Highlight of this weekend's small selection of races is the Port of Tauranga Half in New Zealand where an interesting selection of pros will be contesting their National Middle Distance Championships. Headliners are undoubtedly Cameron Brown and Joanna Lawn who are looking to repeat their 2007 wins but there's a host of other talent including Nathan Richmond, Shane Reed, Keiran Doe, Bryan Rhodes, Stephen Sheldrake, Rebekah Keat, Gina Ferguson and Fiona Docherty. Oddly, but then we are, our favourite entry in the event is in the team section where the Tauranga team of 'Old Farts' has a combined age of 221 years with swimmer Sid Salek the baby at age 70, cyclist Don Robinson at 78 and runner Graham Stewart at 73. Puts us to shame! The event website is www.halfironman.co.nz

Domestic races still on the calendar are the second of the Monsterman off-road duathlon series in Bordon, Hampshire and its associated off-road run event, the Longmoor Lollop. The Worcester Aquathlon has, as previously reported, been cancelled owing to boiler failure at the pool.