Triathlon with a Twist in Waipukurau harnesses horses for St John ambulance

Claire Wilson, organiser of next Tuesday's Triathlon with a Twist, with daughter Anna on Barbie, one of the event sponsors, Jo Bonner, and son Tim Wilson on his bike.

Four legs or two wheels? Horsepower or pedal-power?

That's the choice facing competitors tackling the run leg at next week's second annual Triathlon with a Twist in Waipukurau, which will raise funds for the St John ambulance service in Porangahau.

The brainchild of noted CHB showjumper Claire Wilson, the January 23 event at her family's Mount Herbert Farm on Porangahau Rd will see competitors complete the ride leg of the triathlon on a horse or pony, or on a pushbike.

Mrs Wilson said the horse riders would complete a showjumping course in the farm's arena, while the bike riders would tackle a course the same length consisting of road cones, ramps and other obstacles.

Showjumping rules would apply to both sets of competitors, with riders incurring time penalties if they knocked over a showjumping rail or a road cone, she said.

"It was quite cool last year to see the bikes versus the horses and to see who was quicker - it was pretty close. And it was quite fun to see the bike riders trying to learn showjumping rules and doing things like walking the course."

A veteran equestrian competitor along with husband Simon, himself an Olympic Cup winner, Mrs Wilson came up with the Triathlon with a Twist over a few wines last year as a novel way to introduce people to the sport she loved.

"What I like is that it gets non-horsey people a little bit involved in a horsey type event. But you don't have to be a horsey type to compete - you can drag in some athletic running and swimming family members or friends. There's something for everyone," she said.

People can compete as individuals or in teams and the triathlon is open to all ages.

There are three course lengths depending on which class people enter at the event, where competitors will complete laps of the Wilson family's swimming pool and finish off with a run leg ranging in distance from 400m to 1.5km around the hills of the property.

Mrs Wilson said despite being "thrown together" in two weeks, last year's inaugural event attracted 80 entrants and raised $3000 for the Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust.

"We had people take part aged from 5 to 85 and we even had three generations - a grandmother and her daughter and granddaughter - on the one team last year.

"It was just a great bit of family fun," said Mrs Wilson, who added that sponsors had come on board with prizes including for best workplace, best school and best fancy dress. There would also be food available.

"I think it's going to be bigger and better this year."

Whereas last year's event was hastily arranged, Mrs Wilson has had far more time to organise this year's triathlon after breaking her leg two months ago in a fall from her horse.

The incident had even made the decision about which charity would receive the profits from this year's event a lot easier, she said.

"Let's just say I am now intimately aware of the good work that St John does."