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The People Will Compete for $15 000

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On Tuesday 3 November the Professional Triathletes Organisation announced that it will provide a $15,000 professional prize purse for The People’s Triathlon on 15 November 2020 in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. This is as a direct response to the recent news that the PTO Supported Sun City Ultra Triathlon, set to take place on 1 November 2020, has had to be cancelled due to mandatory COVID-19 regulations imposed by the Government of South Africa.

The People’s Triathlon professional race will be a non-drafting middle-distance race starting with a 2km (one-way) swim between Hobie Beach and Pollok Beach, a 3-lap 90km cycle on flat roads and a 5-lap 21km flat run route along the beach front.

The start list for the men’s race includes Port Elizabeth home boy Kyle Buckingham, James Cunnama, Henri Schoeman, and Matt Trautman. The female line-up includes Annah Watkinson, Mariella Sawyer, Emma Pallant, Natia Van Heerden, Jade Nicole Roberts and Magda Nieuwoudt.

Charles Adamo, Executive Chairman of PTO commented, “PTO Professionals continue to unite around the world to help support local and regional races and our triathlon community. South Africa has had some of the most difficult travel and lockdown restrictions and given the last- minute cancellation of the Sun City Ultra, we are pleased to have the opportunity to support our professionals by finding an alternative race opportunity in South Africa. It is a tribute to race director Michael Zoetmulder and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality that they are able to host this event at this time and we are grateful to be a part of it.”

Michael Zoetmulder, Zsports Events NPC Managing Director and People’s Triathlon race director said, “After 7 months in lockdown, it’s great to finally be back up and running with the hosting of events in Nelson Mandela Bay and fantastic that one of our first events back is the People’s Triathlon where this year we have the opportunity to feature both professional and amateur athletes from around the country including our home grown African Ironman Champion, Kyle Buckingham. It is a pleasure to welcome PTO Professionals to the Nelson Mandela Bay race and I thank the PTO for their support in this regard.”

PTO Professional, James Cunnama, commented, “It has been an honour to work with fellow PTO professional, Matt Trautman, and race director Michael Zoetmulder, to provide an alternative racing opportunity for professionals in South Africa. Thanks to the PTO we can create opportunities like this, and we are so grateful to have the chance to be a part of the People’s Triathlon and have a race here in South Africa.”

The People’s Triathlon is a fairly new event on the national South African calendar in only its second year and has been well received, both as a great event, and as one of the country’s major fundraising initiatives for Rotary International’s “End Polio Now” Campaign.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.