Tinbum # 9: bring shoes, off-road bikes and competitive spirit
Two students will take away gold coins worth hundreds of dollars after this year’s Tinbum Triathlon.
An anonymous donor has traditionally given two gold nuggets as prizes, but this year he has had half-ounce gold coins minted instead. He has specified that the coins will go to Golden Bay High School students: the first girl to finish and the first boy to finish.
The world gold price is around US$1356 per ounce.
These and lots of prizes can be won when the Pohara Beach Top Ten Holiday Park hosts the ninth annual Tinbum Triathlon on 6 March.
The event, along with its offsider, the Junior Tinbum, is usually blessed with ideal weather conditions. It has become a fixture on the “to do” list for people who enjoy accessible and attainable multisport events.
Organiser Mark Allinson said that the tides will pose a bit of a problem this year and will necessitate a later start time.
“We’ve got to have the swim happening fairly close to shore in chest-deep water and then the run needs a fair bit of dry beach. It takes a bit of juggling to get a date at the right time of the year.”
Mark was keen to point out to people intending to do the Tinbum that changes to the course this year will also make some gear changes essential.
“You’ll need shoes for the run and the bike course is no longer suitable for road bikes.”
All the usual trophies are up for grabs again this year: the Business House challenge, the Family challenge, the Hard-as-rock trophy and the unique Tinbum trophies in all age groups. The organisers are happy to receive trophies back from last year’s winners and they are particularly keen to hear from a Mark Thomas, who has clearly changed his cellphone number since the last Tinbum.
“He won the under-40 male section. We’re hoping someone will know him and give him a reminder to send the trophy back, and then hopefully come back and defend it.”
The Tinbum will once again be a fundraiser for the Golden Bay High School Home and School Association. Anyone wishing to do one leg of the event and looking for teammates should ring the high school on 525 9914. Every effort will be made to put them into teams.
Neil Wilson
