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New Plymouth can again look forward to hosting an international triathlon in 2016 with the Quality Hotel Plymouth International World Cup set for a return in April, with organizers just awaiting ratification from the ITU at their upcoming congress at the World Championships.
While the full World Cup calendar won't be revealed until that meeting on September 16 in Chicago, event director Terry Sheldrake says New Plymouth can expect to again host an early round of the World Cup series.
"We are delighted to again be bringing such a truly international event to New Zealand and to the community of New Plymouth. With great support from Quality Hotel Plymouth International, Port Taranaki, TSB Community Trust and Venture Taranaki, we are able to return for the third year.
 2015 winner Richard Murray(Photo: Scottie T Photography; click to enlarge) |
"As a result of that support from the wider business and residential community New Plymouth is profiled around the world as a destination for international and domestic travelers. We expect again to see athletes, coaches and support staff from over 40 countries with strong media interest around the world, not the least of which is of course here in New Zealand as our leading athletes enjoy a pinnacle event in their own backyard."
Darrin Muggeridge is Managing Director of the naming rights partner Quality Hotel Plymouth International, but more so than that, he has New Plymouth in his veins with the Spotswood High School old-boy delighted to again be involved.
"The World Cup Triathlon is an awesome event for New Plymouth, to have that number of countries to one event anywhere in the world is amazing, but to think they are all coming here to New Plymouth is incredible.
"Our business is obviously right here in the city and we along with others in the hospitality trade thrive on events such as this. Events that not only bring visitors and their spending money into the region, but events that promote New Plymouth and all we have to offer to the rest of New Zealand and around the world.
"We are very proud to be a part of the wider business and council community supporting the organisers and look forward to another great event next year."
With Auckland backing out of hosting a round of the ITU World Triathlon Series, Sheldrake says the Quality Hotel sponsored New Plymouth World Cup assumes even greater importance in this part of the world.
"We will still form part of a series of dates down under that will see some of the best triathletes in the world travel here not only to compete, but to train and prepare for the northern hemisphere season and of course the Olympic Games in August. There will be a number of Oceania Continental Cup status events in New Zealand as well World Cup races in Australia, to ensure that the quality of athletes remains high and the names very much recognizable to the wider public."
While the ITU is still to ratify the calendar, it is expected that New Plymouth will host their round of the ITU World Cup Series on April 3rd 2016, with elite sprint races for both men and women. The full schedule of events and the possibility of any support races will be confirmed in the weeks ahead.
Triathlon New Zealand CEO Craig Waugh is delighted that the New Plymouth event is once again set to put the sport in the spotlight at the end of the upcoming summer.
"It is vital for our sport and indeed for our up and coming elite athletes that we have pinnacle events such as the Quality Hotel New Plymouth World Cup to keep us top of mind and in the shop window so to speak. Terry, the sponsors, the local council and his wonderful support team in New Plymouth do a great job and I have no doubt we will again see a very successful World Cup event with strong international fields and great racing."
