Cold weather and the threat of rain were never going to cancel yesterday’s Otago Primary and Intermediate Schools Triathlon Championships in Cromwell.
"There are only two reasons I would cancel an event," organiser Bill Godsall, of Sport Central, said.
"Extreme cold, and by extreme I mean freezing, and high wind, because that can knock kids off their bikes. In life, you sometimes need to get out there when it’s raining, and so [in this event] we’re training them to do that."
Almost 400 pupils from 48 Otago primary and intermediate schools took part in the event, which featured a 1500m run, 4.5km bike and 100m swim for years 5-6 competitors, and twice those distances for the years 7-8 competitors.
Many competitors said they initially found the weather conditions cold, but they warmed up after each leg and rugged up after the final section, the swim, Mr Godsall said.
"We structure the event that way so they can finish with the swim and then wrap up and it’s nice and warm in there inside the pool building."
