A ‘window’ of fine weather and a battle supreme between two of New Zealand’s top female distance runners made for a sensational  tenth anniversary Routeburn Classic yesterday (April 27 2013).

The exclusive adventure run is staged on New Zealand’s world famous Routeburn Track.

Dunedin’s Victoria Beck took out top honours in the Peak Performers Women’s division in a new women’s record time of 3hrs 25min 14sec, beating fellow Dunedin-ite Whitney Dagg, women’s champion for the past two years, into second spot with a time of 3:35:51. Third was Helen Gillespie of Hokitika in 3:37:36.

Dagg is training for a super-endurance race so astoundingly turned around at the finish line and ran back to The Divide and Te Anau.

Beck said she did not know what to expect from the run as it was her first time.

“I was worried it would be really technical, but it was better than I had imagined and I had it in the back of mind that it would be possible to win,” she said.

“Because I didn’t know what to expect I was a bit tentative going down the first big descent and Whitney caught me at the 10k mark, but that put some fire behind me going up the next climb I and I pulled away again. “I really hope to be back next year -- the organising crew was just awesome, it’s such a cool event.”

Slippery track conditions due to heavy overnight rain saw slower times for the top male contenders than 2012, but Luke Hurring from Timaru still put in an impressive time of 3:03:49 to take out top honours, with Dallas Wichman second in 3:03:55 and Thijs (correct) Hubber third in 3:10:33.

Luke Hurring said it was the first time he’d competed in the Routeburn Classic, joining a friend from Auckland.

He has mainly competed previously in 5,000m and 10,000m track races but said he had been “mixing it up a little” and recently competed in the Wanaka Challenge Half Iron Man.

“The Routeburn was absolutely incredible,” he said. “I had no expectations of the course as it was my first time so the slightly damp conditions didn’t faze me and I was happy with my race, it was good fun!

“Because I’d never seen the terrain before it was perfect opportunity to check out the stunning scenery, lakes, valleys and mountains. I’d definitely like to return and do it again, it was pretty spectacular!”

Local Queenstown runner Mark Douglas also set his own record of sorts – having competed in all ten Routeburn Classics, he was last across the line in 7:12:26, despite battling hip problems.

Running for the first time was his daughter Fleur Douglas who completed the course about an hour before her Dad. His record was noted with the surprise presentation of the 'Mark Douglas Perseverance Trophy' at the awards presentation on Saturday night, marking his decade of achievement.

Mr Douglas said he was “never going to not do it”, despite the pain.

“It was pretty difficult because I was in pain going uphill from the McKenzie Hut onwards, but from there on there was no way I was going to give in, I just plodded on, very determined.

“I was completely blown away with the award, just overwhelmed, quite lovely. My daughter also did wonderfully well, I was very proud of her.”

And despite the medical issues Mr Douglas said he intended to return. “My intention is to keep going. I’ll be back if it’s at all possible.”

Race organiser Evan McWhirter said he was thrilled to have got the race underway when all the forecasts and advice pointed to him having to potentially call it off.

“Luckily the front we’d been worried about came through early and while it teemed down with rain all night long when we woke up in morning there was this fantastic ‘window’ of good weather so we took it!” he said.

“It was all high cloud both sides of the Harris Saddle, which meant we could get the helicopters over the track, and it didn’t start to drizzle on the slower competitors until the end of the day.

“Because track conditions were slippery due to the overnight rain we had lots of competitors with ankle and knee ‘tweaks’ and ‘sit downs’, which resulted in six ankle sprains and one heli-vac from the Routeburn Flats with someone who didn’t feel he could continue, but all in all that’s to be expected from a track with the ups and downs of the Routeburn.

“It certainly wasn’t cold so no snow like we’ve had in previous years!”

Mr McWhirter said one of the most special moments of the day had been presenting the trophy to Mr Douglas, who was completely taken by surprise.

“We had the Perseverance Trophy specially made for him because he epitomises that. That was the highlight for me, giving him that trophy and touching the emotions of the big man.

