Ray Hewlett is competing in the 40th anniversary of the Blue Lake Multisport Festival in Rotorua with his daughters Justine Randell (left) and Kerryn Barker. Photo / Supplied
Ray Hewlett is competing in the 40th anniversary of the Blue Lake Multisport Festival in Rotorua with his daughters Justine Randell (left) and Kerryn Barker. Photo / Supplied
A lovers’ swim, a Lance Armstrong boost and an assortment of royal titles.
These are just some of the highlights from the history of Rotorua’s Blue Lake Multisport Festival, which will mark its 40th anniversary this month.
Among triathletes taking to the Lake Tikitapu track on January 25 will be78-year-old Rotorua local Ray Hewlett.
He will be doing the sprint triathlon - one of five events taking place as part of the two-day festival held annually on Auckland Anniversary Weekend.
This year, he hopes to race alongside his daughters, Justine Randell and Kerryn Barker.
While his running has been limited in recent seasons due to calf issues, Hewlett said the event’s 40th anniversary was “a good excuse to have another go”.
Hewlett said he did a “trial run around the lake” on January 7, “and managed to do that okay, very slowly”.
“That’s a confidence booster that I can make the distance.
Ray Hewlett is competing in the 40th anniversary of the Blue Lake Multisport Festival in Rotorua. Photo / Supplied
“Whether my body holds out remains to be seen, but it’s just good to be part of it. It’s a good day and it’s been a popular event for many years, especially for out-of-towners.”
Hewlett recalled a simpler era when helmets were not worn, and results were tallied by hand before timing contractors became standard.
“It’s just evolved and kept up with the times as far as the gear that people use, the training is perhaps more specific now … ”
In 2011, then-newly retired US pro cyclist Lance Armstrong entered the race, which “helped a lot of entries because people wanted to race against him”.
Armstrong later pulled out due to injury and, in 2012, was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping.
For newcomers, Hewlett’s advice was: “Pace yourself and enjoy it -especially the atmosphere near the finish line.”
Event manager Janette Douglas said organisers hoped to get about 450 entries. Entries were tracking above last year’s, which had just over 400.
The Blue Lake Multisport Festival women's sprint triathlon in 2020. Photo / Andrew Warner
She said the club had kept it “really grassroots” over the years with a welcoming environment for people new to the sport.
“Those at the performance end love coming here as well because it’s a relaxed vibe and it’s a great course and it’s a great place to visit.”
Rotorua Association of Triathlon and Multisport Club committee member Grant Utteridge said three events - the reverse aquathon, lake swim, and triathlon - had not changed in 40 years.
“Over the years, we’ve just added in … shorter distances for people that weren’t able to do the whole lot like [the] 750m swim, the short sprint triathlon taster tri and also the kids’ event.”
When Armstrong entered, “entries went through the roof”, he said.
Lance Armstrong visited Auckland in 2016. Photo / Greg Bowker
Organisers have introduced two new titles to mark the 40th anniversary - the Red Stag prince and princess of the lake.
The titles would recognise athletes who completed three short-course events - the reverse aquathlon, open water swim and the “taster tri”, a statement said.
These honours would sit alongside the Red Stag king and queen of the lake titles for long-course athletes.
The festival would also host the historic Hinemoa and Tūtānekai Swim, first held in 1950.
Based on the Te Arawa legend of Hinemoa’s swim to reach her lover, the 2km crossing required athletes to compete without wetsuits to be eligible for the trophy.
In the statement, club president Boney Smallwood said completing an event at the festival was “like nothing else”.
