Triathlon New Zealand & Sovereign Takes Event ‘to the Zoo’

Triathlon New Zealand & Sovereign Takes Event ‘to the Zoo’

The Sovereign Tri Series today announced details for its Christchurch event in April next year, unveiling one of the more unique sporting events on the New Zealand, if not the global multisport calendar, with the Sovereign Tri Series Christchurch Duathlon set to finish in amongst the animals in the grounds of Orana Wildlife Park on McLeans Island.

The event has been some time in the making with Triathlon New Zealand in discussions with Orana Wildlife Park to ensure the Sovereign Tri Series not only has a presence in the Canterbury region, but creates an event with a spectacular point of difference.

Triathlon New Zealand CEO Craig Waugh says there was a determination to continue to support the city of Christchurch, and to do so with genuine ‘wow’ factor.

“We have been working overtime to ensure the Sovereign Tri Series maintained a presence in the Christchurch market after a few years of limited community participation at the Tri Series event at Pegasus. This is something very different however, basing the event in the stunning McLeans Island Recreational area and to finish inside Orana Wildlife Park to present a truly unique experience for all of our participants and to showcase this amazing part of Christchurch. Furthermore, Tri NZ is thrilled that this event will act as the selection race for New Zealanders wishing to compete in the 2015 ITU Duathlon World Champs, adding to its appeal for participants from all around the country.”

In bringing this unique event to Christchurch, the Sovereign Tri Series is providing an opportunity for the community to engage and improve their health and wellbeing, as well as partnering with a truly world class attraction in Orana Wildlife Park, at a time when they are looking to further expand with the introduction of a Gorilla enclosure in late 2015.

While there was perhaps initially an incredulous reaction of ‘you want to host what in our park?’ from Orana Wildlife Park when first approached, discussions soon established a win/win situation for all involved, as Marketing and Public Relations Manager Nathan Hawke describes.

“Orana Wildlife Park is delighted to partner with Tri NZ to deliver a unique event for Christchurch - we have never had a Duathlon or any event of this nature finish within the Zoo! As a community focussed facility Orana is supportive of such initiatives that are positive for our City and bring visitors to the region. We hope the Sovereign Tri Series Duathlon is a great success, demonstrating that Christchurch is a fantastic place for events.

“From Orana’s perspective 2015 is set to be a massive year, and the Sovereign Tri Series will be part of it, as we will open the biggest project in the Park’s 38 year history - a Great Ape Centre bringing New Zealand’s first gorillas to Christchurch!”

Canterbury identity and former multiple World Triathlon and Duathlon Champion Erin Baker was at the launch and spoke passionately about the event and its importance to the local community.

“Christchurch has played such a great part in the history of triathlon and Duathlon the local Canterbury Tri Club does a great job in supporting with coaching and events. So this is just amazing, to have an event of this type coming to Christchurch with such a point of difference, I can’t think of anything like this in all my years competing and I have no doubt it will go on to become a must do event for people of all backgrounds and abilities. Our city has to have events of this nature to motivate and engage our community and to help inspire our kids and families. And I have learned never to say never, you might just see me on the start line.”

The Christchurch City Council is delighted at news of the event, one that will provide an invaluable boost to the region and showcase a great part of the city to the rest of the country as Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel explains.

“The Sovereign Christchurch Tri Series Duathlon is set to be a popular event for Christchurch. Events such as these provide the local community with the ideal opportunity to get out and engage with one another and participate in a physical challenge in what will be a stunning and unique location. Christchurch has great plans for its future and we firmly believe that continuing to host such high quality sporting events is a vital component to the City’s recovery process.”

The Sovereign Tri Series Christchurch Duathlon will cater for all abilities, with racing for beginners over short distances on flat and safe courses through to the more serious competitors with the event acting as a qualifier for the 2015 ITU World Age Group Duathlon Championships. Team events will also play a huge part, allowing for workmates, family and friends to share the easy riding and running, jogging or walking options.

Sovereign is naming rights partner to the Sovereign Tri Series but is also an active member of the Christchurch business community, and knows the importance of events such as this to the local community as a new city emerges.

“It’s important to Sovereign that we continue to create new and exciting opportunities for communities to take charge of their health, and this event is a fantastic example. By including the breath-taking Orana Wildlife Park into the race, it will be hard for many to resist entering,” says Sovereign CEO Symon Brewis-Weston. “In fact, we know the park well, our staff recently spent the day volunteering there and it’s wonderful to continue our support of such an iconic attraction.”

The Sovereign Tri Series Christchurch Duathlon has three distance options, from short (3km run, 9km bike, 1.5km run) for beginners, to mid (5km run, 20km bike, 2.5km run) and on to standard (10km, 40km, 5km) with all race distances offering team categories as an option. The Standard Distance option is the primary selection race for New Zealand Age Groupers wishing to compete in the 2015 ITU Duathlon World Champs.

The event starts in McLeans Forest with the first run being off-road on the park trails. Once on the bike athletes will head out of the park and make a right hand turn onto McLeans Island Road/Chattertons Road. They will cross Old West Coast Road (under a stop and go controlled intersection) and continue on until a right turn at Langdales Road which is where the athletes will turn around and return back the same route. The short distance race will turn around prior to Old West Coast Road. The second run will include some of McLeans Forest with the last part of the run crossing the road and heading into the park to ‘race the animals’ to the finish line.

The event also presents an opportunity for Canterbury and South Island based businesses to enter the CEO Challenge. Sovereign will donate $25,000 to the charity of choice of the company who, led by their CEO, has the highest engagement throughout the Sovereign Tri Series, based on percentage of their total workforce. The CEO must lead the way, with staff then able to participate in any event over any distance throughout the Sovereign Tri Series around New Zealand, including team events.

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