41 teams a new Corporate Tri record

Saturday’s Corporate Team Triathlon Challenge continued the trend of increased participation mixed with untold fun as a record 41 teams of three persons tackled the 200 metre swim, 8km cycle and 2km run course.

Threatening storm clouds stayed away making for a mostly fine but overcast afternoon, and this allowed an extended party atmosphere to prevail long after the racing was finished. There was excellent support from some of the larger Cook Islands businesses with ANZ Bank entering six teams, HSBC Trust four teams, Westpac Bank three teams and Air New Zealand three teams.

Tereora College also had a strong showing at the event with five teams entered by staff of the national college.

There were two categories for the day – the all-disciplines category where each member completed the course before tagging their next team member and the individual disciplines category where one member completed a discipline (the swim, the bike or the run) three times.

The individual disciplines category again provided the overall winner with Telecom Cook Islands team made up of Bernie Raffe (swimmer), Geoff Stoddart (cyclist) and John Beasley (runner) completing the course in 1 hour 19 minutes 4 seconds for a race record time.

Second home was Electric Sharks made up of Kelly Pick (swimmer) John Koteka (cyclist) and Brendon Heath (runner) in 1:22:03 followed by Aroa Vegeland Lettuceheads – Jennie George (swimmer), Steve Whita (cyclist) and Terry Meyer (runner) – in 1:22:45.

First team home in the all disciplines category was Happy Dayz with team members Vanessa Palmer, Apii Napa and Rhys Woodger finishing in the very good time of 1:31:21.

Second in this ‘all rounde’s’ category was ANZ Imagine That (Brendon Sutherland, Annie Sutherland and Rangi Apera) in 1:32:23 and third was Air Raro Turbines (Ianis Boaza, Tangi Amataiti and Anita Boaza ) in 1:42:33

Category prizes and special prizes were distributed to nearly all participants with organisers returning all entry fees and sponsorship to participants.

Other category winners were – 1st government department team went to Beauties & the Beast, 1st tourism business was won by the Electric Sharks, 1st School was Team What?!, 1st retail was Telecom Cook Islands, 1st Bank was ANZ Imagine That and the 1st trust company team was CI Trust Angels.

Special appreciation goes out to Len Edwards who many regard as the best sports event organiser on Rarotonga for his many hours of preparation for this event including equipment delivery, setting of the course and field layout to allow a smooth flow for the race.

Special thanks also to Terai Hill for her untiring assistance in the organisation.

CITAI thanks businesses for the support it receives for this event, in particular to two of the island’s best eateries, Caf Salsa and Alberto’s Restaurant for prizes, KPMG Accountants the longest continuous supporter of the event (17 years), Westpac Bank and Island Car & Bike Hire, CITC Liquor, ANZ Bank for provision of marquees and HSBC Trust for providing meals for officials afterwards as well as to all business managers who came along to support their teams in this great event.

And finally a big thank you to the helpers on the day with the race timing and marshalling.

The next event is in three weeks time, the Women’s Triathlon.