Record set as 1300 kids sprint to the finish line

A record number of kids participated in yesterday's Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon in Hastings. Photo / Warren Buckland

A record number of kids swam, biked and ran to the finishing line at yesterday's Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon.

Almost 1300 kids, aged 7 to 15, turned out for the Hastings event, the biggest participation in its long history.

A spokesman for the event said this was "a significant jump" on last year's number of about 1100.

It had been "a perfect day," which ran "like clockwork", as the scores of children swam lengths at the outdoor pool at Frimley Aquatic Centre, rode their bikes around Frimley Park and then did a 1.5km run through the park itself.

The weather was cloudy with easterly breezes, which made for excellent conditions.

"It it had been as hot as it's been a couple of days ago it would have been very difficult. But the kids enjoyed themselves and the weather did its part.

"The noise at the prizegiving was unbelievable."

St John Hawke's Bay acting districts operations manager Brendon Hutchinson said there were six patients for the day.

Four children had minor grazes received while bike riding. Two children were taken to hospital in a stable condition with moderate injuries, one with a neck injury and one with leg and neck injuries.

Mr Hutchinson said given there were 1300 kids taking part, it went relatively smoothly for St John staff.

The Sanitarium-sponsored event has been going for 23 years.

With 14 TRYathlons held throughout New Zealand, it is the largest event of its type in the world for children.