Multisports: Record field for Tauranga ironman

A record field of over 1000 has registered for Saturday's Port of Tauranga Half Ironman.

The event, which doubles as the official Triathlon New Zealand Championship, starts at Pilot Bay at 7am and includes a 2km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run.

The men's field includes young guns Keiran Doe and Graham O'Grady from Auckland, Athens Olympian Nathan Richmond and Gisborne veteran Stephen Sheldrake.

The women's field includes Jo Lawn, who was fourth in the Ironman World Championships, and international Ironman winners Marilyn MacDonald from Canada and Yoko Hori from Japan.

Former world duathlon champion Fiona Docherty from Taupo, and two time winner Karyn Ballance from Christchurch will also line up.

The teams event includes Olympic champion Hamish Carter, five time Ironman NZ winner Cameron Brown, former world kayak champion Ben Fouhy, former All Black Ian Jones, and softball great Mark Sorenson.

- NZPA