Maori group keen to Tri Copenhagen

GREAT DANES: Rotorua Ironman triathletes (from left) Jacque Webber, Shirley Day and Pauline Warbrick are part of a group committed to spreading the word about Maori in sport. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Two Rotorua Ironman athletes are helping to lead the way for Maori participation in the sport, and they're taking their message all the way to Denmark.

Copenhagen might seem the most unlikely place to compete in an endurance triathlon, but the destination was picked by Papamoa triathlete Des Harris, who called for others to spread the word about Maori in sport.

Shirley Day, 53, and Jacque Webber, 44, leave for Denmark today. Their training partner Pauline Warbrick, 41, was forced to pull out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but she is keen to get back on the Ironman train in future endeavours.

"Des wants to race in a different country every year," said Webber.

"He raced in Sweden last year and Spain is next year. We know Des through IronMaori; that's really how we all met each other and how we got started.

"When Des did Sweden last year, he said he was the only Maori, so we hope to inspire others that anything is possible."

The other member of the group is Piripi Rangihaeata from Wellington.

They've got a special kit made up so other competitors and spectators can recognise they are part of the same team.

"I'm excited to be participating as Maori in a team travelling together," said Webber.

An Ironman is a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run.

Webber competed at Ironman New Zealand this year, and Day made her Ironman debut at last year's Taupo event.

"This is about taking part and encouraging others. It's about having a big goal, especially when we're going to the other side of the world," Day said.

"Denmark would have been the last place in the world I would have picked to visit, but if someone offers you a wonderful opportunity, you have to take it and work it all out later.

"We are all late bloomers when it comes to triathlon, I often wonder what I would be like if I'd started earlier."

Warbrick said she was devastated to have had to pull out, but she was determined to recover strongly and get back on her bike.

"It's back to the drawing board and I'll reassess my goals. There's always another event."