Kinloch National Sprint Championships

31 January 2007

Tanner And Docherty Line Up For Kinloch National Sprint Championships

Two of New Zealand’s top elite athletes, Debbie Tanner and Bevan Docherty, are set to line up in this weekend’s Elite National Sprint Distance Championships in Kinloch.

The Contact Energy Sprint Distance Championships will be held at the same venue as last year’s Olympic distance National Championships, where Bevan Docherty took out the national honours after beating Hamish Carter.

This year Kinloch will host the shorter Sprint Distance Championships featuring a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre cycle around the Kinloch community, and a five kilometre run around the town centre.

Tanner [24], who last year finished first in the ITU Ishigaki World Cup race, and fourth at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, said she’s looking forward to kicking off her 2007 competitive season at the Kinloch race.

“This weekend will be will be my first race of the season and a sprint distance race will give me a good basis to start off with ahead of the Oceania Championships in March,” Debbie said.

“It’s great that the Sprint Championships are part of the National Series this year. I’ve enjoyed seeing the results of the first few races – the series is a fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming athletes and has been needed for a long time.”

Triathlon New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, Dave Beeche, said it’s great to have both Tanner and Docherty competing in this weekend’s race, which will also feature many of triathlon’s rising stars.

“For the youngsters coming through, competing alongside some of their idols like Tanner and Docherty will be a fantastic thrill,” Dave said.

As well as the elite Contact Energy New Zealand Cup Sprint Distance Championships, Sunday’s Contact Energy National Series event will also feature the U19 and U23 Sprint Distance Championships, and the Age Group Sprint Distance Championships.

The U19 race features some of New Zealand’s most talented young triathletes including former World Champion Rebecca Spence.

The Contact Energy National Triathlon Series

 The inaugural Triathlon New Zealand National Series aims to provide all New Zealanders over the age of 13 years with the opportunity to take part in a triathlon regardless of their ability or where they live in New Zealand.  Events have already taken place in New Plymouth, Auckland and Nelson, seeing more than 750 competitors take to the start line.  Further events will be held in: o Kinloch 3 February 2007 o Napier 17 February 2007 o Whangamata 17 March 2007 o Wellington 31 March 2007  Each event will feature two races: o The first race is a participation race catering to the first time triathlete and anyone over the age of 13 years old. o The second race is the Contact Energy New Zealand Cup race (medium to advanced level) and is open to all age groups over 18 years old. Competitors win prizes and earn points which culminate in the awarding of the Contact Energy New Zealand Cup at the completion of the series.

- Race one (the participation race) of each event costs $55 to enter. The second race as detailed above will cost $75 to enter.

- Prize money is awarded to the first, second and third place winners in each Contact Energy New Zealand Cup Race.

- The principal sponsor of the Series is Contact Energy.

ENDS

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