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EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
Ironman reaches new heights in Bay REPORTER
I
T’s all systems go for the 11th Ironman event to be held in Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday, with this year’s event raising the bar yet again.
Now known as the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship it forms part of the exclusive championship series and ranks among the top five races in the world outside of the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. It places Nelson Mandela Bay alongside cities such as Melbourne and Frankfurt. With a field of over 2 000 participants, the race this year also sees the deepest and strongest professional IRONMAN field ever assembled in Africa, featuring world, European, North American and Asia-Pacific champions. The impact of the championship status can also be seen in the entry numbers as 609 of the field consists of international athletes making up 30% of the total field. The winner on Sunday becomes the first ever IRONMAN African Champion, a title that will carry significant weight across the triathlon world. Men’s field Among the continental and world championship winners who will line up together with some of South Africa’s most promising talents at the start on Sunday are 2013 world champion, Frederik Van Lierde from Belgium, who is coming to race in Port Elizabeth for the first time. Van Lierde spent two weeks in the City in January to train on the course and to familiarise himself with the conditions. In this year’s field, there are also three of last year’s top 10 Kona finishers with Frenchman, Cyril Viennot, the highest of the lot having finished 5th. The reigning men’s IRONMAN North American champion, TJ Tollakson, and another Bel-
gian, Bart Aernouts, will also be making a first appearance in Port Elizabeth. Aernouts is the reigning IRONMAN 70.3 European champion and capped off 2014 with a top 10 finish at the IRONMAN World Championship and was re-
cently placed third at the Standard Bank IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa in January. The South African contingent is probably the strongest it has ever been as James Cunnama, Kyle Buckingham and Matt Trautman are all in
contention for a podium. Buckingham is sure to get a lot of support along the way as Port Elizabeth is his hometown. Continued on page 2
Adrenalin action at airshow
Fire fighting aircraft, gyrocopters, a DC3 Dakota, Whispers, a Mustang, Harvard L39 and Seafurie are but a few of the eccentric aircraft to be seen in action at the Wings & Wheels Festival and Doug Davidson Memorial Airshow which will be held at the Uitenhage Airfield on Saturday. One of the highlights of the festival includes a race between South African oval track racing champion Pieta Victor (pictured) in his 2.1 Modified Stock Car against one of the aircraft. Read more about the event on page 22. PHOTO: HEILIE COMBRINCK