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Challenge Wanaka has announced entries are open for the new half iron distance event at the 2010 Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival in New Zealand's South Island.
The Lake Wanaka Half will run concurrently with the full iron distance on Saturday 16 January 2010 with the race timed to end before the first Challenge Wanaka professional athletes arrive in the finish chute.

The course will follow the same spectacular route that has quickly earned Challenge Wanaka the title of the world's most scenic iron distance triathlon. The 1.9km swim will be one lap of the swim course in the crystal waters of Lake Wanaka, the 90km cycle will travel out towards Treble Cone before heading back through Lake Wanaka and out to Lake Hawea. The 21.1km run will be one lap of the current run course, half of which is off road alongside the lake and banks of the Clutha River.

Challenge Wanaka race director, Victoria Murray-Orr, said the addition of a half iron distance was a natural progression for the Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival that now includes a full spectrum of races, from the Tri NZ Contact Series sprint distance to the flagship iron distance event.

"This year's introduction of the Puzzling World Junior Challenge and other smaller events were so popular and so enthusiastically embraced by the community we wanted to open up the Challenge Festival experience even further," she said. "The Lake Wanaka Half will appeal to both the newcomer to long distance racing as well as experienced athletes looking for an exciting new addition to their race calendar. It also enhances the spectator experience as there'll be non-stop action in transition and at the finish line area throughout race day."

The Lake Wanaka Half is open to both teams and individuals with entries at a special launch price of $185 for individuals and $245 for teams. The price will rise to $230 for individuals and $295 for teams on 1 April 2009. Entries close on 11 December 2009 unless capacity is reached prior.

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