The Canterbury Classic features an Olympic distance triathlon starting at 7.30am with a 1500-metre swim in the bay, followed by a 40km bike ride and a 10km run over the hills.
It is part of the Triathlon NZ national series and a selection event for the world triathlon championships.
He said it was frustrating because “the testing consistently comes back showing bacteria is not even detectable - it’s like they have made their decision and they just don’t want to change it.”
Environment Canterbury has done weekly Enterococci (faecal) bacteria testing through January, showing little or none present, while Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) issues and lifts health warnings.
“We have done six tests through January, including a sediment test, and every one shows the water quality is superb,” he said.
“And we have enough money pledged by the local swimming community to continue testing twice a week right through the summer.”
Abel keeps running Wednesday evening training events at the bay.
Last week nearly 100 swimmers turned up.
An ECan water quality test done the same day showed no faecal bacteria present.
ECan said it followed environment and health ministry guidelines when it calculated, in October last year, that Corsair Bay should be graded unsuitable for swimming for the entire summer.
It says the grading will not be reviewed until the end of the season.
If there is significant rain before Sunday, Newsom said the event has a back-up plan.
“If necessary we would substitute the swim for a short run,” he said.
The forecast for the weekend is for cloudy skies with northeasterly winds.
-By Tony Simons