“I can’t believe the race has been going for ten years, but it’s so much fun and we wouldn’t be doing it if we didn’t enjoy it. We have a passion for the event, the area, and the people who support it year in year out.

“Part of the challenge for us is improving it every year, not only with the race itself but in our super spot prizes and a goodie bag for athletes that’s like a ‘Santa sack’ of things they want and need.

“We’ll be back!”

More than 320 runners took part in the tough adventure race which starts at the Divide on Milford Road, crosses the Fiordland National Park, over the 1127 m Harris Saddle and finishes in the Mt Aspiring National Park near Glenorchy.

The Routeburn Classic is a renowned mountain run in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is described as a true adventure run in stunning Fiordland national park and a unique challenge for athletes of all abilities and ages.

The winners of the four day Wild Descent kayak race that finished at Molyneux Bay near Kaka Point on Sunday held on to the lead from day one with a combination of determination and fast paddling.

The winning Australian/Kiwi duo Matt Blundell and Michael Snell crossed the finish line almost seven minutes ahead of the second placed team Keith Murray and Bob McLaughlin of Christchurch. Race director Warren Bates says they pulled out all the stops to gain line honours.

“They started this mornings leg with a 9.33 minute lead and had a super fast time over the 44km to Molyneux Bay. It was very pacey and a gutsy effort by Matt and Michael who have lead from the day one and worked hard to hold on to their position and come through as the ultimate winners.”

The top ten teams out of the 27 contesting the race entered Stage 4 on Sunday at Clydevale with a staggered start according to their positions.

In third place was Ian Huntsman and Wendy Riach who also won the mixed team category. Mr Bates says the average kayaking speeds overall had been amazing.

“There was quite a fierce battle at the very end for second and third place with Ian and Wendy actually starting this morning in second with a 17 second lead over Keith and Bob. They paddled most of this river section together and then had a mad sprint with Keith and Bob just grasping second place by only a second.”

One boat capsized on the last leg to Molyneux Bay but was quickly sorted and one team who were racing in sixth position took the wrong route after Balcultha where the river spits in two. Mr Bates says they ended up paddling out into the Pacific Ocean but were being picked up and bought back to Kaka Point Café for prize giving.

The race is the first of its kind to be held on the Clutha River and Mr Bates says the response has been tremendous from both competitors and the towns in which the race has travelled through.

“Its been very well received by everyone and the Clutha has really inspired the racers with its unique historic character and fast moving water. There is a lot of different aspects to this area of the South Island and we can see the event becoming a regular feature.

www.wilddescent.com

www.facebook.com/WildDescent

A top field of national and international teams are expected to sign up quickly for Chapter 3 of the GODZone adventure race being held in Kaikoura next year. The event dates have now been set down for the 7th to 15th March, 2014 and entries will be open to all teams from the 1st July, 2013

Kaikoura is known as the region “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” and its unique marine environment along with high mountain ranges is expected to be a real drawcard. Race director Warren Bates says many adventure racing teams are planning to race the preeminent event and there may well be a rush of entries on opening day.

“ With the dates now set, there is plenty of time for teams to plan their entries, work out who they will race with and get some sponsorship sorted. Next years event is effectively being held on exactly the same week as this years event was only one day earlier. Its generally a settled time for weather and fits well with other major sporting events on the multisport calendar.”

The GODZone has quickly made a name for itself on the global adventure racing scene with current World Champion Adventure racer and winner of the 2013 GODZone, Nathan Fa'avae, calling it ‘currently the best adventure race in the world’ at this years prize giving held in Queenstown.

GODZone competitors will receive an early entry discount when signing up for the 2014 event before the end of August and Mr Bates says teams will be able to enter online from the 1st July, 2013

“ We do expect that the event will be a record sell out this year due to the huge success of Chapter 2 and the enormous feedback and interest we have received already. Added to this is the decision we have made to cap the number of entries to 35 teams straight way due to the availability of boats and other resources. The fact that  race management provide this type of equipment is hugely advantageous to teams as they don’t then need to travel with boats.”

