Mount Maunganui triathlete Margaret Dalziel, 75, bound for world champs

Margaret Dalziel at Pilot Bay where she regularly swims. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Mount Maunganui’s Margaret “Maggie” Dalziel, a member of Triathlon Tauranga, is set to represent New Zealand at the World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Spain from October 17-20.

At 75 years old, she’s the only NZ team member in the 75-79 female category travelling to this year’s event in Torremolinos, Andalusia.

“It’s really exciting. I feel privileged and very lucky being this age and still being able to do triathlons,” Dalziel said, acknowledging that despite her NZ selection, she must cover her own expenses.

To qualify for the world championships, athletes need to either win a qualifying triathlon or finish in the top 10% of the winner’s time.

Dalziel has been a triathlete for many years, participating from the early days of iconic events like the Surfbreaker and Tinman triathlons. The EVES Surfbreaker Triathlon, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is one of New Zealand’s oldest races.

“My first triathlon was in 1985 and I’ve been hooked ever since. A couple of men who had a sports shoes shop ran it at the Mount.”

Dalziel, supported by partner Andy Garrett, said she’s had some years off competing.

“Some years I do other things. I love sports, have run marathons, competed in the waka ama and open water swimming events, but I seem to come back to triathlons.

“I do swim-training at Baywave with Team Shorebreak and I love swimming in the sea. I ride from home with Andy and join a group ride with the Sunday Cyclists who normally ride from Paengaroa.”

“I run by myself because I’ve had a little injury, so I don’t want to be dragged out by other people.”

Dalziel has competed at four previous world triathlon events, with a podium finish at one.

In 2014, she came second in the Kinloch OTU Sprint Triathlon and Mixed Relay Oceania Championships (65-69 female AG Sprint) with a time of 1:48:12.

In 2015, competing in Chicago at the ITU World Triathlon Age-Group Championships, she had a bike issue, placing 22nd in the 65-69 female AG Sprint with a time of 1:56:41.

Two years later, at the 2017 Auckland World Masters Games, she was fifth in the 65-69 female age bracket with a time of 1:35:27.

Her last international triathlon was in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2019 at the ITU World Triathlon Age-Group Championships where she came seventh, this time in the 70-74 age category, with a time of 1:47:41.

“I was very proud of my seventh world placing as I’d broken my ankle four months before the Switzerland event. It showed me that it’s not the end of the world; you can train even with an injury,” said Dalziel.

The couple would spend five weeks abroad, arriving in Spain five days before the race, to adjust to the heat and combat jet lag. Afterwards, they planned a holiday.

Asked how many triathlons she has participated in, she laughed, saying she has “absolutely no idea”, but she encourages local women to join the Tauranga Calley Homes Women’s Triathlon in February.

“It’s a great entry-level for anybody who wants to do a little bit of training. I’d love everyone to have a go at women’s tri. It’s the best event there is. A great atmosphere and you get young people and everybody between, all shapes and sizes.”

Other members of Triathlon Tauranga also selected for the 2024 world championships include Monique Spedding (16-19 female), Ashton Guitry (16-19 male), Blake Miller (20-24 male), Tayla Smit (25-29 female), Charlie Taylor (25-29 male), Zara Fowell (30-34 female), Peter McLeod (45-49 male), David Spedding (50-54 male), Stephen Crerar (60-64 male), and Richard Jones (60-64 male).

- SunLive