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Men’s points table leader Tristan Calwell at the Christchurch National Series race

MEDIA RELEASE

Register Now for Wellington’s National Triathlon Series event

Central Wellington is set to go triathlon mad in less than a month’s time, when the New Zealand Standard Distance Championships and the final event in the Contact Energy National Triathlon Series comes to town on 31 March 2007.

Triathlon New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Dave Beeche, said the day marks the conclusion of the National Triathlon Series, New Zealand’s only national series of events for the nation’s fastest growing sport – triathlon.

“Many triathlon events are targeted at specific age groups or are only run in the main centres whereas the National Series spans the length and breadth of New Zealand,” Dave said.

The two key races of the day will be the Contact Energy New Zealand Cup race Elite/Under-23 race, the Contact Energy New Zealand Cup Age Group race, which will decide the national Standard Distance Champions in age-group, Under-23 and Elite categories.

The day will also decide the overall winner of the Contact Energy New Zealand Cup, which has been contested at each National Series race since the series began in November last year.

Dave said the Elite/Under-23 race will also be an International Triathlon Union (ITU) Continental Cup race, which allows athletes to compete for points to allow them entry into the ITU World Cup series

“Athletes from Australia and Oceania will be invited to compete in the Continental Cup race and we expect to see some of New Zealand’s top athletes on the start line as well.”

The Wellington race will be staged on a spectacular course that concludes just behind Te Papa Museum. The 1.5km ocean swim starts at the marina, with transition located at Waitangi Park.

Competitors in the elite race will then complete a five-lap 40km cycle climbing three-quarters of the way up Mount Victoria along Carlton Gore Road. The Age Group race cycle leg is a 40km out and back loop along Oriental Parade to Scorching Bay.

Both races conclude with a 10km run along the city’s waterfront.

Dave said with some tight competition for the Contact Energy New Zealand Cup title, the final race in the series is set for excitement.

“The men’s points table is currently led by Auckland athlete Tristan Calwell, while Christchurch woman Gina Ferguson is leading the women’s category,” Dave said.

“The top contenders are very close on the points table so we look forward to seeing who will take out the title in Wellington.”

To register for the Wellington National Series event visit www.triathlon.org.nz

ENDS