Top Names Confirmed for New Plymouth World Cup

MEDIA RELEASE
19 October 2006

Top Names Confirmed for New Plymouth World Cup

More than 120 local and international elite triathletes have confirmed that they will be competing in the 2006 New Plymouth BG World Cup race on 12 November 2006.

Those already to have confirmed include the top three internationally ranked elite men Javier Gomez (ESP), Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) and Hunter Kemper (USA). Elite women’s World Champion Emma Snowsill (AUS) will also be competing.

Triathlon New Zealand High Performance Director, Stephen Farrell, said the 2006 field is larger than last year’s line-up. The men’s field is now full and there is a large waiting list.

“The 2005 New Plymouth race featured a 57-strong mens field and 41 women competitors,” Farrell said.

“This year’s field includes about 30 additional athletes and some top international names.”

New Zealand will also be well represented at the event with 16 of the country’s top triathletes confirmed to compete. Included in the kiwi line up are Bevan Docherty, Clark Ellice, James Elvery, Kris Gemmell, Blair Jordan, Ben Pulham, Shane Reed, Liam Scopes, and Sam Walker.

Competing in the elite women’s race will be New Zealanders Kelly Bruce, Anna Hamilton, Andrea Hewitt, Taryn McLeod, Nicky Samuels, Sam Warriner and Evelyn Williamson.

Elite men’s competitor Shane Reed said his preparation for the race is going well and he expects to be in good form on the day.

“I’m in much better shape for the New Plymouth race than I was for the Lausanne World Championships and will be aiming to put in a good performance,”Reed said.

“Last year I finished the New Plymouth race in 15th place so will be looking to improve on that result this year.”

Fresh from competing in the Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup race, Sam Warriner said her preparation is also going well and is pleased to be back home training on local roads.

“It’s fantastic to be able to finish off the year competing in an event on home soil. I spent last weekend in New Plymouth and had the opportunity to train on the race course,” Warriner said.

“While the field is looking strong, I’m putting the pressure of that aside and focussing solely on performing to the very best of my ability. On the day, I’ll be looking to give it 100 percent and finish what has already been an awesome season on a high.”

Warriner said she has a lot of friends and family who will be at the New Plymouth event cheering her on.

“Just knowing that I have that kind of support behind me on race day is hugely motivating.”

This year’s New Plymouth BG World Cup race marks the closing event in the World Triathlon Festival which also features the first race on 11 November in the Contact Energy National Series and a Weet-Bix Tryathlon on 10 November.

For more information visit www.worldtriathlonfestival.com

Provisional start lists for the ITU New Plymouth BG World Cup race are available at www.triathlon.org.

ENDS

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