More than one thousand Northland children with a passion for sport will take part in the first-ever Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon to be held in the Northland.

The executive general manager of Sanitarium, Pierre van Heerden, says he’s pleased that Northland children now have the opportunity to participate in one of the country’s best loved sporting events.

“Last year we had a record number of more than 24,000 children participating, and we are on track to beat that number again this year. The expansion of the TRYathlon into the Northland region allows us to bring the event to a thousand more Kiwi kids, giving them the chance to build their self-confidence and love of sport. 

“The new Bay of Islands Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon will be staged on one of the most picturesque and stunning locations in New Zealand,” he says. 

Community groups including; Sport Northland, The Paihia Business Association, Far North District Council, The Waitangi National Trust, Te Tii marae and several other local stakeholders worked alongside Sanitarium to bring the event to the region.

The Bay of Islands Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon will be held at a site adjacent to the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds on Sunday 10 April. 

Sport Northland chief executive Brent Eastwood says his organisation was only too happy to pick up the running of the region’s only local kids triathlon four years ago to ensure young Northlanders continued to have an annual kid’s triathlon event close to home, but believes the new Weet-Bix event in Northland will take the triathlon experience for kids to a new level.

“Sport Northland is pleased to support the event through a local co-ordinator contract and we have been working hard with some of Northland’s lower decile schools to ensure participation in the event is maximised, so we are delighted to see the strong numbers that have entered so far”, says Mr Eastwood.

Sport Northland’s other connection to the event is through their own major sponsor ASB, also a national sponsor of the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon series.

ASB Northland regional manager Glen Hardham is delighted to see the popular children’s triathlon series debut in Northland for 2016. And as ASB and Sport Northland enter their 25th year of partnership, there’s no better way to celebrate than through an addition to the region’s sporting line-up.

“We are pleased to this year celebrate a 25-year partnership with Sport Northland. We’ve been involved with many sporting events across the region throughout the 25 years and we’re delighted to add to that growing number,” Mr Hardham says.

“We have helped support these popular triathlon events around the country for eight years and we’re thrilled locals can participate in a regional event of their own. I’m looking forward to seeing our kids get out there and give it a go – with more than 1000 registrations it’s going to be a brilliant day for all families involved,” Mr Hardham says. 

Northland kids can enter the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon as individuals, or in a team of two. Entries  for children aged between 7-15 years are open at www.weetbix.co.nz and close on Tuesday 5 April.

All participating children will receive race packs, a t-shirt, swim cap and a participation certificate and medal.