Eco Challenge winner Neil Jones was accompanied by fellow team members Kate Callaghan, Marty Madsen and Graeme Shaw on their way to victory at the inaugural Auckland, Arrow International 24 Hour Adventure Race.

Neil, who is preparing for the world adventure race championships in Switzerland, was pleased with his and their team's performance and looking forward to the worlds next month. Neil's Team Encompass were pushed all the way by local team Blue Ducks Phil White, Anne Mortimer, Malcolm Hughs and Gordon Blythen. Encompass finally winning in a time of 15 hours and 21 minutes, 6 minutes clear of the blue Ducks.

In the two person open category it was all one-way traffic with NZ Multisport Champ Neil Gellatly proving a point after his teams recently withdrawal from Canada's multi-day Raid the North event. Neil and teammate Steve Knowles were emphatic in their victory leading from start to finish in a time of 12 hours and 27 minutes. New Zealand orienteering champion Phil Wood and late replacement Darren Ashmore competed hard for second place in a time of 14 hours and 23 minutes. The Auckland 24 Hour Adventure Race was Darren's first multisport event. The pairing of Darren and Phil Wood will be a force to be reckoned with in future AR (adventure race) events.

Competitors began their grueling encounter at Auckland's waterfront outside the Maritime Museum. From here competitors ran to Okahu Bay for their transition into the kayaking leg which saw competitors kayak 25km through to Riverhead.

A 55km mountain bike through the Riverhead forest included a special archery leg. One competitor from each team was required to hit a 60cm circular target at a range of 18 meters with only four attempts. Not surprisingly two of the first three teams missed and were forced to take a compulsory ten-minute break.

Swanson and the Waitakere Filter Station was the transition location for the tramp and abseiling leg. Arguably the abseil was the course highlight with competitors required to bush bash an untouched valley. Located just out of Piha the abseil included a fixed rope section and two flowing waterfalls. For many competitors not being able to see the bottom was a blessing. From Piha competitors undertook the final challenge of climbing the Whitakers's highest peak before descending to the finish line at Huia.

Based on a 24 hour version of the Southern Traverse, the 24 Hour Adventure Race Series incorporates all activates of a Traverse compressed into a single weekend. With three events Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin remaining exactly who will take out the New Zealand and Australasian series could be anyone's opportunity!