Ironman: Brown back in Tauranga for yet another season

Cameron Brown at last year's Port of Tauranga Half. Photo / George Novak

Cameron Brown, New Zealand's legend of long-distance triathlon, begins his 27th season this Saturday with the 2016 Port of Tauranga Half at Mount Maunganui.

Brown's triathlon career stretches back to 1990 when, as an 18-year-old, he won the Whangamata Triathlon, beating former world champ and idol Rick Wells. The 26 years to follow have seen Brown amass an incredible record of success, including 11 victories in Ironman New Zealand and four podium finishes in the Ironman World Champs in Kona.

He starts each year with the Port of Tauranga Half and has made this event his own, with 10 victories and several other podium finishes.

"The Port of Tauranga Half has been part of my summer for 20 years," Brown said. "For me, it's a great race to do pre-New Zealand Ironman. It's one of the oldest and most prestigious events on the New Zealand triathlon calendar, and holds the New Zealand Long Distance Championship, so it's an important race to win."

While Brown has dominated the Port of Tauranga Half over the past 20 years, he has a strong field to contend with in 2016. Heading his competition is last year's runner-up (to Australian Craig Alexander) and current NZ long distance champion Braden Currie. Also on the start line this year are 2013 race winner Graham O'Grady and 2014 runner-up Mark Bowstead.

In assessing the men's field for this year's event, Brown said: "There is plenty of great home-grown talent, so it will be a tough race. I think the favourite will be Braden Currie who won last month's Taupo Ironman 70.3 against a good field, and also Graham O'Grady and Mark Bowstead."

For Brown, the passion for the sport of triathlon still burns at 43 years of age. When asked if he is looking forward to the Port of Tauranga Half, he answered: "I love racing there. It's always a great build-up for me towards the Ironman New Zealand in March. It shows what my current form is like and what I need to do in the next eight weeks before Ironman."

"I wish I had a few more weeks up my sleeve this year, after having a late season break in November and a calf injury, but I'll try to make the most of my preparation."

The Port of Tauranga Half women's race will also be interesting with the field featuring three former runners-up, and last year's third-place getter.

The favourite will be the 2014 runner-up and the rising star of women's long distance triathlon in New Zealand, Amelia Rose Watkinson. Her competition is expected to come from 2013 race runner-up Candice Hammond, 2011 runner-up Anna Cleaver and last year's third-place getter Julia Grant.

The Port of Tauranga Half is scheduled to start at 6:15am on Saturday.