THE ULTIMATE SUMMER CHALLENGE
Sounds like this Manukau Crocs event is set to really go off.  Expect close
to 200 people racing in around 40-45 teams.  It all happens this weekend
from Alfriston to Whangamata taking in some cross country terrain along the
way.

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USTS AND BAYWATCH
From Deb Weaver

The Bally Total Fitness U.S. Triathlon Series (USTS) and Pearson Television
announced that "Baywatch", the most-watched television series in the world,
will be the title sponsor of the "Baywatch National Relay Triathlon
Challenge" within the 1999 Bally Total Fitness USTS.

Under the agreement, the 12-city USTS tour will expand its relay offerings
from three divisions (men, women and mixed) to seven.

The four new categories are: Youth (combined ages 45-54); Senior (combined
ages 151 years and up); Corporate and Physically Challenged. The top three
teams in each division will win Baywatch-branded merchandise awards.
A triathlon relay team is typically composed of three members: a swimmer, a
cyclist and a runner.  Unlike the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii (which does
not offer relay competition), the 1999 Bally Total Fitness USTS will feature
two much shorter distance options designed for the less-than-obsessed -- an
Olympic-distance and a sprint-distance.

"The Baywatch involvement will help us drive home an important point: that
average people, with average levels of fitness, can participate in triathlon
s," USTS spokesman Mike Plant said.  "People see the Ironman and they
shudder. But individual participation at USTS distances is a very reasonable
challenge.  And relay participation is mostly just plain fun.  The hardest
part is picking our a cool name for your team."

Richard Mann, senior vice president, creative services, Pearson Television,
added, "We are delighted to be partnered with the Bally Total Fitness in
this exciting venture.  "Baywatch" has always focused on the importance of a
healthy mind and body whatever the age. The USTS makes fitness a reasonable
and obtainable goal for all level of participants and the best part is it
make fitness fun."

"Baywatch" cast members will make appearances at all of races during the
1999 Bally Total Fitness USTS national tour.  In addition to signing
autographs and greeting fans, a cast member will be racing
shoulder-to-shoulder with the other triathletes.  At several of the events,
places on the official "Baywatch" relay team anchored by a "Baywatch" cast
member will be auctioned off to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

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Gamagori Japan hosts second round of ITU Triathlon World Cup

The world's best triathletes remain in Japan for Round 2 of the 1999 ITU
Triathlon World Cup in Gamagori on Sunday 18 April. After the most
competitive season opener ever in Ishigaki last weekend, 150 of the world's
best triathletes travel 2,000 kilometres north to the main island of Japan
to race in the purpose built boat racing stadium in Gamagori. The 1,500m
swim, 40k bicycle, 10k run competition will be shown live to the expected
20,000 fans on one of the world's largest big screens at the stadium.

A number of National Triathlon Teams are using the Gamagori event as a
primary selection race to name team members to compete at the 1999 ITU
Triathlon World Championships in Montreal, Canada on 11-12 September.
Notably, the competition among Australians will be at its peak as only 6
women and 6 men can race at the World Championships from any country. In
Ishigaki, youngsters Loretta Harrop and Nicole Hackett went 1 - 2, besting
favorites Michellie Jones, Emma Carney and Jackie Gallagher. Selectors for
the Australian team will be taking close notice of the performance of the 8
women and 8 men entered in Gamagori. Veteran and former World no.1, Aussie
Brad Beven rejoins the ITU World Cup in Gamagori, site of his last World Cup
win in 1997.

The fierce competition in Ishigaki set up new race strategies for Gamagori
among the triathletes representing 36 countries. World Ranking points earned
at World Cup events are worth 50% more than in 1998. With the ITU Triathlon
World Ranking the primary qualifying criteria for the ITU Triathlon World
Championships and the triathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, every
triathlete is striving to improve their ranking in hope to make the starting
field.
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NZ will be represented at Gamagori by the same athletes who raced at
Ishigaki last weekend.  Hamish Jamie and Evelyn all went top 10 in Gamagori
last year.
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RACE AROUND AUSTRALIA

On September 1st 1999, Canadian Perry Stone will head off on a bike ride.
A long bike ride.

A bike ride which will take him right around the circumference of Australia.
Over 14,000 kilometres, and around thirty days later, Perry will - all being
well - return to his starting point as a record breaker. Holder of the most
extreme ultra-endurance cycling record there is.

Perry is currently somewhere on the Australian coast completing a 9,000
kilometre training ride. He is riding a full suspension aluminium Dagger
mountain bike, fully laden with front and rear panniers.

This is the Race Around Australia.

To read a great story on Perry and his plans visit www.extremetri.com

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LEGH WINS ON THE GOLD COAST
Chris Legh made it 4 for 4 for '99 with a win at the Gold Coast
International Triathlon in Australia. Here's his race report:

"It was a VERY hard day at the office! In the worst conditions I've ever
raced in over the 2/60/16km  course I closed a 2min swim deficit to lead off
the bike with Jason Shortis, then ran away with the win by 1min 15secs, from
Jason, with Troy Fidler in third a further 1:30 back. I have had two flat
out  weeks [of training] at the [Australian] Institute [For Sport]. My legs
are dead and I was very relieved to come away with a win on this occasion."

Chris' next race is Ironman Australia on May 2nd where he runs into Ironman
Champ, Peter Reid. Last year, the race between these two slow-boiled down a
sprint in the last 25 meters won by Reid.
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Ali Methven won the annual Police Triathlon from Raglan to Hamilton on
Wednesday
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Quote Of The Day
"It's not necessarily the amount of time you spend at practice that counts;
it's what you put into practice"
Eric Lindros
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