Olympic stars come out to play in Kinloch this weekend

The Contact Energy My Sport Series heads to Kinloch (Taupo) this weekend for round five in the seven event series and has the added edge of New Zealand Sprint titles being on the line in all categories.

That and the timing of the event has enticed a number of New Zealand’s leading triathletes to line up, with a world class field set to include Beijing bound Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell, Beijing hopefuls Shane Reed, James Elvery and Clark Ellice and Contact Energy Cup leader Stephen Sheldrake.

In the women’s race world number Debbie Tanner will begin her preparation for Beijing with a hit out around the tough Kinloch course. It is not known at this stage whether Beijing contender Andrea Hewitt will race but leading Contact Energy Cup athletes Katherine Anton, Kelly Bruce and Janine Sax are all confirmed starters.
Athens silver medalist Docherty is looking forward to racing at the venue where he started his triathlon career.

“This is where I raced my first ever triathlon back in the mid nineties. I was the runner in our school team (Tauhara College) and I wasn’t very happy with the effort of the team so next year I entered on my own.

“I think I was last out of the water – and that was only because dad got pulled out behind me but within three years I was first out of the water and won by over two minutes so yes, I have some history here.”

Docherty will not lack for good company on Sunday with great friend and rival Kris Gemmell amongst a stellar men’s line up. Both have already qualified for the Beijing Games with Kinloch marking the start to their racing season for 2008.

Docherty says not to expect too much though.

“It is a hit out really and nothing more. While any national title is great to have the winner might well come from who is less tired on the day. I am in the middle of some heavy miles with 35 to 40 hours a week training and I know the others will be doing something similar.

“I will race with the power tap (computer) on to give my coach Mark (Elliott) some information to help us plan the next few months but other than that, it is a case of blowing the cobwebs off and doing a race I really enjoy.”

Gemmell echoes similar sentiments to Docherty.

“This will be my first run off the bike in eight weeks of training. I literally haven’t done any specific run work at all, it has primarily been biking and swimming. But Sunday will be about gauging performance relative to training and comparing to where I was at this time last year.”

The day features a full schedule of races in the Contact Energy My Sport Series with age group events (non drafting) through the early part of the morning plus the Erin Baker Award standard distance race also being run by the local Taupo Tri Sport club, this race is not however part of the My Sport Series.



The elite, U19 and U23 races are all draft legal and will see many of the country’s very best athletes in these age groups lining up for a shot at the national sprint title and also selection for the World Championships in Vancouver later in the year.

Races:
Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award

Contact Energy My Sport Series – Age Group (Non Drafting)
NZ Sprint Championship – U19 (Drafting)
Contact Energy Cup and NZ Sprint Championship – Elite/U23 (Drafting)

Start Times (all Sunday February 3):
7.00am – Men, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
7.05 am – Women, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
7.15 am – Teams, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award

10.00am – Contact Energy My Sport Series, Age Group Men
10.05am – Contact Energy My Sport Series, Age Group Women.

11.30am – NZ Sprint Championships, U19 Men
11.35am – NZ Sprint Championships, U19 Women

12.30pm – Contact Energy Cup NZ Sprint Championships, Elite/U23 Men
12.35pm – Contact Energy Cup NZ Sprint Championships, Elite/U23 Women

2pm - Prize Giving

Course Description (course maps can be found at www.triathlon.org.nz):

Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
Swim: 1500m swim (2 x 750m Lap)
Bike: 40km bike loops around the Kinloch community
Run: 10km loop run

Contact Energy Cup – All races from age group to elite
Swim: 750m swim. (1 x 750m Lap)
Bike: An Undulating 20km bike around the Kinloch community.
Run: A 5km run around the town centre.