The 2004 ITU Devonport International Triathlon is shaping up to be the best event ever.

This year the event will be conducted on Saturday 21st February and will celebrate it's 20th birthday. The inaugural Devonport triathlon was conducted on Sunday 24th March 1985 over the distances of 800m swim, 32km bike and 10km run and was won by Victorian Rohan Phillips and Tasmanian Doris Trueman.

The honour roll for Devonport over the past 19 years includes a who's who of Australian and International triathlon. Past winners include Stephan Foster (4), Brad Beven (3), Ben Bright (2), Craig Walton (2), Chris Hill (2), Spot Anderson, Lach Vollmerhause, Andrew Johns, Paul Amey, Martin Krnavek, Emma Carney (3), Barb Lindquist (2), Carol Pickard (2), Bianca Van Woesik (2), Kim Hicks, Louise Bonham, Liz Hepple, Michellie Jones, Jackie Hallam, Jackie Gallagher, Jo King, Siri Lindley and Lorreta Harrop.

This years event will host the 2004 ITU Oceania Regional Championships as well the third and final selection race for Australian elites and under 23 athletes wishing to stake a claim for the 2004 ITU World Triathlon Championships team. Being the Oceania championships Triathlon New Zealand are bringing a team of 20 elite and under 23 athletes (including Kris Gemmel, Matt & Shane Reed, Nathan Richmond, Keiran Doe, Graham O'Grady, Debbie Tanner, Samantha Warriner and Shanelle Barrett) to Devonport to fight for the third and final spot on Team NZ for Athens 2004. Local hero Craig Walton is making a return to his home town race along with 2004 Olympian Olivier Marceau (SUI), Chris McCormack, 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Jan Rehula (CZE) and 1998 winner Andrew Johns (GBR). Loretta Harrop, world number 1 Barb Lindquist (USA), 2002 World Champion Leanda Cave (GBR) and 2003 World Champion Emma Snowsill will all go head to head at Devonport. Throw in athletes from the Australian Institute of Sport, NSWIS and QAS and you have the ingredients for an awesome race that would challenge a lot of World Cup events for field strength.

Age group athletes are always well catered for at Devonport and those athletes looking to make the Australian team for 2004 World Championships in Portugal have their fourth and final chance to qualify at Devonport. Race day kicks off with the elite and under 23 men at 11.15pm followed by the elite and under 23 women at 1pm closely followed by the age groupers at 1.10pm. The elite course comprises an 8 x 5km lap bike course and 3 x 3.3km run. The age group bike course once again sends athletes along the Bass Highway to Ulverstone and return. The 40km out and back course has built a strong reputation with athletes for a tough but fair event where drafting is virtually non-existent. The run course is exactly the same as the elites (3 x 3.3km laps - flat).

As usual the post race party at Molly Malone's Irish pub will be pumping. For those party animals that just can not get enough, the Warehouse nightclub is open until the very wee hours.

The Devonport Triathlon Association wishes to extend an open invitation to all triathletes to "Come on down!" and help us celebrate our 20th birthday with the biggest and best Devonport triathlon ever. You will not regret racing at "The Classic".

For more information contact:

DTA Executive Officer

Kerry Stubbs

Ph (03) 6423 4548

E-mail: devtri@tassie.net.au

or

DTA Elite Athlete Liaison

Craig Redman

Ph 0419 204 990

E-mail: craigredman@bigpond.com