Cameron Brown aiming for 11th win in Port of Tauranga Half

Cameron Brown aiming for 11th win in Port of Tauranga Half

The legend of long-distance triathlon in New Zealand, Cameron Brown will be back on the start line at 6am tomorrow morning, aiming for his 11th title in the Port of Tauranga Half, which is also the NZ Long Distance Championship.

Brown has made this event his own, with an incredible race record which dates back to 1998 and includes 10 wins and several other podium finishes.

For Cameron Brown - “The Port of Tauranga Half has been part of my summer for 20 years. Since back to when I had no kids it has just been part of summer for me, a part of my build up to Ironman New Zealand. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have this race on the calendar. It is a race I look forward to every summer.”

Brown won seven straight titles at the Port of Tauranga Half from 1998 to 2004, before Australia’s Craig Alexander took the title in 2005. Brown was back at the top of the podium in 2007 and also recorded wins in 2012 and 2014.

He can’t wait to line up again against a quality international field saying - “This is going to be a great event.”

There are a few changes to the bike course this year, which will add to the challenge of the event. Brown believes - “The bike is going to be a big challenge, with a few more hills around the Welcome Bay area. It looks a little like the old Tinman race that went through there. It is more a strength course, not just flat out a 90k speed race and that will help lengthen things out. I think it helps me. In previous years you had to be ready to go flat out for 90k on the flat at 43 kph the whole way. There will be no course records to match the old times on the new course that is for sure.”

Tomorrow’s Port of Tauranga Half has assembled a very strong field including five time world champion Craig Alexander from Australia, 2011 race winner Graham O’Grady, and the Bowstead brothers – Mark & James. Mark Bowstead was runner-up to Brown at last year’s event.

The woman’s race will also be interesting with the field headed by 2013 winner – Gina Crawford.

The Port of Tauranga Half tomorrow doubles as the 2015 National Long Distance Triathlon Championships. It is the primary selection race for New Zealanders looking to compete in the 2015 ITU World Long Distance Championship in Motala, Sweden.

It is also part of the inaugural Mount Festival of Multisport which takes place at Mount Maunganui from 9 – 11 January.

The festival kicks off this afternoon with a powhiri at Pilot Bay at 4:30pm. This evening’s programme features the VIRUS TRI NZ Tag Team Champs from 6pm – 8pm, which has teams of 2-4 people each completing a short distance swim, bike and run. The Jetts Dash for Cash at 9pm this evening, sees athletes making a 400m dash down Mount Maunganui’s main street.

Cameron Brown believes the creation of the Mount Festival of Multisport will add “even more atmosphere with the other sports and events and that is always good fun.”

Brown and Craig Alexander are two of the sporting ambassadors who will be handing out the medals on Sunday as part of the Weetbix Kids TRYathlon which takes place at 9am at Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui.

Website: www.mountfestival.kiwi

The Mount Festival of Multisport – 9-11 January 2015

Friday 9th January

4:30pm Powhiri Pilot Bay

6pm – 9pm TRI Short Course Main Street

6pm – 8pm VIRUS TRI NZ Tag Team Champs Main Street

5:30pm – 9pm Night Markets Coronation Park

9pm Jetts Dash for Cash Main Street

9:30pm Prizegiving Main Street

Saturday 10th January

6am Port of Tauranga Half Coronation Park

9am – 5pm Bay of Plenty Times NZ Beach Volleyball Champs Main Beach

9:30am – 12noon King & Queen of Mauao Paddle Event Pilot Bay

4pm – 6pm Mauao Fun Run Pilot Bay

6pm – 7pm Prizegiving - Port of Tauranga Half Coronation Park

Sunday 11th January

8am – 1pm Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon Coronation Park

9am – 5pm Bay of Plenty Times NZ Beach Volleyball Champs Main Beach

9:30am – 12noon King & Queen of Mauao Paddle Event Pilot Bay

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