MEDIA RELEASE
“Couch to 10km in 19 weeks.”
The inaugural DUAL Scholarship Programme.

Monday 1 December 2014:- At 6.30pm today, 14 go-getting Aucklanders will be putting down the TV remote, getting off the couch, and taking a big step towards sporting success and a total lifestyle change.

The Partners Life DUAL is a unique multisport event organised by Total Sport, and staged on one of the most scenic landscapes in New Zealand - the protected and pest-free Hauraki Gulf islands of Motutapu and Rangitoto.

For the first time this year, Total Sport has offered scholarships to help participants wanting a lifestyle change to get fit and healthy, and ready to take on the Partners Life DUAL 10km run and walk event on 28 March.

Many of the participants self-nominated, while others received nominations from concerned friends and family.

The Partners Life DUAL event organiser Nick Carroll says that the scholarship was designed to offer non-sporty friends and family of the Total Sport ‘fan club’ the opportunity to get involved.

“We wanted to extend our Total Sport ‘family’ by offering some support to willing participants who were up for a challenge and really wanted to make a lasting change in their lives.

“The scholarship winners met at an intro session a week ago, and people talked openly about their motivation to get involved, set milestones and personal goals, and got to know each other a little bit before the fun really begins. They are a really great bunch of people, and we’re excited to be working with them,” says Nick Carroll.

Boot-camp starts at 6.30 tonight in the Auckland Domain under the guidance of experienced personal trainers and nutrition experts Claire Smith and Kirsty Salisbury.

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Partners’ Life DUAL Scholarship Winners:
- Lynda Meha-Lu – Te Atatu South - Amosa Samuelu - Mangere
- Denise Ruwhiu – Sunnyvale- - James Vunileva – Mt Roskill-
- Joanne Gardner – Murray’s Bay- - Aso Vavau - Otara-
- Leigh Anderson – Mt Albert- - Nicola Milne - Onehunga
- Tina Millar - Howick- - Hayley Good - Orewa-
- Georgina Greville - Bayswater- - Ankur Panesar - Avondale-
- Josephine Samuelu – Mangere - Mel Kaur-Panesar – Avondale

About The Dual

The Partners Life DUAL is a participant event on Rangitoto and Motutapu offering trail run and walk, off-road triathlon and mountain bike options. It is a once-yearly opportunity, and is the only occasion where mountain bikes are allowed to be taken over to the island.

It’s an unrivalled, fun day out for serious athletes as well as recreational participants, with onsite childcare, entertainment, catering and camping options.

Taking part in the event helps raise funds for the conservation and restoration work on the islands by the Motutapu Restoration Trust. Entry numbers for the 2015 Partners Life DUAL Motutapu - Rangitoto Traverse are limited by conservation and ferry transport requirements, so early entry is advised.

Event options include;

• 6km Run / Walk
• 10km Run / Walk
• 21km Half Marathon
• 42.2km Marathon
• 26km Mountain Bike
• 42km Mountain Bike
• Off-Road Triathlon (1km Ocean Swim | 26km MTB | 10km Run)

ENDS