Kids jump at chance to enter tri series

The final event in the ASB Kids Triathlon Series 2013 was held on Monday night at Lakeview School.

Children aged from two-and-a-half to 17 paid $2 to enter the swimming, cycling and running competition, racing different distances depending on their age.

The previous triathlon session, on February 25, had 503 participants but despite the cold weather on Monday, 462 kids still participated.

This was the 24th year of the event which has been organised by Judy Brown from the Wairarapa Multisports Club for the last 17 years.

Mrs Brown said the triathlons were about getting kids active and away from watching television or sitting at a computer.

"The kids are just able to have go at something different.

"One of the kids might end up being Hamish Carter further down the track," she said.

Mrs Brown said the triathlons could not have gone ahead without support from about 60 volunteers who marshalled the area and took race times. "There's a lot of people that help out that make it run smoothly."

She said the oldest triathlete was a 17-year-old who was in his fourteenth year of participation.

Prizes included bean bags, helmets, a bike and the major prize of an ASB Headstart Account with a balance of $500.

Mrs Brown was impressed by the number of kids that entered the triathlons this year.

"Palmerston North had 695 kids at their one last week but our region is a lot smaller and we get 500."