Following the signing of an agreement between World Endurance Australia Pty Ltd (Ironman) and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, general entry for the 2011 Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie event is now open at IronmanPortMacquarie.com. Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie, incorporating the Ironman 70.3 Australian Age Group Championship, will take place at the home of Ironman Australia, in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, on Sunday 6 November 2011.
Athletes from across Australia will descend on Port Macquarie in November to compete for the Australian Age Group Championship, with the winners of each age group receiving the opportunity to enter the sold out Ironman Australia in May 2012. Age group category winners will also be awarded the title of Ironman 70.3 Australian Age Group Champion.
Unprecedented demand saw Ironman Australia 2012 sell out in record time earlier this year, which will make the Ironman 70.3 Australian Championship a hotly contested event.
Due to the increased interest in Ironman racing in Australia, Ironman and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council decided that holding two events, Ironman Australia and the Ironman 70.3 Age Group Championship, at separate times of the year would provide additional opportunities to visit and race in beautiful Port Macquarie and enable more Ironman competitors on the course for Ironman Australia.
“Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the Local Organising Committee and the broader community all showed an interest and commitment to bringing the Ironman 70.3 Australia Age Group Championship to Port Macquarie in November. It is another landmark event for Port Macquarie and Ironman racing in Australia,” said Shane Smith, General Manager of Ironman Australia.
“As the owners and organisers of Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events, we understand the increased demand for Ironman racing in this country and are working hard to meet that demand to give Australian athletes the chance to realise their Ironman aspirations. The Ironman 70.3 Australian Age Group Championship is a brand new event in Australia and is part of our commitment to providing quality racing opportunities for Australian athletes,” Smith added.
With a US$15,000 prize purse on offer, the local council is confident a second race will attract the competitor and visitor numbers to showcase the region.
The race will be the east coast showpiece of the Australian Ironman 70.3 calendar and will provide a significant tourism boost prior to the traditional summer holiday season Down Under. Being shorter, a 70.3 race has considerably less impact on the community through road closures, yet still delivers the social and economic benefits to the local, health conscious, community.
