With less than two weeks to the third edition of the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa things are beginning to hot up in East London. Construction has already begun along the beach front and a number of prp athletes will begin arriving in town next week to make the most of their days by getting a heads up of the course. With reigning champion Raynard Tissink out with an injury all eyes will be on James Cunnama to keep the SA flag flying on race day. Ladies champion Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) will have her work cut out for her with a star studded ladies field this year. Her strongest competitor will be German athlete Sandra Wallenhorst.

Friday January 15 and Saturday January 16 have been set aside for official swim course training and pros and amateurs will venture into the sea at Orient Beach between 08h00 and 10h00. The public are welcome to make their way down to the beach for a bird’s eye view of the athletes.

Registration opens on Thursday, January 14 for the 2000 athletes – many of whom are first timers. The United Kingdom has 25 athletes followed by 20 from Germany and the USA rounding off the top three with 14 athletes. The race will also welcome athletes from as far as Australia, Israel and the Netherlands to name by a few.

On a provincial side the Gauteng has the lion’s share of the athletes with 39% hailing from up north. The Eastern Cape has 33% of the total followed by the Western Cape with 14%.

Published Tuesday, January 5, 2010