1991: Much to the surprise of several hundred gob-smacked spectators, one German competitor stripped off completely in the first transition. While stark naked and drying himself with a towel, he seemed un-surprised after hearing comments from the crowd and just said “Vot is ze matter?”!

1993: The Tauranga Half was given national elite status, doubling as the NZ Long Distance Triathlon Championships.

1997: For the first time, the Tauranga Half was postponed a day after the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Drena slammed into the East Coast of the North Island. It was with considerable relief that Sunday dawned bright, fine and calm- with some fast times resulting.

1998: With a capacity field of 1200, the impact of the race on the city also became apparent, with a study showing the event was by far the region’s biggest sporting money-maker, injecting $3.5m into the Wester Bay economy year. Cameron Brown, at 25yrs old also wins his first of many Tauranga Half’s in 3hr 56min & 31s.

2000: Cameron Brown wins his third consecutive Tauranga Half in 3hr 49min & 12s, which is still his fastest-ever at the Tauranga Half. He goes on to win 10 titles in total at the Tauranga Half.

2001: Karen Williams inspired so many to have a go themselves, as she completed the Tauranga Half with a broken arm, proving if she could that- anyone could do it.

2003: Tamara Kozulina from the Ukraine, became the first European athlete to feature in the top three at the Tauranga Half.

2004: Rebekah Keat became the first woman to win three successive titles, heading an all-international podium, with Ukranian Tamara Kozulina second and another Aussie, Kate Major, third.

2009: The 20^th Tauranga Half, sold out its 750 individual entries in just 8hrs and the 150 three-person team entries lasted barely a day. Samantha Warriner sets the female course record which is yet to be broken, at 4hr 10min & 47sec.

2010: 18yr old Michael Poole, having just left Auckland Grammar 2 months earlier, became the youngest-ever winner of the Tauranga Half in 3hr 56min & 33sec.

2012: Jo Lawn becomes the first woman to win four titles at the event, in 4hr 22min & 56sec.

2015: A selection of events was added to the Tauranga Half to create a festival that appealed to a wider range of people with varied athletic abilities. These events now sit under the umbrella of the Mount Festival of Multisport.

2017: Braden Curries sets a new course record of 3hr 45min & 38sec, which is yet to be broken.

2019: The Tauranga Half celebrated its 30th anniversary of this much-loved event.

The Mount Festival events calendar has been carefully developed over the years with a range of events that include:

The hallmark Tauranga Half

The Enduro long distance triathlon

The Höpt Soda AquaBike

The Mount Run

and The Athlete’s expo.

With an enthusiastic and experienced team behind the event, plus huge support from the local Tauranga City Council, the Mount Festival of Multisport is certain to remain the most iconic and destinational multisport events that New Zealand has to offer.

The Mount Festival is a Registered Charitable Trust and was established under the charities commission act in 2015.

On the board is Chairman Owen Cooney, 5x Ironman Champion Jo Lawn, and local businessman Richard Burne.

This means that each year all profits made by the Mount Festival of Multisport are donated back into the local Tauranga community.

By taking part in the Mount Festival, your contribution enables us to support the local community, so from all of us at the Mount Festival Team thankyou and see you in January!