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The wet weather didn't deter the hundreds of young athletes who participated in the Sanitarium Weetbix Kids Tryathlon at Pilot Bay this morning, with plenty making last-minute registrations.

The Sanitarium Weetbix Kids Tryathlon is the first event of the three-day Mount Festival of Multisport this weekend.

Paige Rameka cuddles up to mum Lisa before the swim. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Under 10yr girls exiting the swim encouraged by a crowd of spectators and supporters.

Organisers say the iconic event went really well despite the rain, with numbers up on last year at 930 entries including 168 on-the-day registrations.

'They battled through the cold and wet weather which didn't really seem to put the kids off,” says Mount Festival of Multisport director Lauren Watson.

'It was definitely a good start to the festival. We're pretty happy.”

Posing for SunLive photographer Bruce Barnard before the event, seven-year-old Paige Rameka wasn't letting a little rain dampen her spirits.

'Are you going to win?” asked Bruce. 'I'm going to give it my best shot,” said Paige.

The children's triathlon challenged children aged seven to 15 to complete one of three distances for their age group.

Seven-year-olds completed a 50m swim, 4km cycle and 1.5km run, eight to 10-year-olds completed a 100m swim, 4km cycle, and 1.5km run, while 11-15-year-olds completed a 200m swim, 8km cycle and a 1.5km run.

At the finish line to present the children their medals included long distance triathletes Cameron Brown, Braden Currie and Amelia Watkinson, as well as shotput superstar and double Olympic gold medalist Valerie Adams and NZ women's sevens team captain Sarah Goss.

The Mount Festival of Multisport continues on Saturday featuring the headline event Port of Tauranga Half, as well as the Jetts Dash for Cash, TRI NZ Short course event and the Mauao Fun Run on Sunday.

Another summer sport featuring on the festival programme is the NZ Beach Volleyball Champs on Mount Maunganui's Main Beach over the weekend.

Lauren says the aim of the three-day event is to create a festival of events and activity with something to suit everyone at one of New Zealand's most popular holiday destinations.

'The Mount Festival of Multisport will have something for everyone, from the elite fields in the Port of Tauranga Half, to the NZ Tag Team Champs, the Jetts Dash for Cash, the Weetbix TRYathlon for the kids or for those who just want to soak it up and take it all in, we have beach volleyball on the main beach at the Mount.”

Bikes at speed everywhere.

Boys entering the cycle transition from the swim.

Ashley Yorke's mother, Amy, helps Ashley but on a new swim cap.