He says Kaikoura is an idyllic setting for the 2014 adventure race course and will provide a backdrop of stunning terrain and geographical challenges.

“Both the event itself and the live coverage from our website platform has allowed us to once again showcase New Zealand as the ultimate place to hold an adventure race in the world.  People are very excited about the prospect of us visiting a place as spectacular as Kaikoura and the level of adventure that this area will provide the teams in 2014 will be second to none.”

For more information on team entries go to http://www.godzoneadventure.com or the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/godzoneadventure

I’ve been trying to write up a Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Race pre-race report for the media, the words aren’t flowing as they use to. So I’ve been thinking about the facts.

·         There have been 11 Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Races since 2001.

·         This year’s race will be the 12th and the final race under my control.

·         It is the longest running South Island 12 & 24 hour Adventure Race.

·         Created the Adventure Duathlon category.

·         Many of New Zealand’s best Multisporters and Adventure Racers have been to a Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Race.

·         Only the first race was won for a non-Nelson team. Mainly Tramping B from Wellington.

·         Only 2 people have started them all.

·         Nathan Faavae has never lost, but it has been close…once.

·         We have raced mainly out of Nelson, but have had racers at Nelson Lakes, Kaiteriteri/Abel Tasman and Collingwood- Golden Bay.

I welcome you all to join me on one of my last Adventure’s (the Sheriff’s Last Stand) starting from Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds and finishing in Nelson’s CBD. This full, 1/2 and 8 hour races will start on the 4th May and will have a Duathlon option. You will Bike, Kayak, Trek, Seek, & Portage your way back to Nelson, the long way, as they say ‘the road less travelled offers the greatest reward’

The Adventure Races 12 & 24 will start at Anakiwa while those doing the Adventure Duathlon’s will start further down the course. The Eight (8Hour) will start even further down the course.

All teams will do the same course, however (because the word BUT isn’t cool I’m told) the 24 will need to get all the checkpoints, the 12 will have a few less to obtain and the 8 will only get a taste of what will be a fantastic finale of an iconic event.

The flow is quite simple really, if you do the 24, you will have 24 hours to get what you can, the same applies with the 12 & 8 hour events as the last stage is a seek/rogaine. You will find out once you reach the last transition, as I’m going to keep you all on your toes.

The course will not over the top, quite mild really, go hard early you will suffer later, however it’s very do-able with the time you have. Teams will only see their crew twice for the 12&24 Adventure Race and once for both the 12&24 Adventure Duathlon & 8hour, so it’s very self-sufficient.

With that all said, this will be your last chance to add the Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Race to your bucket list, entries are open, so head to www.adventurenelson.co.nz and if you can find the race rules and entry form, then that may be the hardest bit of navigation that you will have….I hope.

So I look forward to seeing you at the 2013 start-lines (as there are 3 of them) on the 4th May.

Until then

Chris ‘the Sheriff’ James

New Zealand’s premiere adventure race GODZone which finished yesterday in Queenstown has announced that Kaikoura will the be the host location for 2014.

Race directors Warren Bates and Adam Fairmaid released the information last night at the GODZone prize giving saying the adventure expedition event would be moving east after two years being based out of Queenstown.

“This event has always been about the journey, the wilderness, and the adventure of discovering new landscapes,” says Adam.

There are obviously a lot of incredible geographical options here in the South Island where we could take the event. Kaikoura offers everything we could ask for with an unique and challenging landscape that will inspire and excite participating teams.”

He says developing key relationships with regional tourism organisations and councils is vital to the growth of the event and in turn GODZone will create new opportunities for the host town.

“When we approached Kaikoura their reaction was instantly positive and we are delighted to be partnering with them for 2014.

The coastal aspect is different from what we have had before and everywhere you look from the inland mountains out towards the sea, there is a rich layer of options for designing a spectacular course.”

The Kaikoura District Council is fully supportive of the event coming to the region and Mayor Winston Gray says they are firmly focused on attracting more event tourism to the area.

