Entries open tomorrow for NZ Long Distance Triathlon Championship

Entries open tomorrow for the prestigious and long running Port of Tauranga Half Ironman event, a race that also carries official status as the NZ Long Distance Triathlon Championship.

The race celebrates 21 years next January (9th) and is one of the most anticipated events on the summer calendar, regularly selling out its quota of entries within hours of opening. Triathlon New Zealand is thrilled to have such an iconic event on which to base its selection for the world long distance championship in Germany next year.

“This race has long been one of the ‘must do’ events on the New Zealand triathlon calendar,” said Tri NZ Sport Development Manager Brendon Downey.

“Competitors love it, the venue and race organisation is superb and it provides a great event from which to select our team for the long distance world championship in 2010.”

The first six finishers in each age group, provided they are members of Triathlon New Zealand and meet all criteria, will be eligible for a place in the team for the world championships.

For those not able to race in Tauranga there will be ‘back up’ events and the usual ability to apply for special circumstance selection, but Downey says the priority for Tri NZ is first and foremost to select from Tauranga.

“Our selection policy is very clear in that results at the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman will earn selection into the NZ team, provided all criteria are met and that athletes are members of Triathlon New Zealand. There are however circumstances that can arise leading to dispensation being sought, those requests will be dealt with on a case by case basis but the priority for triathletes right now is to be on the start line at The Mount in January.”

The other events that will act as ‘secondary qualifiers’ but can only be used in the event of special dispensation are the Pearl Izumi Taupo Half Ironman, Half Distance Challenge Wanaka and South Island Half Ironman, with one more event yet to be confirmed.

The wording in the Tri NZ selection policy is:

The primary selection race will be the Tri NZ National Long Distance Triathlon Championships, which for the 2009/2010 season will be the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman. The first six eligible athletes in each age-group to cross the line at this nominated selection race will gain automatic selection, as long as they are within 20% of first place in their respective age-group.

For the remaining slots, selection applications will also be accepted from other sanctioned Half Ironman events in New Zealand (these events TBC), subject to selector’s discretion. Special circumstance forms will also be accepted for those unable to attend NZ events, with relevant overseas results, subject to selector’s discretion.

Priority will be given to those who have raced at the National Long Distance Triathlon Championships, then to those who have raced the sanctioned events in New Zealand and then those with overseas special circumstances.

Full selection criteria available at www.triathlon.org.nz

Details of entry for the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman are on the official website www.halfironman.co.nz.