Ironman Australia sells out in just 8 hours.

In their first year of running the event World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) opened entries for the 2011 Port Macquarie Ironman exactly one year before the event at 12.00pm Saturday 1st May. With the field now restricted to just 1,000 competitors the event sold out within  8 hours leaving many potential competitors dissapointed.

WTC  are also running a 70.3 race for 500 athletes on the same day in the same location, by 6.00pm Sunday there are believed to be just a handful of places left.

On Friday WTC also announced that the 2010 edition of Ironman Western Australia is sold out. Entries reached the maximum of 1,400 competitors early on the morning of April 27, 2010, more than nine weeks before the scheduled closing of entries, the first time in the seven-year history of the event that is has filled registrations before the closing date.

WTC General Manager, Shane Smith, said that the sell-out of the 2010 WA event represents a step in the right direction for the growth of the sport in Australia.

“Building the Ironman brand in Australia is our primary mission. The fast sell-out of Ironman Western Australia is an indication that we are on the right track.”

Any Australian’s not yet registered for Ironman who want to compete next season will now have to look overseas, with Ironman NewZealand perhaps being the unexpected beneficiary of the Australian sell outs.