Women line up for triathlon challenge

Two hundred entries have been received for the 35th Sisters Marlborough Women’s

Triathlon which takes in Blenheim on Sunday.

In 1983, the first

Marlborough women-only triathlon was contested and since then the iconic event, the first of its kind in New Zealand, has tested the stamina and determination of thousands of women.

The average age of competitors this year is four years younger than in the previous five events. The youngest competitor is nineyear-old Ana Baily, who will be taking part in a mother daughter team. A dozen competitors over 60 are also taking part. Seasoned campaigner Wynne Garrick, 69, is back after attending every previous event and will wear the traditional No 001 race bib.

Last year former international rower Tarsha Williams came out on top of a three-way battle at the front of the field. In a tight tussle against Nikita Watkins and Emily Marfell, the leading place-getters from 2015, Williams took the honours by around seven seconds.

The event starts from the Taylor River Amphitheatre at 8.30am on Sunday. Race briefing is at 8.10 in the start area at the Taylor River ampitheatre.

Unlike traditional triathlons, the Marlborough event is run in reverse order.

First up is a 5km out-andback run/walk on the Taylor River reserve.

Then the field heads back to Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000, where they pick up their bikes and set off on a 15km cycle up to a turning point near the landfill entrance on Taylor Pass Rd, returning to the stadium for a final 100m swim inside the pool complex, an area where the overall winner is often decided.

Competitors can enter in several categories. They are individual, three-person fun team, three-person business team, three-person winery team, three-person social team or mother and daughter.

At stake among the major prizes, will be the Cheryl-Ann Thompson Memorial Trophy for outstanding achievement. This trophy is in remembrance of Cheryl-Anne’s achievement in completing the 2003 event during her long battle with breast cancer. It is awarded to someone who has beaten the odds to participate.