The Sovereign Tri Series gets underway in the beautiful Bay of Plenty this weekend with the hosting of the Sovereign Tri Tinman at Mount Maunganui with over 700 participants expected across all events this Sunday morning, with entries still live online and at race registration on Saturday from 3pm to 5pm at Pilot Bay.
One of the traditional openers to the season, the Sovereign Tinman Triathlon has a history that dates back over 25 years and boasts some of the greatest names in the sport on the honours role, with Hamish Carter, Cameron Brown, Walter Thorburn, Graham O'Grady, Karyn Ballance, Heidi Alexander and Nicole Cope all having won the event that takes in a run course around the base of The Mount before heading to the finish line at Pilot Bay.
Now part of the Sovereign Tri Series, Tinman offers race distances for all abilities and backgrounds, from beginners to youth to serious age groupers and elites, it is a race and venue that is popular amongst the many and varied who make up the triathlon community, especially for those also racing in the Port of Tauranga Half on much the same course in early January.
A familiar name on the start line is that of Sam Warriner. The former World Champion loves the event and appreciates its place in the sports history.
"I'm looking forward to coming down to Sovereign Tinman this weekend and supporting everyone competing. Tinman is one of the iconic New Zealand events and it signals the start of summer and it's an event I always look forward to competing in."
Warriner says it has been a tough year, but in typical fashion she is back and ready to face the world and the iconic Tinman race on Sunday.
"This year has been a bit of a roller coaster for me. It started with a hamstring injury that first caught me at Tinman last year. Unfortunately it took longer to rehab than I'd hoped and wrote off all of last summer. This past winter we managed to get pregnant for our second child and Lola was all excited about being a big sister. I had made my mind up that I wouldn't race anymore and would focus on being a mum and coach so I let the training go and just nested to be honest! Unfortunately though September was a roller coaster, I miscarried at 14 weeks which knocked me and had to go into hospital.
"It's taken some time to come to terms with this and now I just want to race and have a bit of fun. I'm coming down to support my team. A lot of people will tell you that it's impossible to race and coach. To train with your athletes and coach at the same time. But since telling my girls I'll be doing the Olympic with them they've certainly taken it to another level in training!"
Warriner will be there to support her growing army of Sweat 7 athletes, a number of whom have been successful in various events and distances in 2014 including potential contenders this weekend in Jaimee Leader, Hannah Sturmer and Danielle Parkinson.
A strong advocate of the younger athletes, Warriner is especially pleased with the introduction of the Super Sprint Youth Series in conjunction with the Sovereign Tri Series.
"The new Youth Series looks to be really exciting. Triathlon NZ have announced a 'Super Sprint Youth Series' for athletes wanting to be considered for the National Talent Squad. This event will be fast and furious and I really hope parents realize that longer isn't always better. The short sharp nature of the Super Sprint is the future of racing at ITU, and any kids aspiring to be the next Ryan Sissons or Andrea Hewitt should be seriously considering entering the Super Sprint Series. I'll be there talent spotting along with the Tri NZ selectors."
 Leah Stanley, last years Tinman winner(Photo: Tri NZ; click to enlarge) |
Others to watch for in regards line honours in the Men's race at Sovereign Tinman include Matt Franklin (Auckland), Zac Barber (Christchurch) and local Papamoa athlete Andrew Lloyd. In the women's look for defending champion Leah Stanley (Cambridge) to be another in the mix with Sturmer, Warriner and Parkinson as the former elite rower continues her foray into the sport of triathlon.
Another event to feature for the first time this summer is the Sovereign CEO Challenge throughout the Sovereign Tri Series. CEO's are challenged to lead their staff by taking part in any one of the events, encouraging their staff to do the same. The workplace with the greatest proportional representation of their total workforce will be gifted a $25,000 cheque from event partner Sovereign, to be donated to a charity of their choosing.
Amongst those on the start line in the Sovereign CEO Challenge are Marty Grenfell (Whakatane District Council), Mike Stott (Lysaght) and Richard Coombes (Coombes Gabbie Lighting Design). Other CEO's are signed up for other races throughout the Sovereign Tri Series, each looking to inspire and lead their staff by example throughout the summer.
The Whakatane District Council has certainly followed the lead of their Chief Executive, with an amazing 120 plus of the team expected to line up this Sunday across the various individual and team events on offer.
Other notables taking part this weekend include television and radio personality and former Black Cap Mark Richardson as he continues to pursue a place on the New Zealand age group team for the 2015 ITU World Championships in Chicago, Silver Fern netball legend Laura Langman and decorated rower Duncan Grant.
Race Schedule: Sovereign Tinman, Mount Maunganui
Friday 5th December 2014
Online entries close: 5:00pm
Saturday 6th December 2014
Registration & late entries, Pilot Bay: 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday 7th December 2014
Registration, Pilot Bay: 6:30am
Standard Distance Sovereign Tinman
Men: 8:00am
Women: 8:02am
Teams: 8:04am
Mid Distance Triathlon
Men: 8:20am
Women: 8:22am
Teams 8:24am
Short (Fun) Distance Triathlon
Youth: 11:00am
Men: 11:01am
Women & Teams: 11:02am
U15: 11:04am
Prize-Giving: 1:00pm 2:00pm
