Mount Maunganui was packed with enthusiastic competitors and supporters this morning, as the 2019 Generation Homes Women's Triathlon got under way.

The sun also came out behind the clouds to provide a finer day than expected.

'The morning was a little bit trying with the weather,” says Paul Miller, events and development manager for Triathlon Tauranga. 'The weather held off for us, and then we had testing conditions when it rained just prior to the start - a bit windy and rainy.

'To the credit of all the ladies out there, they all got out and swam, biked and ran.

'The weather improved so we were quite happy that during the race it fined up and gave them some good conditions to race in.”

The sold-out event is an entry level, women's only event that encourages participation of women from the ages 11 and up of any fitness and ability. Participants can enter as individuals or teams of two or three, with a special mother/daughter (racing as individuals) category as well. More than 800 competitors registered for the event.

Winner of the Women's Triathlon Individuals race was Charli Miller (16-19) with a time of 40:47. Lucy Farrell (16-19) came in second with a time of 42:06. Close behind Lucy was Hannah Howell (16-19) with a time of 42:39. In fourth place was Charli's mother Tanja Miller (40-49) coming in with a time of 44:06.

'Charli is a school girl from St Peters College in Cambridge,” says Paul. 'Lucy is a school girl from Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. And Hannah attends Taupo-nui-a-Tia College in Taupo. Hannah and Lucy have represented NZ in world triathlons. They're a good calibre of athletes and all in the 16 to 19 age group.”

Charli and Lucy also ran as a mother-daughter duos with their mothers Tanja Miller and Toshimi Farrell, respectively. Charli and Tanja won first place as Team HardCor Chicks, with Lucy and her mother Toshimi in second place as Team L&T Coconuts.

'Lucy's mother Toshima is doing her first ever triathlon,” says Paul. 'She's probably spent years watching her daughter. They competed in the mother daughter category. You can race as a mother daughter but also as an individual.”

Third place in the mother daughter teams went to Alex Rawlinson (11-15) and her mother Rachel Rawlinson (40-49) running as ‘The Rawlies”. Fourth place went to Yvonne Shaw (50-59) and her daughter Dee Burnell (30-39) as the ‘Together Again' team.

The Women's Triathlon Relay was won by Team Iron Mumma's with a time of 47:44. In second place was Team Teamline (52:22) and third place was Team United (54:02).

The Papamoa Primary School team won the corporate challenge that was introduced last year.

'Given what the forecast was on Monday with a potential cyclone, the Triathlon Tauranga club was happy to be able to hold a successful Generation Homes Women's Triathlon,” says Paul.

Daughter/mother team Dee Burnell from Hamilton and Yvonne Shaw from Fairlie came in fourth place in the Mother Daughter category. (Photo: Supplied)

Winners in the 50-59 age group (Photo supplied)