This year I turn 60. As many sports, including cycling and triathlon, now grade their age groups as at year-end, it means I'm the baby in an ancient group, though my birthday isn't until September.

I started in triathlon in the mid-1980s and joined the Moutere Wheelers (now the Star and Garter Wheelers) when they started.

By 1993, I was ready for world triathlon championships in Manchester and bought my first Avanti bike for that race. After world champs again in Wellington in 1994, I retired for a few years, but got lured out in time to prepare for the return to New Zealand of the world champs, this time in 2003 in Queenstown.

To mark that occasion, I bought another Avanti, this time a Kona, and placed 12th, my best yet.

The old Kona was getting on by the end of last year, but Mike Watson of Stewarts Avanti Plus came to the rescue with a sponsorship offer which now has me on a nice new Avanti Corsa. It'll be coming with me to Canada for the ITU Triathlon World Championships in Vancouver on June 7.

Guided by my coach Lionel Padial, I've never had such a good buildup, with two firsts, a second and a third in Tri NZ's national series.

In Canada I'm after at least a top ten finish. Helped by my coach and sponsors, who also include Shoe Clinic and Body Maintenance (massage), I have no doubt of getting my best result yet.