An Exciting Mount Festival of Multisport scheduled

An Exciting Mount Festival of Multisport scheduled for January 2017
The third edition of the Mount Festival of Multisport is set for the first weekend of January 2017 with a range of athletic and community events scheduled in Mount Maunganui.
The Mount Festival is built around the iconic Port of Tauranga Half, and includes events for people of all ages and athlete abilities such as the Under Armour Mount Run and Jetts Dash for Cash, and incorporates community events such as The Big Little Markets and Night Owl Cinema.
Another iconic summer sport which is part of the festival programme is the NZ Beach Volleyball Champs on Mount Maunganui’s Main Beach.
The 2017 Port of Tauranga Half is the headline event for the Mount Festival of Multisport and has assembled New Zealand’s top long distance triathletes for the men’s and women’s race on Saturday, 7 January.
The event doubles as the New Zealand long distance champs, with current champion Braden Currie looking to defend his title against a host of NZ long distance legends. To retain his NZ crown, Currie will need to beat ten time winner – Cameron Brown, 2013 winner Graham O’Grady, and rising star – Matt Franklin.
New Zealand’s most versatile multi-sport athlete Braden Currie will be on the Port of Tauranga Half start line in 2017 for the fourth consecutive year. In 2014 he was third behind Cameron Brown, in 2015 he was the first kiwi home and second overall behind Australian great Craig Alexander, and in 2016 he finished on top of the podium.
Currie has had an outstanding year in a variety of multi-sport races and disciplines. His victories in 2016 include the NZ Olympic Distance Triathlon Champs, XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship and the Taupo 70.3 in December.
Cameron Brown is chasing his 11th title in this event, with his Port of Tauranga roll call including seven straight titles from 1998-2004, and wins in 2007, 2012 & 2014.
The Port of Tauranga Half women’s field also has the defending champ returning with Amelia Rose Watkinson back after an outstanding year on the Asian circuit. She started 2016 with a 12 minute 56 second victory in the Port of Tauranga Half before going on to win 10 events in Asian.
Watkinson will have strong competition in 2017 from the likes of 2011 runner up – Anna Cleaver and 2015 third place getter – Julia Grant.
The Mount Festival of Multisport kicks off on Friday with Registrations and bike racking on Pilot Bay for the Port of Tauranga Half, and the culinary delights of The Street Food Union from 5pm – 9pm in Coronation Park.
The Saturday programme features the Port of Tauranga Half starting at 6:15am, the Under Armour Mount Run, NZ Beach Volleyball Champs, and the Jetts Dash for Cash. Saturday is rounded out on Mt Drury with the Port of Tauranga Half prize-giving, followed by the Night Owl Cinema screening “Eddie the Eagle” at 8:30pm.
The Under Armour Mount Run starts and finishes on Pilot Bay and takes in the picturesque Mount Maunganui. The 5km distance takes runners around the base of the Mount, while the 9km event has runners heading around and up the Mount.
The Jetts Dash for Cash sees elite and enthusiastic athletes making a 400m dash down Mount Maunganui’s Pilot Bay.
The NZ Beach Volleyball Championship features New Zealand’s top players plus international teams from Japan and Germany. The tournament takes place over the weekend with finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
The Mount Festival of Multisport takes place from 6-8 January, with the festival village situated in Pilot Bay. Festival Director Wendy Boyce is looking to “create a festival of events and activity which the public can watch, enjoy or participate in at one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday destinations.”
Boyce said - “The Mount Festival of Multisport has something for everyone, from the elite fields in the Port of Tauranga Half, to the Under Armour Mount Run and Jetts Dash for Cash, and for those who just want to soak in some sunshine and sport, there is Beach Volleyball on the main beach”
Website: www.mountfestival.kiwi

© Scoop Media