Record numbers of children from across Otago competed in the annual Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon at Memorial Park, Mosgiel, yesterday.
Sanitarium national vending manager Ronny Davidson said 1234 children swam, biked and ran their way to the finish line, breaking a record which had stood for seven years.
‘‘It's the first time we have had more than 1200 triathletes in Dunedin,'' Mr Davidson said.
The day went perfectly, he said.‘‘Otago and Dunedin put on a magnificent day and the sun came out.''
He believed the increase in competitors was down to the efforts Sanitarium had made to market the event, which included going directly to schools.
Once they completed the triathlon, the children received medals from visiting sport stars, New Zealand women's sevens team captain Sarah Goss, Olympian and two-times world champion track cyclist Alison Shanks and All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo.
Dr Edwin van Broekhoven, of Dunedin, said the fine weather helped make it a great day for the entire family, including his three children who competed.
His children were ‘‘very fanatical'' about competing in the triathlon.
‘‘We normally can't get them out of bed in the morning when they need to go to school, but there was no problem this morning.''
His son, Stijn van Broekhoven (9), said the day was fun. The highlight for him was the swimming leg, because ‘‘he beat everyone''.
