Whangamata welcomes in the new year of Triathlon with round two of the Contact Tri Series on Sunday January 3rd with a stellar field of former and future stars is set to battle it out.
Maddy Brunton and Michael Poole will be determined to repeat their first up victories in Rotorua but both teenagers will face stern opposition in a race that stretches back years and can list amongst its winners Rick Wells, Cameron Brown and Stephen Sheldrake.
In the women's race 19 year old Brunton can expect strong opposition from Teresa Adam (Auckland) and Rebecca Kingsford (Tirau) as she tries to add to her wins in Rotorua and at the Tinman in Tauranga.
The Waikato triathlete is in great form as she looks to begin 2010 in the same fashion as she ended 2009.
"I've had three great weeks of training since Tinman and am really happy with the way things are going. I enjoy Whangamata having raced there for the past two years but I think they have changed the bike course a little, perhaps made it a little easier.
"I have however been working hard on my running so in a way I hope it comes down to a running race and I can pull it off. Teresa and Rebecca might be a little leg weary after riding the Tour de Femme this week so again, that might play in my favour."
As mentioned by Brunton, Teresa Adam (20) and Rebecca Kingsford (20) will arrive in Whangamata after riding in the Tour de Femme women's cycling tour in Nelson. They and others from the Triathlon New Zealand High Performance Squads are taking part in the annual three day tour to gain vital racing experience.
The men's race is a little more difficult to predict with Poole also looking to impress against his older and more experienced rivals – albeit minus regular starter Cameron Brown who has withdrawn due to a calf injury.
22 year old Ryan Sissons will wear the mantle of race favourite but Whangamata is a race that has provided more than its share of upsets over the years. The Aucklander is a member of the Tri NZ 2012 Potential Squad and is being mentored by Olympian Kris Gemmell.
Sissons is in a good frame of mind after some great weeks of training.
"I'm in good shape to be honest, I've been training hard the past few months to get a good base for next season, and it has all gone to plan – in fact it has been better than expected with some good sessions and no injury problems.
"I'll go into race confident of my ability to win, I had a time trial on the bike leg at Rotorua half last weekend and that went well so I'm looking for a solid race. I raced here two years ago and finished fourth, but the course has changed a little, since then. I preferred the older, harder bike course but regardless I'll be giving it everything on Sunday and doing my best to win."
Also lining up are well performed 19 year old Edward Rawles (Inglewood) while 37 year old Stephen Sheldrake (Gisborne) will look to turn back the clock in a race he last won in 2007. The Tri NZ Assistant National Coach will perhaps also be looking for bragging rights against some of the athletes under his watch in High Performance Squads so don't be surprised to hear some good natured sledging on the roads of Whangamata on Sunday morning.
Contact Tri Series
Whangamata, Sunday January 3rd
8am: Contact 3:9:3 Men, Women, Teams
9am: Contact Trophy (Age Group) Men, Women's, Teams
Midday: Contact 1:2:1 Girls and Boys aged 7 to 11
Registration
Saturday 2 January, 4 – 7pm Venue: registration tent at Williamson Park
Sunday 3 January, 7 – 8am at the registration tent.
Late Entries:
Saturday 2 January, 4-6pm; Venue: registration tent at Williamson Park
