MERIDA BIKES Australia & 99 Bikes lend a hand at the Friendly Games

Second generation Solomon Islands triathletes now ready to race on the Gold Coast.

The Solomon Islands triathlon team now has 2 brand new MERIDA SCULTURA 4000 road bikes and MET Rivale helmets and are ready to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth GamesSprint Triathlon next week thanks to the generosity of MERIDA BIKES AUSTRALIA distributor Advance Traders and 99 Bikes.

Triathletes Patrick Junior Newman and Rocky Donald Ratu arrived on the Gold Coast last Sunday without any suitable bikes and equipment. These enthusiastic young men are the 2nd generation of Solomon Islands triathletes and were inspired by the efforts of the earlier triathletes at the Melbourne and Glasgow Games.

Head Coach Thompson Nathan Siofa said “the boys have been training hard with limited facilities in Honiara but still deserved a chance to represent their country.”

He contacted Ross Andrewartha (the 2006 Solomon Islands Commonwealth Games triathlon coach) for some assistance and together they set about obtaining the necessary gear.

Coach ‘Thommo’ and the team are very excited after picking up their new MERIDA Bikes and MET helmets today from the 99 bikes store in Southport and were extremely grateful for the assistance they had received from their Australian neighbours.

Advance Traders MERIDA Product Manager Mark Rycroft said… ‘When we heard that Junior and Rocky didn’t have bikes or equipment for their event we really wanted to help, and not just for the Games but when they get home too. Hearing of their limited facilities and equipment at home and being able to make a difference really made this a heartfelt experience”.

99 Bikes Assistant Category Manager of Bikes David Trapp endorsed the comments “99 Bikes was excited to help the Solomon Island Team with some bikes for The Commonwealth Games. Assisting those who needed a hand seemed fitting to the spirit of the occasion.”

Supporters are encouraged to watch them compete in the Sprint Triathlon at the Southport Broadwater at 1 PM next Thursday riding their shiny new MERIDA SCULTURA 4000 bikes.

Pictured

• Michael Chan (Chef De Mission)
• Nathan Thompson Siofa (Coach)
• Patrick Junior (athlete)
• Rocky Donald (athlete)
• Mark Rycroft (MERIDA Product Manager)
• Adam Allen  (99 Bikes Team Member)
• Chris Perry (99 Bikes Team Leader)