Triathlon: Kiwi pair ready for German ironman

Cameron Brown crosses the finish line for his ninth title at Taupo Ironman in March. Photo / APN

Cameron Brown and Joanna Lawn will fly the New Zealand flag at the US$100,000 ($142,000) European Ironman championships at Frankfurt, Germany starting tomorrow.

Brown is looking for his second European title after winning the event in 2006.

He is excited at taking on some of the world's best, including 2007 world champion Chris McCormack of Australia, reigning European champion Timo Bracht of Germany, former 70.3 half-ironman world champion Andreas Raelert, who finished third at the Hawaii Ironman last year, and six-times Ironman Australia winner Patrick Vernay of New Caledonia.

"That's why I'm here - to take on the best," said Brown, who has been training with McCormack in Germany.

"It would have to be the toughest ironman outside of Hawaii to win due to the fantastic fields the race assembles every year. Plus it's very hard to beat the Germans on home soil."

The 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run at the height of the Northern Hemisphere summer - temperatures of 35C are expected - is rated one of the toughest endurance races.

Brown was runner-up three years in a row before the win in 2006 which was his first ironman victory outside New Zealand. He was fourth two years ago but missed last year with injury.

Lawn, who will be trying to take the European title off Germany's Sandra Wallenhorst, is coming into the event in good form.

She overcame year-long health problems to regain her Taupo Ironman title in March, won the British leg of the European TriGrandPrix at the end of May and took fourth in the second round in Spain two weeks later.

- NZPA