Thousands queue for Tryathlon

12 Dec 2024 • By Mary Anne Gill

A post-event review will be held to work out how to improve access and transit times to a huge competition at a Cambridge venue which resulted in long Waikato Expressway queues on Sunday.

These St Peter’s Catholic School students needed some water after completing the Tryathlon, from left Alex Johnston, 10, Zach Dudfield, 8, Sam Johnston, 8, and Toby Broadley, 9, with Kauri Peterson, left, and Rute Samuels, both of Hamilton, photobombing at the back. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

The Weetbix Tryathlon attracted 2012 children aged 6-15 years to St Peter’s School on the western outskirts of Cambridge but the bulk of them used the Expressway to get there and the queues were described by many as horrendous.

Parents spoken to by The News said the biggest log jam came for south bound traffic at the first Cambridge turnoff rather than the Hautapu one.

Entrants were encouraged to get there early – the venue opened at 7am and a transition area for bicycles closed at 8.15am. The first races got underway at 9am.

Leamington Primary School had a good contingent taking part in the Tryathlon including, from left Zayden Rich, 9, Oliver Metcalfe, 10, Madden Connors, 8, Oscar Jones, 9 and Hunter Borsos, 9. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Sanitarium NZ general manager Michael Barton said he understood some families experienced delays.

“We understand that despite every effort taken to prepare attendees for possible traffic impacts for the new venue, some families still experienced minor delays on the day.

“Although frustrating for those impacted, the event ran as planned and Sanitarium has received significant positive feedback from attendees and participants who shared they had a great time.”

Hamilton competitors dominated the entries with 45 per cent – about 900 – followed by Cambridge, Tamahere, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Matamata and Ōhaupō. There was even a contingent of 32 from Auckland.

This was the first year St Peter’s had hosted the Hamilton leg. Before that it was held at Waikato University but the closure of the pool there prompted organisers go look for another venue.

St Peter’s was chosen as the next best venue.

Noah Gillette of Te Awamutu heads out of the transition area on his bike during the Tryathlon at St Peter’s School in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Since the event started in 1992, the event has attracted half a million participants.

Organisers worked with the school and traffic control staff to plan and manage the flow of traffic. They created digital display boards, told people to expect delays and allocated a large parking area adjacent to the school for parking.

“As part of our standard processes we will work with our event planning and execution partners to consider additional ways that access and transit times could potentially be improved should we explore returning to this venue in the future,” said Barton.

Pirongia School students had plenty of swimming training in their pool for the Tryathlon, from left Lachie Johnson, 10, Maria Wacker, 12, and Campbell Wacker, 10. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Kaeleigh Hooker of Huntly, left, with Miriam Beall of Hamilton waiting to start the swimming leg of the Tryathlon at St Peter’s School in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Jack Dalgety of Ngāruawāhia takes his bathing cap off after the swim-ming leg of the Tryathlon. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

The 8 year old boys get ready to start the Tryathlon swimming leg at St Peter’s School in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Otewa School had a good presence at the Tryathlon, including from left Oliver Hepburn, 7, principal Carolyn Roberts, teacher Annie Vandy and Isabelle Hepburn, 11. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Otewa School participants with their medals, from left: Isaac Wilson, 11, John Woodward, 12, Isabelle Hepburn, 11, Oliver Hepburn, 7, Jack Woodward, 10, Kylie Woodward, 14, Hannah Wilson, 13, Charlie Wood-ward, 7. Photo: Supplied.