Docherty headlines Sprint Nationals in Kinloch this weekend

World number two and Olympic Games bronze medalist Bevan Docherty headlines the triathletes turning out in the latest round of the Contact Tri Series in Kinloch on the shores of Lake Taupo this Sunday, a round that doubles as the New Zealand Sprint Championships.

While Docherty is training through the summer racing season, he always looks forward to racing well in his home town of Taupo.

“I have had a slightly easier week in training this week but that is only beacuase I smashed myself pretty much for the two weeks before so no, there is no taper for this race.

“But it is always great to race at home and I will be looking to perform as well as I can in front of people who don’t get too many chances to watch me in race mode so yes, I hope to race well.”

Docherty also suggests that some of the younger New Zealand athletes might be eyeing up a chance to take out a big name along with a national title.

“Yeah, this is a chance for some of the younger guys to take on the likes of me and Kris in these races at home and given my training programme and focus on the ITU World Championship Series this year, their timing might be good. There has certainly been some good trash talk on Facebook of late, but we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”

Those ‘youngsters’ are a stellar line up of the next tier of triathlon talent in New Zealand behind Docherty and Gemmell and include last years winner Clark Ellice, Tony Dodds, Callum Millward, Graham O’Grady and Martin van Barneveld. Defending Contact Series champion Stephen Sheldrake will also line up.

Docherty will take the chance while in Taupo to not only race for the first time this summer but to put the finishing touches on wedding preparations with the big day looming later in the month.

The Kiwi number one will have some international opposition as well as that offered by the aforementioned youngsters. Frenchman Laurent Vidal will line up on Sunday as he continues his summer of training here in New Zealand. The world number 11 is the partner of New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt. Vidal was in superb form last year with five top ten World Cup finishes to his name, as well as representation at the Beijing Olympic Games.

The women’s race shapes up as an even closer and more intriguing battle with Nicky Samuels looking to continue her perfect summer so far in the Contact Tri Series. Up against her though is Olympian and world number 8 Debbie Tanner, world number 13 Elizabeth May (Luxembourg) and former mountain running world champion Kate McIlroy who looks to continue her apprenticeship in her new sport.

Racing will feature a number of events as well as the National Sprint Distance titles over all age groups. Racing will be intense as qualification for the 2009 ITU World Championships in Australia in September is on the line with top qualifiers in each age group earning a spot in the NZ team for the Gold Coast event.

The day will start with the Erin Baker Award races over the standard distance, followed by the beginner and hugely popular Contact 3:9:3 races before the Sprint Nationals get underway at 11am with the elites racing at 1.40 and 1.45 for men and women respectively.

A strong feature on the day is the large and quality field in both the men’s and women’s U19 categories, reflecting the growth and interest in the sport at Secondary School level.

Contact Tri Series

Kinloch, Lake Taupo

Sunday 8th February

Start Times:
7.00am – Men, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
7.05 am – Women, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
7.15 am – Teams, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award

10.00am - 3:9:3 Men
10.05am – 3:9:3 Women

11.00am - Age Group Men
11.05am – Age Group Women.

12.30pm – U19 Men
12.35pm – U19 Women

1.40pm – Elite/U23 Men
1.45pm – Elite/U23 Women

3pm - Prize Giving