NO TURNING BACK: The youngest competitor in the Whanau Tryathlon this Saturday is 5-year-old Mathew Walker.
NO TURNING BACK: The youngest competitor in the Whanau Tryathlon this Saturday is 5-year-old Mathew Walker.
All arrangements are in place for the inaugural Whanau Tryathlon being held at Lake Ngatu this Saturday and while organisers noted there was, unfortunately, a bit of a clash with Awanui Day celebrations down the road they weren't overly concerned, noting well over 200 entries had already registered long beforehandfor this year's event.
The action is set to get under way shortly after 9am when the Muriwhenua kapa haka group will powhiri the tryathletes and is due to finish about 2pm when prizegiving takes place.
The event this year comprises two triathlons: one for adults with a child (5-14 years) who do a 100m swim, 4km cycle and a 1km run; and the main event, a 300m swim, 20km cycle and 8km run.
Organiser Louisa Cooper reminded all involved that the tryathlon was, as the name suggested, "about participation on the day, training and completing it, not [so much] about being the fastest," and invited the local community to come up and cheer on the tryathletes as they made their way around the course.
The event will be officially wrapped up next Wednesday however, with a celebratory dinner and a debrief. Dinner participants asked to bring a plate of healthy kai to share.
