NZ Winter Games events described

Ruapehu Bulletin, 20 August 1991, Page 10

NZ Winter Games events described

As the final countdown begins for the 1991 New Zealand Winter Games details of individual events are being made available. The "Drinksafe" Over-The-Top Ironman event, which is sponsored by the Manawatu/Wanganui Area Health Board's Drink Safe programme, is now to take place on Saturday 28 September (changed from 21 September). The race starts at 8.00 am from Lake Moawhango (near Waiouru) when competitors take their canoes and paddle across to their bicycle changeover point near the Desert Road. They will then cycle north on State Highway One to Rangipo, turn left and head for the Chateau Tongariro on State Highway 47 and State Highway 48, then up the Bruce Road to Scoria Flat (just below the Whakapapa Skifield) to collect their ski gear and crampon-equipped tramping boots to start climbing towards the summit of Mount Ruapehu. Once over the Paretetaitonga Saddle they will ski or walk down to the base of the Turoa Skifield (Broadbents Flat ) whcre they will discard their skiing gear and pick up running shoes near the Ranger Station building adjacent to the car park. The final stage of the 'Drinksafe' Over-The-Top Ironman Event will be a 16km run down the Ohakune Mountain Road to the finishing line in Thames Street, Ohakune. Organisers say there has already been a good response to this test of endurance with several entries already confirmed and many enquiries being made. Competitors are reminded that the field will be limited to the first 150 entries. Competitors will be divided into four age groups: 16-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50+. In the event of bad weather, the race will^ take place on the following day. RolJerblading A great deal of interest is being shown in this up-and-coming sport of rollerblading, which has already reached professional status in America. In New Zealand, there are an increasing number of sporting outlets from which rolerblade equipment can be bought or hired including several in Ohakune where the New Zealand Winter Games Rollerblading races are due to be held. They will be spread over three davs (20. 21

and 22 September) and will feature both individual and team relay races over distances ranging from 400 metres to 3,000 metres on a street circuit. The races, which are due to start in the early afternoon on each of the three days, will be divided into four age group categories: 1216, 17-20, 21-34 and 35+. Triathlon The New Zealand | Winter Games Triathlon was set down to start from the Turoa Skifield on Saturday 4 October, but will now start from the Tukino Skifield on that date at 10.00 am. Competitors will gather in Ohakune for a briefing at 8.00 am before being transported to the Tukino Skifield above the Desert Road (State Highway 1) halfway between Waiouru and Turangi. At 10.00 am they will ski a short distance (depending on snow conditions) to the top of Tukino Road and then shed their skis to run some 12 kms down to the Desert Road where they will pick up their bicycles for the 50km ride to Ohakune. The third and final stage will be completed when competitors cross the finishing line in Thames Street, Ohakune. This event is open to both men and women and, at this stage, there is no limit on numbers. Competitors will be divided into four age groups; 15-19, 20-34, 35-44 and 45+. Swimming The NZWG Swimming Masters event is scheduled for Friday 4 and Saturday 5 October in the Trustbank Pool in Taumarunui. It will feature freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and medley races with distances ranging from 50 metres to 1,500 metres. Thanks to the support of the New Zealand Swimming Masters AsI sociation, the original seven age groups have been extended from 2025 to 50+ (in five year steps) to include 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-90 and 90+.