The organisers of a new swimming event in Lake Wanaka are confident they have pole position over Triathalon New Zealand in the race for dates.
Triathlon NZ has announced the only South Island event in its five-triathlon series will be held at Wanaka on January 17.
But a Wanaka group behind a new event called ''The Ruby'' already has resource consent from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and their event is scheduled for January 17.
Ruby spokesman Eddie Spearing told the Otago Daily Times he was confident of his group's position and Triathlon NZ would have to find another date.
''Tri NZ didn't do anything other than issue a date.''
The new event is a series of races in the vicinity of Ruby Island, in Lake Wanaka, with the longest race - ''The Big Ruby'' - over a distance of 3.8km and involving two laps of the island.
The distance makes it an event likely to appeal to triathletes preparing for other events such as Challenge Wanaka.
The January 17 date was left open when Challenge Wanaka announced it would move its event next year to February 22.
Mr Spearing described the Ruby as a ''festival of swimming'' with categories appealing to various ages and abilities.
Triathlon NZ media manager Andrew Dewhurst said the organisation was consulting the council and the ''other'' event organiser over ''a potential clash of dates''.
The organisation was not aware of the clash when approval for the triathlon was sought and was seeking a resolution that would benefit everyone.
