Triathlon: Taupo hosts Future ChampioNZ festival

Photo / ScottieTPhoto

Taupo hosted the Future ChampioNZ Talent Festival this past weekend with 120 of New Zealand's best young triathletes competing over 3 days and 5 races.

The Festival is in its second year and thanks to the support of Events Capital - Taupo District Council it has quickly become the premier Junior Triathlon event in New Zealand.

Festival Organiser Stephen Bradley wanted to first thank the people of Taupo for hosting the young athletes "We've had great support from the people of Taupo in bringing the festival here, it wouldn't be possible without Tri-Sport Taupo's help, Shanelle Barrett's expertise and the people of Wharewaka's understanding and co-operation".

The weekend was prioritised in Triathlon NZ's national talent pathway, and Friday kicked off with the National Aquathlon Championships (Swim to Run). Trent Dodds (Auckland) and Ari Graham (Canterbury) were crowned National Champions in the Junior (U20) division. With Olivia Cummings (Tauranga) and Callum Hockey (Auckland) winning the Youth (U16) division. Local athletes shone on home turf with triathlon newcomer Sheree Gauge of Taupo finishing less than 30 seconds off the podium in 5th place, and Alex Brackenbury taking a silver medal ahead of Oliver Larcombe and Ivan Abele all in the top 6.

The Festival is unique in that it is scored on points not timing, athletes accumulate them throughout the weekend with 350 points on offer per event, and 700 for the Grand Final Triathlon on Sunday morning. Saturday's racing included an 800m swim based on Lake Terrace followed by athletics at Owen Delany Park.

The concept is designed to test the young athletes all round versatility and prepare them for the rigours of ITU racing, something Festival Co-Organiser Sam Warriner is very aware of (past ITU World Triathlon Series Champion - now living in Taupo):

"ITU racing is increasingly being contested over shorter sprint distance events, and with that move comes a need to prepare athletes skill sets differently. Seconds decide races these days and that puts added importance on skills like transitions, swim skills and bike tactics. The Festival has been designed to test all of these whilst providing a pre-christmas social feel for the athletes too". 55 youngsters stayed out at Blue Light Wairakei the week leading in, all benefiting from pre-event coaching from some of the top youth triathlon coaches in NZ.

Coming into the final triathlon it was all to race for with Trent Dodds and Ari Graham leading but within less than 50 points of a handful of athletes. Janus Staufenberg (Southland), Bradley Cullen (Cambridge) and Saxon Morgan (Canterbury), worked hard to contain the biking of David Martin (Manawatu) and the boys race came down to a foot race between the best athletes in NZ, Dodds coming away with the win and a share of the $1,500 prize money on offer in the Junior Division.

Ari graham continued her dominance winning ahead of Chisaki Matsui (Japan) and Hannah Knighton (Tauranga).

The Japanese National Team tried to disrupt things in both the girls and boys racing, the well drilled team using tactics usually only on display in elite level ITU racing. This paid off in the final Teams Tag Relay (soon to be introduced at the Olympics) where Team Japan were victorious ahead of Canterbury and Central North Island Juniors.

In the up and comers Youth Division Taupo athletes shone yet again with 3 Tri-Sport Taupo athletes in the top 5 overall in the festival, a reflection of the commitment the club has made these past 2 years to their youth coaching program supported by The Lion Foundation, The Peter Taylor fund and 100% Lake Taupo Charitable Trust.

Callum Hockey won the Youth Boys overall taking home generous sponsorship from Festival Sponsor Hoka One One, with Kinloch youngster Alex Brackenbury close behind in second and Caleb Ney in 3rd. In the Youth Girls division Olivia Cummings was dominant winning every race, followed by Noya Oporto (Auckland) and Brea Roderick (Canterbury).

The festival will again return to Taupo in 2017 with Triathlon NZ committing to the event as their National Talent Festival for 3 years and Events Capital - Taupo District Council in support.