Editorial: Scoring tri while kid great way to go

Having kids exposed to sport other than the traditional staples will result in well-rounded kids. Photo / File

In 2004, about 1000 kids took part in Northland's first "kids triathlon".

It was the Northern Advocate and Allens Northland Kids Tri-athlon at Onerahi.

Our sports editor Tim Eves helped start the event. At the time there was an annual Weet-Bix Triathlon for kids. Tim found there were no plans to bring the event to Northland.

So Tim and some like-minded souls created the region's own.

Murray Healey was race director for that first event in March 2004.

Since, Healey has remained involved with the annual event - which also now involves Sport Northland - and has also developed the Northland Tri-Kids sports programme.

It was great to read this week that the programme, which goes into schools and introduces kids to triathlon, has secured major sponsorship and is now known as the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain SBR Kids NZ.

What's more, the Northland programme could expand, Healey says. "The dream has always been to take a programme like this nationwide."

Having kids exposed to sport other than the traditional staples will result in well-rounded kids. Not everyone is suited to rugby, hockey or netball.

World champions lurk in Northland, I'm sure, and exposing them to the sport early can result in great things. As a relative latecomer to triathlons, and someone who had to be told how to lay his gear out in transition, I would have relished the chance to have a go as a kid.

Huge kudos must go to people like Eves for their vision, and Healey for creating what is becoming a healthy legacy for our kids.