A UCOL business student who had served as part of the youth group attached to the South Taranaki District Council, Luff had organised other events for youth in Waverley and got the idea for a triathlon after being suggested members of the public when putting together a list of potential local activities.
In a well organised morning, police monitored Weraroa Rd on State Highway 3 and halted traffic as scores of youngsters dashed across the road to head up to the public playground on Chester St to collect their cycles.
The children's group had just completed one lap of the 33m pool, many in regular T-shirts and shorts, before biking from Chester St up to Fookes St in a 1.5km circuit down the neighbouring Bear and Hussey Sts before returning to Chester and the Border Rugby Club grounds.
Once there, each dragged themselves around three laps of the rugby field before reaching the finish line.
For the teenagers in the 13-17 grade, it was two laps of the pool and the longer biking course down Gloag St in the centre of the township, before looping back to the rugby club for five laps of the field.
The adults swam the same distance, but had to bike to the far northern end of town on Swinbourne St before turning at Bassey St, which runs parallel to the main highway, on their dash back to the rugby ground for three running or walking laps.
At the conclusion, over 50 spot prizes were handed out from the event sponsors, before a free BBQ was started up for the participants and their families.
Next on the triathlon scene will be the Wanganui Multisport Club's triathlon and multisport race this Sunday, starting at 9am at the clubrooms on Anzac Parade. It is the fourth club event of the season, with the last being the Escape from Kaitoke race at Pauri Lake in April.
Waverley results
8-12 years: Camryn Caffell 1; Piper Neil 2; Jack Clifton 3.
13-17 years: Charlotte Lawrence 1; Louise Clifton 2; Marshall Jane 3.
18+ years Individual: Thomas Kalin 1; Alastair Honeyfield 2; Sid Wyatt 3.
18+ years Teams: Hodges 1; Loaf 2; Waugh Warriors 3.