World champion and Olympic athletes will line up for a jam-packed weekend of multi-sport challenges at the annual Fujifilm Hamilton Island Triathlon and the Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim on 19 and 20 November.
Acclaimed athletes such as Susie O’Neill and Ky Hurst will race alongside competitors of all ages and abilities over the endurance sport weekend which has been billed as one of the most unique and scenic courses in the world.
The Fujifilm Hamilton Island Triathlon on Saturday 19 November has again attracted defending champion and former world junior champion triathlete Ashleigh Gentle as well as Olympian Maxine Seear and semi professionals Josh Amberger and James Seear.
Around 300 triathletes will compete in the sprint distance event which has one of the most unique courses on the triathlon circuit. The event starts with a 750 metre swim in Catseye Bay at Hamilton Island followed by a 20km cycle around the southern part of Hamilton Island including the airport runway and a 5km run around the marina with a finish on the resort-side of Hamilton Island.
Nearly one third of the competitors will be in the teams division of the triathlon including champion ironman Ky Hurst who will compete in the swim leg of the event for his team.
A junior triathlon, for children under the age of 15, will be held on Sunday 20 November. In a move from traditional kid’s triathlons, the children won’t compete in age-groups but will race a choice of three distances depending on their ability and experience.
Later that afternoon, nearly 300 swimmers will hit the water for the magnificent Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim. Around 10 Olympians including Susie O’Neill and Ky Hurst will be competing in the 2km swim. The swim is the only sporting event permitted to be held on Whitehaven Beach. There will also be a 750 metre swim as well as a 350 metre swim for children under 13.
However, the weekend of sport is not all for serious athletes. The Dent Dash on Sunday 20 November is a non-competitive social event where participants can either run or walk 18 holes of the spectacular Hamilton Island Golf Course which is approximately 10.6km. If that’s too energetic, they can choose between the front nine holes (4.2km) or the back nine (4.6km).
Accommodation special: Book accommodation online before 14 October 2011 or until sold out and receive a special competitor’s rate of $275 per night at the Reef View Hotel. This rate is exclusive to competitors and only available for bookings made prior to 14 October 2011 unless sold out earlier.
For further information about the Fujifilm Hamilton Island Triathlon or the Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim, including entry, registration details and accommodation options, please visit the events section of www.hamiltonisland.com.au
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Note to Editors:
Hamilton Island is located off the Queensland coast of Australia, within the Whitsunday Islands at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Here visitors can experience everything that is great about Australia – natural landscapes, calm turquoise waters, secluded beaches, beautiful weather, fascinating coral reefs, diverse flora and fauna. Hamilton Island offers a wide range of accommodation options, not to mention over 60 activities and all within a short direct flight from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Cairns. There are also great connections from other Australian cities. www.hamiltonisland.com.au www.facebook.com/hamiltonisland
Image library and media centre: www.hamiltonisland.com.au/media-centre
Hamilton Island media contacts:
Jo Wilkinson, Communications Manager, m: 0416 036 713, jwilkinson@hamiltonisland.com.au
Katie Cahill, PR On-Island Manager, m: 0439 775 656, kcahill@hamiltonisland.com.au