Strong field expected for Fresh Choice Women's Triathlon

The Fresh Choice Southern Lakes Women's Triathlon and Duathlon will be staged at Lake Hayes on March 15 for the 15th consecutive year with indications for a strong field.

Race Director Geoff Hunt says already 50 individuals and 15 teams have entered which is a good early response. "Traditionally half the competitors enter on the day and we expect around 140 individuals and 40 teams in total."

The event is targeted at all levels of ability and is supported by Fresh Choice as title sponsor and Southern Lakes women in business.

Howard Nossiter of Fresh Choice says the company is sponsoring the event for the sixth consecutive year because it is "a non threatening, feel good event."

"It is a great community based event and we like the idea that women at any level can enter. They don't have to feel they need to be a superstar competing at a high level, as this event is something women at all levels can do either by themselves or with their mates and get a lot of enjoyment and a sense of achievement out of."

He says the triathlon is a good fit with Fresh Choice which aims to promote healthy eating and healthy living.

The event is based at the Lake Hayes domain and the triathlon course involves a 300metre swim or kayaking equivalent (approximately two kilometres) on Lake Hayes, 15km bike ride on the Lake Hayes/Arrowtown road into Speargrass Flat road and return and a 5km run/ walk on the Lake Hayes track.

The duathlon includes an initial 1.5km run on the Lake Hayes track, followed by a 15km bike ride and 5km run on the triathlon course.

Competitors are expected from all over the lower half of the South Island. "There is a lot of demand for this sort of event geared solely for women and we have established a good reputation for the high standards we adhere to in terms of organisation and safety," says Geoff Hunt.

A Sarah Ulmer bike, signed personally by Ulmer, is the main prize which will be allocated as a spot prize on a drawn bib number.

Last year the winning individual triathlete in the open section was Joanna Williams who completed the course in 56.05 and Ivonne McDonnell-Grant took the honours in the open duathlon category in 55.54.

The winning triathlon team was Pulse Fitness Chicks in 56.59 and Team Camp Wall won the duathlon open teams' section in 56.39.

Registration and bib collection at Lake Hayes Pavilion, Highway 6, Queenstown between 9.00am-10.30am. Race briefing at 10.45am and prize giving once the final competitor crosses the finish line at the Lake Hayes domain.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Southern Traverse Ltd
03 441 8215 / 0274 967 530
traverse@queenstown.co.nz  
www.southerntraverse.com/womenstri  

--
Southern Traverse Ltd. is a premier international Sport Event Management company. Southern Traverse Ltd. operates and manages elite events around the world, including the Adventure Racing World Championship, the AR World Series and New Zealand's icon adventure race, the Southern Traverse.

Other New Zealand events include The North Face Peak to Peak, TrustPower Adventure Quest, and the Fresh Choice Womens Triathlon.

The Adventure Racing World Series is an international circuit of premiere adventure races representing 8 countries creating a 12-month calendar of professional events around the world and acting as qualifiers for the Adventure Race World Championship to be held Scotland May '07.
sleepmonsters.com is the official ARWorld Series web site
Casio Protrek are the official watches of the ARWorld Series