For the second time this year triathletes from across Australia will descend on Port Macquarie as part of the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie Australian Age Group Championship.
Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie will be held on Sunday, Novemeber 6, and will see the male and female winners of each age group crowned the Australian Ironman 70.3 Age Group Champion. As additional incentive, the winners of each age group will get the opportunity to enter the already sold-out Ironman Australia 2012 event. Port Macquarie won the right to host this prestigious event following the incredibly successful Urban Hotel Group Ironman Australia in May this year.
Shane Smith, Ironman’s Managing Director of Operations for Australia said the Ironman 70.3 Australian Age Group Championship holds great appeal among the age group ranks.
“Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie 2011 is the inaugural Australian Age Group Championship at the Ironman 70.3 distance. For our elite age groupers to be the first to claim this prestigious title will be an incredible achievement,” said Mr. Smith.
“The race is also a fantastic opportunity for all athletes to begin their season with a quality hit-out in a beautiful location. Port Macquarie is the home of Ironman Australia and for those athletes racing at Ironman Australia 2012, Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie is an ideal opportunity to test themselves over key sections of the Ironman Australia course.
“Our age group athletes will also line up alongside an incredibly strong professional field. There’s a lot at stake for age groupers and professional athletes alike and it is going to be a hotly contested event across the entire field.”
The 2011 event has attracted some big names, none more so that the Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, who will once again be racing in Port Macquarie. Mr. Abbott famously competed in the full distance Urban Hotel Group Ironman Australia event in 2010 and has previously competed in Half Ironman events in Port Macquarie also.
Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie will involve 1.9km swim in the calm waters of the Hastings River, a 90km bike leg comprising two 45km loops to Lake Cathie and back, and a 21.1km run taking in Port Macquarie’s famed foreshore region. The route features key precincts from the Ironman Australia event including transition in the Short Street car park and the finish line on Town Green.
