Cameron Brown enters Whangamata

New Zealand’s leading Ironman competitor Cameron Brown is turning back the clock and competing in a race that 17 years ago delivered one of his first big wins as a triathlete.

Fresh on the back of a runner up finish at the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman, Brown has confirmed he will be on the start line at this weekend’s Contact Energy My Sport Series race at Whangamata.

Unusually for Brown though, he says Saturday is not about winning.


'I’m still bouncing back from last week’s efforts at the half given I only had 6 weeks of training under my belt so I’m just looking to have a bit of fun in a great location with some great memories,” said Brown from the family bach on the Coromandel.

“I have some real history here though and it is one of my favourite races from way back in the day when it was part of the Kiwi Lager Tri Series. I had a big win when as a 19 year old I beat Rick Wells in 1991 – albeit he may have enjoyed a few of the sponsors product the night before from memory and underestimated me as a young kid. But it was a great day for me and it is a race that will always be special.”

Brown is also ever conscious of the need to put something back into the sport that has given him so much over the years. The Tri My Sport race will be full of first timers and novice athletes giving the sport a go and he will be there to cheer them on.

“The lifeblood of our sport is the social competitor who mixes work, family life, paying the mortgage and racing on the weekend. It is that person that lines the streets of Taupo each year to cheer me on so I’m looking forward to competing on the same day and offering them the same support if I can in what will be a great family environment in a great location.”

Whangamata is on the southeast coast of the Corromandel Peninsula and is famous for its unique combination of beach and rainforest, its amazing beach provides some of the best surfing breaks, yet safest swimming in the country.

Entries are being taken online at www.triathlon.org.nz and will be accepted on the 11th of January at the Whangamata Surf Club Corner Lowe St & Esplanade Drive between 3 and 6pm.

Event Details:

Tri My Sport (shorter distance for novice, beginner or social athletes): 400m Swim; 16km Road Bike; 5.5km Forest Run

Contact Energy Cup: 1500m Swim; 40km Road Bike; 11km Forest Run



Start Times, Saturday 12th January



Tri My Sport: Men - 8.00am, Women – 8.05am

Contact Energy Cup: Men – 8.30am, Women’s – 8.35am, Teams – 8.45am

Prize Giving: 1.00pm


The Tri NZ My Sport Series has in excess of $70,000 in prize money and prizes up for grabs, including the lure of a Suzuki Swift as the major spot prize for anyone who enters in a My Sport or Contact Energy Cup race. There are also prizes on offer at each venue of Asics Shoes, Polar Heart monitors, BBQ’s, Balance product, Orca wetsuits and other cash prizes.