Hundreds enjoy 'magic day' during annual Tremain's Triathlon

This was the first Tremains Triathalon for Hayley Dransfield (middle), who competed with her HBDHB teammates, cyclist Jo Wright (left) and runner, Tracy Higham. Photo/Warren Buckland

Nearly a thousand people swam, ran, or cycled around Napier yesterday for the annual Tremain's Triathlon.

The Triathlon has been running since 1994, and has become the largest multi-team event in the region - with 287 teams, or over 900 people competing yesterday.

Crowds gathered in Pandora yesterday morning when the race began, with competitors taking to the waters of Pandora Pond. While some stuck to the traditional 600m swim, or 1700m kayak, others enjoyed the new category of 1300m stand-up paddling.

Cheered on by spectators, competitors then ran or walked a scenic 5km around Pandora Pond to finish at Westshore, with a 20km bike ride out past Bay View as the final leg.

Among them was first-timer Hayley Dransfield, who competed alongside her teammates Jo and Tracy - all occupational therapists at the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.

"It was pretty cool, I really enjoyed it," she said. "I'd do it again next year".

Ms Dransfield took on the cycling leg of the race, even though she "hadn't been on a bike in a while".

But after some spin classes, and practice rides, she said yesterday's 20km was "definitely doable".

"I knew I'd get there if I kept pedalling," she said.

Scenes of jubilation greeted Ms Dransfield and other competitors as they crossed the finish line back at Westshore - where food, drinks, and live music waited.

Prizegiving after the race saw the first place teams in each category receive a medal, with spot prizes also handed out.

Yesterday a tired Tremain Real Estate director Simon Tremain said the event had gone well, and he hoped participants enjoyed the Triathlon.

"The day started off cold but then the sun came out and just made for a magic day," he said.

Mr Tremain said they tried to extend their company ethos - ensuring people were looked after, and creating a good environment - to the wider Hawke's Bay community through the day.

The event is organised in association with Triathlon Hawke's Bay and other co-sponsors.

It was too soon to know how much had been raised by the event, but it would be going back into "our community through Triathlon Hawke's Bay". ​