Peach Classic expecting to draw about 300 athletes on Sunday
35th annual event is the oldest continuously running triathlon in B.C.
By Penticton Herald Staff
Around 300 athletes are expected Sunday in Penticton for the 35th annual Peach Classic – the oldest continuously running triathlon in B.C.
As of Tuesday at noon, there were 289 athletes registered – 156 for the shorter ‘sprint’ distance event and another 133 for the standard event. Both are designated as provincial championship races in partnership with Triathlon BC for 2017.
Steve Brown, race director and co-race owner along with Jeff Plant, said there could be some shuffling in the numbers due to the smoke that has descended on the Valley from the raging wildfires in the Cariboo region of B.C.
“With the concerns about the air quality, we’ve given people the option of shifting to the shorter sprint distance race,” said Brown, noting some athletes have already done so. “We’ve also given people the option of rolling over their registrations to the 2018 race if they decide they don’t want to on Sunday. We’ll probably see some movement but we’re anticipating and planning for around 300 on race day.”
Anyone wishing to take advantage of those options have until midnight Wednesday to do so.
Online registration also closes then, though registrations can still be accommodated by picking up and returning a completed form to Peach City Runners in downtown Penticton from today until Saturday afternoon.
Brown said there are no plans to cancel the race due to the smoke – which has ebbed and flowed in the South Okanagan skies the last few days depending on the wind.
“Unless we’re forced to shut things down by a public authority, we’re anticipating the race going ahead as planned,” said Brown.
The race starts from the transition area on Lakeshore Drive between Winnipeg and Martin streets at 7 a.m. The sprint participants start right at 7 a.m., with the standard race to commence right after at 7:05 a.m. Brown said all athletes should be off the race course by around 11:30 a.m. Several streets in the area near Okanagan Lake will be closed to traffic while the race is on.
The sprint distance event features a 750 km swim, 20 km bike and a 5 km run, while the standard distance is a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike and 10 km run. Participants must be at least 16 to partake in the sprint event and at least 18 to compete in the standard race.
The swim segment consists of one loop on Okanagan Lake, the bike is a scenic out and back to Naramata while the run is an out and back along the picturesque KVR Trail.
Brown said the race is not a national championship qualifier in either distance.
“This is still really an age-group race where people just want to be crowned a provincial champs in their category,” said Brown, noting the majority of those taking part this year are local athletes.
Also this year, the Peach is launching the Provincial Club Championship “Pennant Race” for the first time ever in B.C.
Members of various triathlon clubs will accumulate points based on times and placings on behalf of their respective club. Trophies will be awarded for both small and large club champions.
“It’s something that is a big deal in other places around the world, such as Australia for one,” said Brown. “It’s something that is entirely new for us and for B.C. so we don’t know quite how it will unfold. We’re hoping it gains some traction.”
The world-renowned “Voice of Triathlon” Steve King will once again be the race announcer.
The race is part of the Three Lakes Triathlon Series operated by Brown and Plant.
For more information on the race, or to register, visit peachclassic.ca, or email info@peachclassic.ca,or info@threelakestriathlonseries.ca.