Two defending champions will defend their crowns when the iconic Port of Tauranga Half returns to Mount Maunganui this Saturday.

Doubling as the New Zealand long distance triathlon champs, the iconic event will boast a top field of triathletes, including defending champs Braden Currie and Amelia Rose Watkinson.

Event director Wendy Boyce is also absolutely delighted with the elite entries at this year's Port of Tauranga Half.

'We have more elite entries than last year, and it is great that both our defending champs, Braden Currie and Amelia Rose Watkinson will be on the start line at Pilot Bay this Saturday.”

It'll be Currie's fourth consecutive Port of Tauranga Half and follows an outstanding year in 2016 which saw the 30-year-old Wanaka triathlete win the NZ Long Distance Champs, NZ Olympic Distance Triathlon Champs, XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship, and the Taupo 70.3.

His main competition for the national title is likely to come from long distance legend Cameron Brown who's recorded 10 wins in the Port of Tauranga Half.

'My first Port of Tauranga Half Ironman was in 1998 winning on my first go at the Half Ironman distance. After this I changed my direction to concentrate on long distance racing, winning my next seven appearances at the Port of Tauranga Half until 2004,” recalls Brown.

'I couldn't imagine not training through a Kiwi summer and racing at the Port of Tauranga Half. It's always been great preparation for the New Zealand Ironman in March. I'm looking forward to my 19th Port of Tauranga Half this January and another crack at the podium.”

Amelia Rose Watkinson winning the Port OF Tauranga Half in 2016. Supplied Photo.

While the women's field also features defending champ Amelia Rose Watkinson who has established herself New Zealand's leading women's long distance triathlete and returns to the Mount following an outstanding year on the Asian circuit.

Since relocating to Phuket, Thailand, in May 2016, the 25-year-old has the Asian triathlon scene by storm winning 10 long distance events in China, Korean, Malaysia, Phillipines and Thailand.

Watkinson's competition in 2017 will come from 2011 runner up Anna Cleaver, 2015 third place getter – Julia Grant, and former Rotorua Marathon winner – Erin Furness. Established triathlete's Teresa Adam & Rebecca Clark are also stepping up to the long distance format after strong short course careers.

There'll also be plenty of intrigue in this Saturday's event from a Whakatane duo who took the one and two day titles in the 2016 Coast to Coast.

Sam Clark was hard on the heels of Currie in finishing second in the 2015 Coast to Coast, and then took advantage of Currie's absence to win the 2016 Coast to Coast by 58 minutes. Clark now heads on-road to take on Currie in Port of Tauranga Half.

While fellow Whakatane triathlete, 19-year-old Hayden Wilde who won the two-day event at last year's Coast to Coast, will make his first appearance in the Port of Tauranga Half.

The Port of Tauranga Half is the feature event on the Mount Festival of Multisport programme, which includes the Under Armour Mount Run and Jetts Dash for Cash in Pilot Bay on Saturday, and the NZ Beach Volleyball Champs on Mount Maunganui's Main Beach over the weekend.

The Port of Tauranga Half kicks off at pilot Bay in Mount Maunganui on Saturday, January 7, from 6am-2.30pm. For more information visit: www.mountfestival.kiwi

ROAD CLOSURES

From 6am on Friday, 6 January until 10pm on Saturday, 7 January:

Salisbury Wharf Car Park – from the entire car parking area

Salisbury Avenue – from Victoria Road to The Mall

The Mall – from Salisbury Avenue to Prince Avenue

From 4.30am to 3pm on Saturday, 7 January (Roads may open earlier depending on progress with the event):

The Mall – from Prince Avenue to Adams Avenue including the Pilot Bay Boat Ramp

Adams Avenue – from The Mall to Marine Parade

Marine Parade – from Adams Avenue to Oceanbeach Road

Oceanbeach Road – from Marine Parade to road end

Yale Street – from Oceanbeach Road to Maranui Street

Maranui Street – from Yale Street to Sandhurst Drive

Papamoa Beach Road – from Sandhurst Drive to Parton Road