Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

Local and international triathletes will descend on Rose Hall in Montego Bay between October 23 and 26 for the inaugural Wata Rose Hall Triathlon and Wellness Festival.

Leading the international pack will be Australian Greg Bennett and his wife Laura, from the United States, who will be vying for top places at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The pair is ranked in the world's top five triathletes.

The event was announced last Thursday at a press conference held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Rose Hall, Montego Bay.

The Bennett's and an international field of triathletes including Julie Swail Ertel, who has also qualified for the 2008 United States Olympic Triathlon team and Jordan Rapp, who took a bronze at the Arizona Ironman race, will compete against Jamaican Olympians, the Reggae Boyz, Jamaican beauty queens and others for a cash prize of US$10,000.

Personal empowerment

"You can look forward to an unforgettable experience in self-renewal and personal empowerment when leading professionals engage you in discussion, exploration and learning, aimed at making you the complete person you are meant to be," said Michele Rollins, chairperson of Rose Hall Developments.

She said the Wata Rose Hall Triathlon would celebrate fitness and health, as well as showcasing the magnificent beauty and rich culture of the Rose Hall Estate.

"What a great start for what will become the Caribbean's signature triathlon event," she said.

1500-metre swim

The brainchild of 22-year-old tennis champion, Rayne Russell of Montego Bay, the 10-kilometre run will take place against the backdrop of the Caribbean sea and the mountains of the Rose Hall estate. The race will start at Iberostar Rose Hall Resort, while the sprint cycling will take riders through the Spring Farm, ending at the historic Rose Hall Great House.

William Mahfood, managing director of Wisynco, said it was an easy task for his company to become the event's title sponsor.

"As a corporate citizen WISYNCO's focus has been on certain key developments. Wellness is a very critical aspect of our social structure," he said. "What Rose Hall has planned is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the real Jamaica."

The event, under the slogan 'well mind, well body and well being', has attracted other sponsors including Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited (CPJ), The Gleaner, Rose Hall Developments Limited and a number of the resorts along the 'Elegant Corridor', the roadway between Seacastles and Holiday Inn in Rose Hall.