The current Australian 24 Hour Adventure Racing Champions, team Orica: Mark Mex, Damon Georke, Karen Hopkinson and Ian Franzke were successful in defending their unbeaten record in the recent Christchurch 24 Hour Race. After winning the last two events, Melbourne and Sydney, Orica where the first four person mixed team and second official overall team to cross the finish line in a total time of 17 hours and 53 minutes.

Unfortunately pre race favorites, team Seagate were forced to change categories when their team mate and only female competitor Kristina Strode-Penny was forced to withdraw due to illness prior to the event. This left Nathan Faáve, Neil Jones and Jeff Mitchell to battle it out in the three open category. Unfortunately again Neil Jones was also later to retire from the event with illness. However showing true sportsmanship Nathan Faáve and Jeff Mitchell continued to cross the finish line as an unofficial team in 15 hours and 53 minutes.

Late entrants to the Christchurch event, Team Sportzhub.com, Craig Stevens of Taupo and Marcel Hagener from the Coromandel showed blistering form to lead the field after first kayaking 38km from Gorge Bridge down the Waimakariri River and then mountain biking 72km into Lees Valley. During the 38km tramp over the Blowhard track and up the Okuku River the ruminates of team Seagate Nathan Faáve and Jeff Mitchell joined team Sportzhub.com, Craig and Marcel to complete leg 3 together before entering the last mountain bike from the Okuku Pass Road to the North Loburn Hall and finish line.

Well known for their cycling strength Sportzhub.com pulled away from Seagate to cross the finish line some 15 minutes ahead in a total time of 15 hours and 38 minutes. In all 33 teams of 39 completed the course with the ‘most endurance’ award going to team Waitaki, John Clark, Diane Talanoa, Bruce Nowell and Ken Scott who completed the course in 27 hours and 57 minutes. Of worthy mention was team “In the Buff”, a three woman’s team consisting of Helen O’Neill, Michelle Meaclem and Jo Allan. Competing in their first adventure race team “In the Buff” completed the course in 26 hours and 46 minutes.

The course hurled some very interesting challenges at our competitors early on in leg two of the mountain bike segment. One of the requirements of the race was to locate a manned check point on Poyntzs Rd which is situated on the west side of the Eyrewell Forest. While this CP seemed innocuous, five teams failed to find it and others rode many extra kilometers before realizing their mistake and had to turn back.

However, definitely worthy of a mention were the efforts of officials, especially Phillip Ware who was ‘manning’ the site above the Blow Hard Track. He had carried to and from the site a 25kg radio battery, as well as camping equipment, and was communications throughout the night. The last morning of the race, whilst race officials were dropping off a withdrawn unnamed team to the finish line, Phillip radioed in for his last transmission of the morning. As the race officials informed Phillip about the withdrawing team (who unbeknownst to Phillip) were sitting in the back, he replied “yes, I didn’t think that they where going to make it”. Phillip passes on his apologies to that team and wishes to say good luck next year. Also, he would be very grateful for any assistance with carrying the battery.

In summary the Christchurch event proved true to form by delivering a truly challenging event. Overall times where slightly longer than usual which proved the length and difficulty of the course, that 33 teams of 39 finished just goes to show there is plenty of tenacity in Canterbury’s adventure racing.

Please refer to the attached excel file for full team names, individual participants and contact details. Past media release from other 24 Hour events are available on request.