and short events, to 750m/18km bike/5km run sprint events, to the standard distance.