“The GODZone is the perfect fit for Kaikoura and we were immediately on board when Adam Fairmaid first meet with us. Our region has a backdrop designed for this type of adventure activity with majestic landscape from the hinterland out towards the sea.”

The event is expected to bring significant national and international exposure to Kaikoura and Mayor Gray says this will add to the regions global attraction.

“We have had a lot of focus on our marine life here which has really put us on the global stage but when you look back behind the township there is the perfect playground for adventure. This is where the growth for the region will come from by attracting people who are keen for lifestyle pursuits.”

Entries for the 2014 GODZone will be opened on 1st of July, 2013.

For more information on GODZone go to http://live.godzoneadventure.com/  or facebook http://www.facebook.com/godzoneadventure

The Orion Health GODZone has wrapped for 2013 with the last of the 34 teams across the finish line in Queenstown today.

The expedition style adventure race, which started last Sunday in Mt Cook, saw competitors use multiple disciplines of mountain climbing, trekking, biking, canoe, and kayak to make their way through the 514km course non-stop over seven days.

Highly competitive New Zealand team, Seagate, who are the current world champions of adventure racing, won the event in 78 hours and 28 minutes finishing on Wednesday morning.  GODZone race director Adam Fairmaid says the success of GODZone Chapter Two has cemented the return of high profile adventure racing to New Zealand.

“ Our intention with GODZone has been to reintroduce this level of racing here so that Kiwi competitors can race at home rather than travel overseas. This year’s event has shown there is a huge demand from both local and international teams keen to participate competitively here.

New Zealand offers a magnificent backdrop for true expedition style racing and we had over 16 countries represented in this years line up.”

21 teams completed the GODZone full course, three teams a shortened course, five teams were unranked, and five teams retired. Team Seagate were awarded $10,000, the GODZone trophy and the title of New Zealand Adventure Racing Champions while second placed Team Harraways Oats received $5000. Third placed Team Macpac won $4000, fourth placed Team Swordfox $3000, fifth placed Team Magellan Adventures $2000 and sixth placed Team Moa Hunters $1000.

With over 65 people involved with the race management and crew and 145 competitors, the economic impact of the event on the region is considerable.

“ We have received enormous support from local land owners, DOC and our title sponsor Orion Health. The crew clothing sponsor Macpac has provided great gear and AWS Legal solid advice,” says Adam. “Pinewood Lodge in Queenstown was a very effective HQ and finish line and The Hermitage at Mount Cook was the most exceptional place to start. This years event has capitalised and on the success of Chapter One last year and we are proud to say the future is very bright for GODZone here in New Zealand.”

The 2014 GODZone location will be announced tonight (March 16) at the event prize giving at Skyline in Queenstown.

A full list of registered teams can be found at http://www.godzoneadventure.com/resources/team-list/

http://live.godzoneadventure.com/  or facebook updates here  http://www.facebook.com/godzoneadventure 

The Orion Health GODZone is now at the business end of the six-day event with seven fully ranked teams across the finish line and three teams racing for the last top ten ranking.

Teams Bivouac Colts and AWS Legal have been having a ding-dong battle during the past 12 hours as they strive to get ahead of each other. Bivouac Colts looked like they were going off track for a while on the Pisa Range but are now neck and neck with AWS Legal.  It's a guessing game as to who will make it through to the Canyon Swing first this evening and then the finish line.

Further back Team Orion Health has caught up to Kauri Coasters and Macpac Girls on Top after having some navigation issues. These three teams are now racing towards the Snow Farm, the last transition area on the course. Then it will be a four to five hour bike ride down to the Canyon Swing near Queenstown.

The second to last team on the course, Team Complete Performance, arrived at the Clutha River kayak section to miss the cut off of 1pm to carry on fully ranked but they will now travel on a short course.

Congratulations to Team Seagate!  They made it to the finish line first, becoming this year's GODZone Adventure Champions!  

Team Harraways Oats came across the finish line ranked second at the GODZone adventure race this morning having chased the lead team mercilessly from the start.

