It was crisp swims, dogtrots, pedals to medals and red, white, and blue at Tāhunanui Reserve on Sunday for the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon.
The mainstay event saw 1527 tamariki aged six to 15 give it 110 per cent in swimming, cycling and running, and it was often the supporters who were puffed out by the time their young athletes were medalled.
A double serving of eight-year-old Stellas from Hampden Street School were among those who crushed it.
Swimming 100m off Tāhunanui main beach, cycling 3.2km and running 1.5km to the inflatable Weet-Bix chute finish line was a great start to the day for Stella Montgomery and Stella Gibson, much like the breakfast the event is named after.
One Stella completed the TRYathlon on an empty stomach, and despite the challenges the course threw at them, both reaped the benefits of training at Tāhunanui.
“I'm proud that I didn't give up and thank you [to my family] for supporting me,” Gibson enthuses.
Sheaves of Waimea primary students – including nine-year-old Eddie Griffith and six-year-old Kayleigh Lovett from Hope School – were among those who crushed it out there.
Making her TRYathlon debut, Kayleigh had a great start to her day, just like the breakfast the event is named after.
She completed a 50m swim off Tāhunanui’s main beach, ran 1.5km, and made a beeline for the Weet-Bix chute to collect her medal.
Second-year TRYathlete Eddie, who admits he’s more into porridge than Weet-Bix, swam 100m, cycled 3.2km, and overcame a “really bad” stitch during the 1.5km run – a setback that had subdued him previously.
He was also relieved he didn’t repeat an earlier mishap during school TRYathlon training, when he clipped another rider’s back wheel and toppled off his bike.
“I learned from my mistake,” he reflects.
Māpua School was among the Tasman schools represented, with twelve-year-old pupil James Steele powering through a stitch and a baking 6.4km cycle leg to cross the Weet-Bix inflatable chute finish line for the second year.
Swimming at Richmond Aquatic Centre and mountain biking, topped up with his Weet-Bix with honey and shredded coconut might have been the catalyst for his act of tenacity.
Fresh from collecting his medal and tipping a cup of provided water over his head, the 12-year-old's comments echoed a tried-and-true value of the TRYathlon.
“It's good to give it a try… I'm most proud of getting my medal, and finishing the triathlon having given it my all,” he says.
Event spokesperson Fiona Wakelin says the tried-and-true values of the TRYathlon – encouraging kids to get active, set goals, give things a go, and have fun – were all accomplished.
“The crowd seems to be having a great time, and watching the kids come across the finish line, there’s a sense of satisfaction. They’re happy and elated,” she says.
Fiona also noted the strong “community spirit” in Nelson, especially when compared with other TRYathlons across the country.
“The athletes handing out the medals were being recognised by so many people, given they were Nelson locals representing their sports.”
Among those bestowing medals hand over fist were Nelson Giant Sam Dempster, Volley Fern Holly Chandler, and triathlete Gus Marfell, and for a brief stint, Nelson Mayor Nick Smith (not an athlete).
