Partnership Leads To Kinloch Bridge

When the demand for the Kinloch round of the Contact Tri Series was such that most events reached capacity a month or so before yesterday’s race, Triathlon New Zealand Event Director Haidee Stratford knew the event needed a little extra to ensure its success.

Over 900 participants committed to lining up in the many races on offer, from the local Tri-Sport Taupo run Erin Baker standard distance event (the 29th running of this iconic race) to the children’s Contact 1:2:1, age group NZ Sprint Championships and on to the elites racing in the Oceania Triathlon Championships, this was going to be a busy day. And not only for participants but for the thousands of spectators and supporters who turn up as well, enjoying the great viewing at the stunning lakeside venue in Kinloch.

Stratford went to action and received some great support.

“Flow around the transition area and in and around the finish line was potentially going to be a problem with so many people, either racing or watching. And our goal with the Contact Tri Series is to provide the best triathlon experience we can, to make sure that our participants and spectators have had a great day and go away planning to return again next event or next year. That meant we had to look at a bridge over the road to allow people to safely and comfortably move around the race course and for the public to access the lake front during races. The response we got from the Taupo District Council and Contact Energy to help in this project was superb, they came on board with little cajoling, appreciating just how big this event has become.”

The project became a partnership between Triathlon New Zealand as organisers of the Contact Tri Series, Taupo District Council and principal partner to the sport Contact Energy. All recognised the value of the event to the region.

“The Kinloch Triathlon is another fantastic Endurance Sport event held in Taupo,” said Nick Reader before the weekend, District Events Manager with the Taupo District Council.

“We are proud to host an energetic event in the beautiful setting of the lakeside Kinloch village. We are pleased with the growth of the event in both participation and profile and look forward to another successful event this weekend.”

While Craig Griffiths, Contact’s Community Relations manager said:

“We’re delighted to collaborate with Tri NZ and the Taupo District Council to ensure the safety of the participants and spectators at the Contact Tri Series in Kinloch.”

“At Contact Energy, we value the wellbeing of our employees, customers and the communities that we work in.

“Taupo is a very special community to us, and it’s important to us to help provide an environment where people are safe at this popular community event.”

Participants and spectators certainly appreciated the rather obvious addition to the race with comments ranging from; ‘amazing, it brings the event right up with the best in the country;’ ‘a great idea, especially for me as a person racing on the day to know people aren’t having to cross the course and maybe get in the way;’ ‘it has enabled us to get to the start of the swim to see my son begin his race and then get to the other side of the course for the bike and run.’

The event ran without a hitch throughout the day, with only a couple of minor scrapes and bruises for 2 or 3 athletes. Even a volunteer fire brigade call out was taken in stride by organisers with communication the key to ensuring minimal delays as crews headed away on a call out. Results can be found at www.triseries.co.nz