The very popular team lead by Jess Simson with Stuart Lynch, Aaron Prince and Dougal Allan raced hard and fast and race director Warren Bates says for a team who only came together for the race they proved their adventure racing pedigree.

“ They went very well as a team and were fairly philosophical about the outcome. I don’t think they could have done any more and Dougal actually said they gave it their all.”

With slick transitions and solid navigation, the team pushed first placed Seagate all the way but never managed to over take them.

“ These guys really enjoyed the canyon swing at the end of the race,” says Warren.” It was hilarious to watch Jess swear like a trooper as she swung down into the canyon.

Team Macpac are expected across the finish line later today in third place.

This morning a member of Team Knowledge Institute is being taken by helicopter off the course with a suspected sprained knee.

Team member William Sams has spent the night with his team  in a tent in the mid Dingle Burn mountain area waiting for the medical evacuation. 

They utilised their yellow brick tracking system to contact Race HQ in the early hours to ask for help.

Queenstown based Heliworks pilots have flown into the area and are on route to pick up the patient and fly him out to Wanaka for medical assistance.

The colt team is the youngest racing in this years GODZone and the three remaining team members will be walking out to the transition area at Lindis Pass Burn and have elected not to continue on racing.

The current world champions of adventure racing are blitzing the field in the 2013 GODZone adventure race that now has the lead teams travelling over towards the Dingle Burn and down towards the Lindis Pass near Omarama.

It’s been a strenuous day for the 45 teams who have now been racing for over 34 hours non-stop. The field is spread out over a 200km radius with back teams yet to start the 140km bike section to catch up to the lead teams.

Warren Bates, race director, says Team Seagate have been outstanding.

“ We have just flown over the course with high country land owner Russell Emmerson in his R44 and managed to see them steadily heading towards Stoddie Hut in Timaru Creek. With temperatures in the area very hot and dry, team leader Nathan Fa'avae was leading his team over the ridge with his shirt off and tied around his head like he was in the desert. They will be looking for any shelter they can find.

“ The whole team has been so strong and Chris Forne, their navigator, has not put a foot wrong and last night led the team through a rough navigation section in the dark faultlessly and well ahead of schedule.”

Second ranked Team Harraways Oats lead by Jess Simson has chased Seagate all the way but fell back slightly with a bike derailleur problem near the Clay Cliffs last night before heading into the trek.

“ At once stage they were neck and neck but then dropped back about an hour however it looks like they are slowly pegging them back.”

There are currently a group of nine teams at CP 11, Bush Hut on the Dingle Burn who has effectively split the field from the back teams. Some are resting in the high country huts waiting for the cool of evening and then they will be racing towards the next TA near the top of the Lindis Pass.

“ We expect Seagate to lead into the next bike stage from the Lindis across the Grandview Mountains to Albert town near Wanaka. I think their strategy will be to move quickly and get the navigation done in the light because there are two big route choices to make on this next bike stage. “

All teams who started the adventure yesterday morning at Mt Cook are still in the race and there will be no short courses kicking in until Thursday. Those at the back are being encouraged to continue and TA staff are most interested to see the state of Macpac who have elected to take a 20km extra route around Lake Hawea.  This could prove to be faster or seriously debilitating.

A full list of registered teams can be found at http://www.godzoneadventure.com/resources/team-list/

Team Thule from France and New Zealand have become the first team to officially pull out of the 2013 GODZone adventure. 

The surprise decision came late this afternoon as the team made their way down from CP 11 off the top of the Dingle Burn trek section. Descending rapidly down to the edge of Lake Hawea, the team made their way to Hawea Motors where they contacted Race HQ to announce their intent to quit the race.

Race Director Warren Bates says while the reasons for Thule leaving still remain unclear, he thinks the team must have made up their minds to leave the race up at CP11.

“ Its obvious from the route they took down to the lake edge that's what they planned to do. It’s disappointing because they are a good team of racers, highly thought of and we felt they would be one of our top five finishers.”

The team had a blistering first day yesterday, charging through the field sharing third and fourth place together with Team Macpac.