Branton Matondo
The much anticipated 2023 edition of Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Cup which will be held in Nyanga come the start of April 2023 has already started to take shape as more than 20 elite athletes from across the world have already registered for the competition.
Dubbed the most longevous Triathlon competition on the African continent, this year’s edition will be nothing but a double bite of celebration as Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Cup commemorates its 15th anniversary.
Addressing to media practitioners during the Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union Cup Media Workshop held in Harare on February 27, Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup (ATU) Organiser Rick Fulton said the planning process has been intense but finally all is set for this year’s competition.
“The Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup Troutbeck 2023 will be held on the 1st of April which is just about a month away now. The planning process has been intense over the past six months. We didn’t have much of a break because the last edition was done in the later parts of 2022. This is the 15th edition of the event but we have held other Triathlon competitions before that,” said Fulton.
He added that registration is already underway with more than 20 elite athletes from across the world.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are 30 days away from the event but we already have 25 elite athletes and 6 juniors who have already registered for the event to participate in the elite section. The 25 players come from 15 countries. The start of the event is very exciting. I think it’s going to be a big year and we will see big numbers. There is already cooperation with Triathlon South Africa and Namibian Triathlon Federation because these national bodies carry out subsequent events 2 or 3 weeks prior to Troutbeck,” added.
The launch was also graced by Zimbabwe Olympic Committee president Thabani Gonye, Triathlon Association Zimbabwe President David Ellis’s (representative) and representatives from sponsorship partners led by the main sponsor Coca Cola also represented by Faith Nehanda.
Coca Cola Franchise, Marketing Portfolio Activations Manager in Zimbabwe Faith Nehanda hailed the relations.
“We are proud of our nine-year relationship with the triathlon sport in Zimbabwe. We have sponsored the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup that takes place at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga for three years with Schweppes water and are in the sixth year with Bonaqua, making it at the prestigious event on more than 60 percent of the times since its inception 17 years ago. We have been together for nine consecutive years. Our sponsorship and association continue to grow such that putting a monetary value may not do our partnership justice. We love the triathlete’s essence as they compete with the spirit of enthusiasm, fairness and sportsmanship,” said Nehanda.
Gonye said the competition is a great Olympic trek for Triathlon Zimbabwe.
“Triathlon is one of our 34 member federations that affiliated to Zimbabwe Olympic Committee. It is a growing sport. The sound structures in administration have made Triathlon what it is now. I have no doubt that Triathlon Zimbabwe is one of the best managed federations in the country. We already have qualified athletes for Paris 2024 and competitions like Troutbeck are a great platform to showcase talent,” said Gonye.
Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup has been used as a development pathway by athletes from across the globe. In the last Olympics held in 2021 ten male and 6 female participants who took part in the competition had been part of Troutbeck 2020.
Fulton added that Troutbeck in Nyanga has for long been the destination of choice because all the necessary and standard facilities needed to carry out such a competition are present at Troutbeck.
The event was also graced by Cimas Digital Communication and Public Relations Specialist Tapfumaneyi Mugari, African Sun Sales Manager Thamary Reppoh and representatives from Ecocash, Rooney (in absentia), and CFAO Motors.
