Record number of Rotorua kids take part in the Weet-Bix TRYathlon

A record number of Rotorua kids crossed the finish line in the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon.

It was the fifth event for Rotorua and the 1119 kids that took part smashed the old record of 930 from two years ago.

Sanitarium sponsorship manager Nigel Chenery said the day had been amazing.

"There are nerves and excitement, people just chilling out, it's a cool family atmosphere."

He said the kids were turning up eager to put their bikes into the station from 7am and most would stay for the prizegiving at 12pm.

There was lots for the kids to do before or after their race including colouring-in competitions, inflatables, a gumboot throw and an obstacle course.

"It's a nice day for the parents to chill out as well, just enjoy the sunshine while the kids do their thing."

Sanitarium gave out more than 3000 Weet-Bix at their breakfast station.

Thirty-one school groups had registered this year and there was support from Sport Bay of Plenty, Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and Rotorua Lakes Council.

"Without their support we couldn't put on an event like this," Chenery said.

"Look at the kids, they are absolutely exhausted. They have given it their all and they are still so stoked."

Image 1 of 9: Ratema Rika, 9, left, with his cousin and Mihikore Te Rangi, 10.

Rotorua triathlete and ambassador for the event Sam Osborne competed in a Weet-Bix triathlon when he was a kid.

"I was part of a team, I did the bike, I couldn't actually swim back then," he said.

He said he wanted to be an ambassador because it was great to see kids getting into the sport as early as possible.

"The more we can get at the base level, the more we'll see at a professional level."

He was joined at the finish line by fellow ambassadors former Silver Fern Irene Van Dyk and slalom canoeist Luuka Jones.

There were medals, apples, high fives, cheers and hugs from mums as the kids raced through.

Cohen Bourne, 8, said the day had been good and the bike was his favourite part.

His parents, grandma and little sister had all come out to support him.

Karla Bourne, his mum, said he had been training for the past month at least three times a week.

"It's nerve-racking and exhausting, running from one spot to the other," she said.

"We were really trying to support him because we are so proud."

Friends Angelina Hibberd, 11, and Jamie Chambers, 11, were nervously waiting to take part in the TRYathlon as a team.

Angelina said she was feeling quite nervous about the swim, Jamie would be taking over for the bike, but they would run the last leg together.

"We didn't want to do it by ourselves," Jamie said.

Kylie Erdbeer, Jamie's mum, said it had been a good event.

"We're going to meet them at the finish line, I am definitely proud of their efforts."