Hannah Berry Chasing Hatrick At Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half

Bay of Plenty multisport legend Hannah Berry will be back on the start line of the Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half this Saturday chasing a hatrick of wins on her home course.

While chasing her third consecutive title, Hannah Berry is seeking her fifth victory in this iconic event, after wins in 2019, 2020, 2024 & 2025. She heads into this Saturday’s elite women’s race after a stellar 2025 which included 4th placing at IRONMAN World Championships in Kona. This was the best finish by a NZ female athlete since Erin Baker’s second placing in 1993.

Berry is unlikely to have things all her own way on Saturday with strong competition from NZ’s other top long-distance triathlete, Rebecca Clarke. Clarke is a two-time winner of the Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half with victories in 2022 & 2023.

In looking ahead to Saturday’s event Hannah Berry said - “racing in my home town is the best way to start the year. While I am in my off season after a big 2025, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to race the Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half. I’m looking forward to sharing the course and weekend with many friends and celebrating our sport and community together.”

The Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half is an iconic one for the triathlon and Bay of Plenty community, with crowds lining the café filled streets of Mt Maunganui to cheer on the athletes. The cry of “Go Hannah” has become a race feature in recent years.

Rebecca Clarke shares Berry’s love of the Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half saying - “I love starting off the racing year at Tauranga Half. I’ve now raced in eight of them and have a lot of great memories from each race. Coming off the Mount track down to Pilot Bay with the crowd cheering is a highlight. I look forward to a great battle with the female field again.”

The elite female field is a roll call of the top NZ long distance triathletes, featuring 2008 race winer Kate Bevilaqua, last year’s runner-up Samantha Kingsford, and third place-getter from 2025 - Hannah Knighton. Another top entry is that elite women’s race is that of Nicole Van Der Kaay. She makes her first foray into long distance triathlon after excelling at the Olympic distance, representing NZ at the Paris Olympics, as well as winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the mixed team’s relay in 2016.

Festival Director Lauren Watson said – “we are stoked to have Bay of Plenty multisport legend Hannah Berry and two-time champion Rebecca Clark back for this year’s Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half, as well as a host of other top NZ triathletes. We also look forward to the crowds coming back out in Mount Maunganui to support these athletes.”

Also on the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival programme for Saturday is an iline Construction Aquabike event, and the Waitoa Mount Festival Half Marathon which has 5km, 10km and half marathon options.

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