 Cup will be held at the picturesque Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga on April 1.){kind=link}
Zimbabwe’s flagship triathlon event, the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Union (ATU) Cup will be held at the picturesque Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga on April 1.
The popular event which is celebrating its 15th year anniversary as an International Triathlon Union (ITU) sanctioned Continental Cup event was launched in Harare on Monday.
Triathlon Zimbabwe are expecting a stellar field of at least 25 elite athletes from countries such as Chile, Austria, Kazakhstan, Togo, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Ireland, Ukraine, Bermuda and Finland.
Zimbabwe will not have representation in the elite competition but will be eager to do well in the junior competitions.
Apart from the elite and junior races, other supporting events on the day include an African Cross-Triathlon (Off-Road) Championship, Cimas Corporate Triathlon Challenge, Zimbabwe Triathlon Championships over a number of events, Tri-Kidz and Trisports triathlon, Aquathlon (run-swim-run) and an Open Water Swim, all under the banner of the Bonaqua Troutbeck Multisport Festival.
Former Triathlon Zimbabwe president Rick Fulton, who is the event director said his team is proud to have successfully organised the Bonaqua Troutbeck Africa Triathlon Union (ATU) Cup for the past 15 years.
“We have staged other events at Troutbeck before that but obviously the sequence of 15 years of the continental Cup is a legacy for us,” Fulton said.
“The Bonaqua Troutbeck Africa Triathlon Union (ATU) Cup is the longest standing event of this kind on the African continent which we are very proud of. These events are very important to the young athletes as they make their way as they begin their careers,” he added.
This year marks the sixth anniversary for Bonaqua still water as the official title sponsor, although Coca-Cola has been involved with the sport for nine years with Schweppes water. Bonaqua
Coca-Cola franchise Marketing Portfolio activation manager in Zimbabwe Faith Nehanda who was representing the title sponsors expressed at their nine year involvement in the Troutbeck Africa Triathlon Cup.
“We are proud of our nine-year relationship with the triathlon sport in Zimbabwe. We have sponsored the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup that takes place at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga for three years with Schweppes water and we are in the sixth year with Bonaqua,” Nehanda said.
“We have been together for nine consecutive years. Our sponsorship and association continue to grow such that putting a monetary value may not do our partnership justice,” she said.
The Bonaqua Troutbeck ATU Cup is sanctioned is a World Ranking points for elite athletes within the ITU ranking system. This means that the points scored by Elite athletes will ultimately become Olympic Ranking Qualification points for Olympics 2024.