Posted: April 5, 2005

Triathlon: The Tradition Continues In Port Macquarie, NSW

IMG in association with World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), are pleased to announce that the 2006 Ironman Australia Triathlon will be held in Port Macquarie, NSW, on 2 April 2006.

The 20-year-old Ironman triathlon event will move from Forster-Tuncurry to Port Macquarie, taking with it the tradition that is Ironman Triathlon. The Ironman Triathlon, held over the distances of 3.8km swim, 180km ride and 42.2km run will have a new cut-off time of 17 hours as opposed to the 15.5 hours that had been imposed on the event in Forster-Tuncurry. The 17-hour cut-off is the official cut-off point at the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kailua-Kuna, Hawaii. Seventy Ironman Triathlon World Championships qualifying spots will be available at the 2006event.

IMG are the only licence holders of the “Ironman Triathlon” name and brand in Australia and the event organisers of the two official Ironman Triathlon events in Australia, being Ironman Australia Triathlon (Port Macquarie, NSW) and Ironman Western Australia Triathlon (Busselton, WA).

Says Peter Henning, Vice president of WTC, “The name Ironman Triathlon is a very precious commodity to WTC and we will do what we have to do to protect it along with our partners from IMG.”

2005 Ironman Hall of Fame inductee and Ironman Australia Triathlon race director Ken Baggs, in conjunction with IMG, will continue to be the mainstay of Ironman Australia Triathlon. Multi-finishers of Ironman Australia Triathlon will again be recognised and the same level of support, passion and culture will continue in Port Macquarie – the new home of Ironman Triathlon in Australia.

Port Macquarie Half Ironman Triathlon

The new Port Macquarie Half Ironman will be staged on 23 October 2005. This will replace the previously scheduled Forster Half Ironman, which will no longer take place. The Half Ironman will be conducted at the new home of Ironman Triathlon in Australia, allowing athletes the opportunity to experience the new racecourse prior to the Ironman Australia Triathlon on 2 April 2005.

Triathletes who have competed at Port Macquarie in the Australian Long Course Championships well know the beauty of the region, the fantastic support from the community and the quality of the course. With ample quality accommodation and excellent restaurants, cafes and other amenities, the move to Port Macquarie will help grow the event, the sport of triathlon in Australia and the value of true Ironman racing in Australia.

There will be 200 Ironman Australia Triathlon qualifying spots available at the Port Macquarie Half Ironman on 23 October 2005.

IMG recognise the support of the Meningie Half Ironman held in South Australia who have kindly moved their race date to 30 October 2005 to allow the Port Macquarie Half Ironman to be run on 23 October 2005.

Entries open on 1 July 2005 for the Port Macquarie Half Ironman. Website information will be posted prior to this date. For further enquiries please contact Kim Phillips at IMG on (03) 9864 1111.