Exciting Mount Festival of Multisport to take place

Exciting Mount Festival of Multisport to take place 19-21 January 2018

The fourth edition of the Compressport Mount Festival of Multisport is set for 19-21 January 2018 with a range of athletic and community events scheduled in Mount Maunganui.

The Multisport Festival is built around the iconic Port of Tauranga Half, presented by Compressport, and this year includes new events - the Enduro and Höpt Soda Aqua Bike, an event for athletes of all abilities - the Under Armour Mount Run, and incorporates community events - The Big Little Markets, Street Food Union and Night Owl Cinema.

Another iconic summer sport, which is part of the festival programme, is the Mt Maunganui Beach Volleyball Open on the Mount’s Main Beach.

The 2018 Port of Tauranga Half is the headline event for the Compressport Mount Festival of Multisport and has assembled New Zealand’s top long distance triathletes for the men’s and women’s race on Saturday, 20 January.

Ten-time race winner Cameron Brown is back, and looking to add an 11th title in an event he last won in 2014. His main competition is expected to come from the country’s rising star of long-distance triathlon, Mike Phillips, who recorded the world’s fastest debut in an Ironman event when coming second at the Barcelona Ironman last September. He backed up this performance with a victory in the Taupo 70.3 event in December.

While this battle between the country’s long-distance legend and rising star give this year’s Port of Tauranga Half plenty of intrigue, other contenders for the title are two-time champion Graham O’Grady, Australian Alexander Polizzi, and well-performed NZ triathletes Simon Cochrane and Dylan McNeice.

The Port of Tauranga Half women’s field has the defending champ, Amelia Watkinson, returning after an outstanding year on the Asian circuit. She started 2017 with her second consecutive title in the Port of Tauranga Half before going on to win seven events in Asia.

This year, Watkinson faces a strong challenge from leading Australian long-distance triathlete – Melissa Hauschildt who is in a rich vein of form after winning the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship in November, and the Sunsmart Ironman, Western Australia in December.

The women’s field is rounded out by last year’s third-place getter Teresa Adam, and strong performers Rebecca Clark & Pip Meo.

The Mount Festival of Multisport kicks off on Friday afternoon with the Port of Tauranga Half Expo which is coupled by the Enduro & Höpt Soda Aquabike registration at the Mount Spots Club, followed by bike racking on Pilot Bay and the culinary delights of The Street Food Union from 4:30pm – 8:30pm in Coronation Park.

The Saturday programme features the Enduro starting at 6am, Port of Tauranga Half starting at 7:30am, Hopt Soda Aquabike starting at 8.25, the Under Armour Mount Run and Mt Maunganui Beach Volleyball Open. Saturday is rounded out on Mt Drury with the Port of Tauranga Half and Enduro prize-giving at 6pm, followed by the Night Owl Cinema screening “The World’s Fastest Indian” at 8:30pm.

The Under Armour Mount Run starts on Pilot Bay at 2pm on Saturday, and takes in the picturesque Mount Maunganui. The 5km distance takes runners around the base of the Mount, while the 9km event has runners heading around and up the Mount.

The Mt Maunganui Beach Volleyball Open features New Zealand’s top players, and Commonwealth Games contenders. Sam & Ben O’Dea, Mike Watson & Tom Hartles, Rene Kapa & Morgan Seymour are the top seeds in the men’s division, while & Shaunna Polley & Kelsie Wills, Julia Tilley & Alice Bain are the top seeds in the women’s field. The tournament takes place over the weekend with finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The Mount Festival of Multisport takes place from 19-21 January, with the festival village situated in Pilot Bay. Festival Director Lauren Watson says the festival “will be one event which the public can watch or participate in at one of New Zealand’s most popular summer destinations.”

Watson went on to say - “The Mount Festival of Multisport has something for everyone, from the elite fields in the Port of Tauranga Half, to the Under Armour Mount Run for people of all ages and athletic ability, and for those who just want to soak in some sunshine and sport, there is Beach Volleyball on the main beach”

Website: www.mountfestival.kiwi

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