Rotorua mother and daughter to tackle major swim events

To say Popsy Warbrick and her daughter Kapua Warbrick, 14, live active lifestyles would be an understatement.

Popsy puts in hours of work training for and competing in endurance events such as triathlons and Ironman, while Kapua is at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre seven to eight times a week training for swimming events.

On Sunday Popsy is taking on the Breca Bay of Islands Swimrun event while a few days later Kapua, a John Paul College student and Swim Rotorua member, travels to Auckland for the 2018 National Age Group Swimming Championships.

The 33km swimrun course comprises a total of 25km of running and 8.4km of swimming, split into 10 run stages and nine swim stages. Starting at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the course links mainland trails with six of the Bay's stunning islands, before the finish at the Otehei Bay Island resort.

Popsy had knee surgery in 2016 and after extensive rehabilitation has worked her way back to full fitness. Last year she completed the Foremost Ironman 70.3 Thailand before completing Ironman New Zealand in Taupo in March.

"The reason I'm doing the swimrun is I love the open water and I love swimming, especially in the sea. Swimming would probably be my best of the three triathlon disciplines. My sister, who lives in Wellington, contacted me and asked if I wanted to do it, so it will be really special competing alongside her.

The 33km Bay of Islands Swimrun course starts at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, links mainland trails with six of the Bay's stunning islands, before the finish at Otehei Bay. Photo / Supplied

"It will definitely be hard transitioning from run to swim [during the race]. Coming out of the water is great, but it is hard going from vertical to horizontal. I've been practising though, that's the beauty of being here in Rotorua. I've been so lucky, I can go to Blue Lake and do all my running and swimming training," Popsy said.

She said the event was also a good way to see the "beautiful" Bay of Islands.

Meanwhile, starting Tuesday, Kapua is representing Bay of Plenty in the 14-year-old girls' 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley at the age group swimming championships.

"Last year was my first national age groups and it was a bit rough because I was new to it all, but it was a really cool experience. It was a lot different compared to other meets, it was a lot more professional and there's a lot of great swimmers there."

Kapua had been swimming since she was a toddler and said she was thankful for all the support she received from her parents and Swim Rotorua.

Popsy Warbrick (right) is taking on the Breca Bay of Islands Swimrun and her daughter Kapua Warbrick, 14, will compete at the national age group swimming championships. Photo / Stephen Parker

"My goals are to get new personal bests, make finals and hopefully podium. I just really want to make mum, dad and my coaches proud of my achievements in swimming."

Popsy said she and her daughter were too competitive to train together often.

"We just end up arguing because it gets too competitive," she laughed.

"But it's great to see [Kapua competing at a high level]. I think I just need to learn to pull back a bit sometimes - I'm still learning too."