TRIATHLON - Entries open for sixth Allens challenge

You would imagine organising a children's triathlon of 1000 kids would be a big task for anyone.
However, organiser Murray Healey is more worried about making sure Northland children actually enter.
Entries are now open for the sixth annual Allens Kids' Triathlon, which this year will be on Sunday, March 15.
Mr Healey, of Rocket Bikes, has had the help of former Northern Advocate sports editor Tim Eves in previous years, and did so until Mr Eves left today for a year in Canada.
Entries have been open since just after Christmas and the concern is to ensure children come out of their holiday slumber and take up the challenge.
"We're getting entries in, but we're concentrating now on getting the word out there, putting up posters and that sort of thing," he said.
The triathlon on the Onerahi foreshore is open to children aged eight to 14, and attracts some of the same children year after year.
"It's quite neat on the day, when you see there are kids with three or four race stickers already stuck to their bikes. Lots of them wear their race T-shirts around town too."
A tailored training programme for the 150m swim, 4km bike and 1km run will be posted online and in the Northern Advocate.
For now, Mr Healey said children keen to enter just needed to "get out there and be active".
"If you're at the beach, go for a swim, go for some short runs and check your bike out to make sure it's safe."
Entries for the triathlon and information can be downloaded at www.allens.co.nz, or www.rocketbikes.co.nz or picked up from Rocket Bikes in Port Rd, Whangarei. Entry forms will also be delivered to every primary and intermediate school in Northland.