New Plymouth – the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island – has been confirmed as the host city for a new summer Triathlon Festival in February 2011. The festival will be headlined by the all new Wells Half Ironman distance race.
Events Taranaki spokesperson Selwyn Brown said, “This is great news for the region and will see events for all ages and all abilities, headlined by the Wells sponsored Half Ironman on 13 February. The event has official sanctioning from Triathlon New Zealand and will offer a safe race on some stunning roads with superb scenery.”
Energy and electrical services organisation the Wells Group has signed up as naming rights partner for two years, immediately confirming the event’s potential to quickly become a flagship event for Taranaki with participants expected from all over New Zealand.
Wells Group managing Director Graham Wells said the event and the sport of triathlon are a perfect fit with his business. “As a successful and leading New Zealand wide energy sector services provider based in Taranaki, we felt that this new event fitted in with our philosophies and values at the Wells group of companies and wanted to be involved in something that will be of benefit to the local community.”
Brown at Events Taranaki has been heavily involved in triathlons for a number of years, including setting up the first Weet-Bix Tryathlon and being part of the operational team for the ITU World Cup race hosted for some years in New Plymouth.
He is aware of the need to cater for a wide market. “In conjunction with the Wells Half Ironman event we will be staging The Frontrunner Half Marathon and 10km Run/Walk exclusively on our world class coastal walkway, you simply can’t find a better spot in the world for such an event where individuals, families and work groups can take on such a challenge together.”
www.nphalfironman.co.nz/home
www.eventstaranaki.co.nz
www.wells.co.nz
