Rotorua’s Blue Lake Multisport Festival celebrates 40 years of racing

The Blue Lake Multisport Festival marked its 40th anniversary on Auckland Anniversary Weekend. Photo / Andrew Warner

Family podiums and returning competitors featured at this year’s Blue Lake Multisport Festival, as the event marked its 40th anniversary.

The event, which began in the mid-1980s as a grassroots initiative by the Rotorua Roundtable Service Club, brings together participants spanning multiple generations, reflecting its long-running appeal.

Now run by the Rotorua Association of Triathlon and Multisport, it draws athletes of all abilities.

One of the original competitors returned on Auckland Anniversary Weekend this year to celebrate four decades of the event and took part in the Blue Lake Top 10 Taster Tri.

Margaret (Maggie) Dalziel has travelled from Tauranga for the event since 1986 and reflected on the changes in 40 years.

Dalziel said while the gear had changed the heart of the event hadn’t.

“The wetsuits are more sophisticated, and now I’ve got a lovely tri bike with lots of gears, it’s very light, and a great little aerodynamic bike.”

When asked why she thought the event had endured for 40 years, Dalziel said it was because it had an “awesome course”.

“The lake is beautiful to swim in and it’s a little challenging ride, which is okay. The run around the lake is also beautiful.”

Dalziel still competes in several triathlons each year, along with ocean swims, waka ama and running events.

She is also a current world champion in her age group at the World Aquabike Championships.

“Age is not a limit, you can keep going and still enjoy sport even when you get older.”

When organisers challenged her to return for the 50th anniversary, when she’ll be 86, her response was immediate.

Margaret (Maggie) Dalziel has travelled from Tauranga for Blue Lake Multisport Festival since 1986. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

“Now there’s a goal! This is one of the best courses and I love a challenge.”

Brothers Shaun, Daniel and Jamie of the van Praagh family made it a weekend to remember, claiming all three male podium spots in the non-wetsuit section of the 2km open water swim.

The family have been coming to the event for eight years, and with parents Paul and Nicky also taking part, it truly was a family affair.

Shaun van Praagh told the Rotorua Daily Post it was a “nice little surprise” to share the podium with his family.

“It’s usually just a bit of fun and participating, so to cross the line and then figure out we’re all on the podium was definitely one to remember.”

He said the event had become a family tradition.

“There’s a bunch of little kids in the mix now as well, and we’re all fighting off the dad bods, so it’s nice to have something in the calendar every year that keeps us coming back.”

The van Praagh brothers Shaun, Daniel and Jamie claiming all three male podium spots in the non-wetsuit section of the 2km open water swim. Photo / ScottieT Photography

Long-time competitor Ray Hewlett has also supported the event for many years.

“Being my first tri since Ironman in 2017, I was chuffed just to finish,” Hewlett said in a statement.

He said at the age of 78 he felt “privileged” to make the start line and be part of the 40th anniversary weekend.

“It was a bonus to beat a few younger competitors.”

Rotorua Triathlon Club president Nicola Smallwood said in a statement these stories captured exactly why the event stood the test of time.

“This event has never just been about results,” she said.

“It’s about families and friends racing together, having fun and enjoying the special place that is Rotorua and Lake Tikitapu together.”

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.