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Located four hours north of Sydney on the beautiful mid-north coast of New South Wales, the Port Macquarie-Hastings region is well-known for its lively sporting culture attributed its natural playground comprising of uninterrupted beaches and natural surroundings. Without a doubt, this coastal area has attracted a number of captivating sporting events all year long bringing both competitors and spectators together. Sporting enthusiasts of all ages and interests can find something to enjoy in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area, from competitive surf events to community fun runs and marathons that provide spectacular views of the coastline. In this article, we highlight five sporting events that serve as a focal point for sportsmanship, athleticism, and friendship in this area. These events provide an opportunity for everyone, whether they are committed athletes or just fans of sports.
1. Port Macquarie Ironman Australia (May 5, 2024)
IRONMAN is a world-renowned iconic triathlon that attracts athletes from around the world. Experience a genuinely unique swim in the serene Hastings River, a breathtaking bike ride alongside the Pacific Ocean, and an exhilarating run through the heart of Port Macquarie, with spectators cheering you on all the way to the finish line. This is the home of the Oceania TriClub Championship. There are IRONMAN Australia and IRONMAN 70.3. IRONMAN Australia 2023 in Port Macquarie, bringing more than 2,700 athletes to the Port Macquarie-Hastings region. Steve McKenna won an exciting men’s race with time “8:06:16” and Kylie Simpson won the women’s division with time “9:16:45” after overturning a significant swimming deficit. In the last four races, McKenna had finished on the podium four times, including one victory in IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne, while Simpson had taken first place in both IRONMAN Cairns and IRONMAN Western Australia in 2021.
2. Port Macquarie Running Festival (March 2-3, 2024)
A popular running event with distances and types of runs, the Port Macquarie Running Festival takes place in the first quarter of the year and sends participants running around the town and also along the coastline. Collaborative partnerships with their sponsors present the Rydges Half Marathon, The Athletes Foot 10km Fun Run, Chop ‘n Chill Family 5km Fun Run, Treble Breakwall Buster, The Team Holborow 3km Kids Fun Run and IMF #RunSweatInspire 3km. In 2023, the Port Macquarie Running Festival brought 2500 runners from all over New South Wales. Next year, the Port Macquarie Running Festival will be held on 2 – 3 March 2024 and will provide variety of run such as Treble Breakwall Buster, Treble Team Relay, 21.1km Half Marathon, 10km Fun Run, 5km Fun Run, IMF #RunSweatInspire 3km Run and 3km Kids Fun Run. Visit Port Macquarie Running Festival to learn more.
3. Port Macquarie Bodyboarding Association (PMBBA) Contests (Nov 25, 2023)
The Port Macquarie Bodyboarding Association have been established more than 30 years and no surprises for guessing why. The PMBBA proudly host major bodyboarding events such as Port Macquarie Team Challenges and David ‘Goose’ Gosby Memorial. Bodyboarding clubs from around Australia flock here to compete for the title, ‘Best Club in the Nation’. Competition takes place at one of the nearby beach breakers that lie between Lighthouse Beach and Port Macquarie’s North Shore. Every club member competes in the age group of their choice, earning points for each heat based on their wave scores. Throughout the competition season, points are tallied, and at the end of the year, an overall place is awarded. At the end of each competition, all finalists will be named, and the overall winners will be revealed during the End of Year Presentation. Visit https://pmba.com.au/ to learn more.
4. Raw Performance Den Novice 1 Powerlifting Competition (Nov 11, 2023)
This competition is designed for those who are new to powerlifting and wish to test their strength in a friendly and enjoyable setting. There are three events in this competition; the squat, bench press, and deadlift which will offer non-professional lifters the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. This is the ideal chance to push yourself and connect with other lifters in the neighborhood, regardless of experience level. For all lifters, the competition offers a secure and welcoming environment. The knowledgeable judges will be present to make sure that every lift is carried out safely and in compliance with the regulations. The Raw Performance Den Novice 1 Powerlifting Competition is on 11 November 2023 at 2 Fernhill Road #Unit 10, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444. Visit their website to learn more: RAW NOVICE 1 | Raw Performance Den.
5. AFT International Sports Fitness Festival @ Port Macquarie (Nov 4-5, 2023)
The inaugural AFT International Sports & Fitness Festival (#SpoFiFe) celebrates and empowers culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities including First Nations and Torres Straits Islander peoples and other indigenous communities of the Asia Pacific, persons with disabilities, people who are neurodiverse, women and youth with sports and fitness access and sport inclusion. The goal is to make health and fitness accessible and equitable to all layers of society, leaving no one behind.
The festival culminates in Port Macquarie following a tour in Malaysia and Sydney’s Haymarket (Chinatown) earlier in September. The two-day family-friendly event features:
- A walkathon with a Virtual Reality twist (3KM/7KM/13KM)
- Keynote Talks on Sport Inclusion helmed by gold medal swimmer, author and inclusion advocate Matt Levy OAM
- A talk by Shannon & Sally, mothers of children from the Shinkyokushin Port Macquarie Karate Dojo “Karate Kid on the Spectrum” on how
- A health and wellness expo
- Youth in Sports activities
- Health Talks and Workshops facilitated by specialist pharmacist and health coach, Theresa Loo
- A secret supper to raise funds for the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
Visit www.sportsfitnessfestival.com to RSVP. Entry is free.
6. Beach to Brother Trails (TBC – 2024)
Beach to brother trail running festival took its 7th edition in Port Macquarie on 22 October 2023, giving trail running and outdoor enthusiasts the chance to take part in a variety of trail running challenges while taking in the breathtaking coastal and bushland beauty of the area. Runners select from a variety of distances, including the 42-kilometre individual marathon, the 42-kilometre team relay marathon, the 21-kilometre half marathon, the 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre. Watch out for their 2024 edition.
Text by Mohammad Hafizuddin Bin Mohammad Rosdi / Edited by Jasmine Low
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