The final event in the Arrow 24 Hour Series was held in Dunedin under perfect conditions. This was in stark contrast to the relentless September rain (and usual Dunedin weather).

Dunedin is the traditional venue for the final event and also where the series first began seven years ago. The final event this year saw the largest field of the series with 42 teams participating in the Dunedin race. Competitors came from all around the country including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown and Southland. The Dunedin event was also the decider of this years New Zealand 24 Hour Champions. The winners receiving $1000 cash, free flights to Australia and free entry to either the Melbourne or Sydney 24 Hour 2004.

The Dunedin 24 Hour was a two horse race between team Icebreaker Southern Flyers - (Tim Pearson, Murray Thomas, Quenton Johnson and Sally Fahey) and Team Sierra International - (Mark Minehan, Julian Minehan, Jo Forbs and Rob Harrow). With only four points separating the teams after 3 rounds, the title could have gone either way.

This year's Dunedin event started in Warrington 15km north of Dunedin on State Highway 1. The event was planned to begin at 11pm Friday night as this gave teams plenty of time to make it on and off the kayak before it became dark on Saturday evening. Leg one was a 40km tramp from Warrington across the Silver peaks with CP's (check points) at Pulpit Rock and Mt Allen while on route to the Hindon Train Station on the Taieri Rail Trail. Race favorites, Team Outside Sports Queenstown (Richard Ussher and Hayden Keys) did not disappoint and were first to reach TA1 (transition area 1) in 5 hours and 15 minutes. But not everything went their way. During one of the first route decisions of the tramp, Team Outside Sports took the shorter but steeper course, which cost them considerable time over the longer track option, which was evidently in better condition. Second off the tramp was Icebreaker Southern Flyers in 5 hours 25 minutes. Last years winners Team Neil and Ray (Neil Burrows and Ray Hope) were in third place, just 5 minutes back on Icebreaker, with Sierra International just one minute behind in fourth place.

The second leg consisted of mountain biking 60km from Hindon over Lamb Hill Station before descending to the Waikouaiti River behind Dunedin's old psychiatric hospital, "Cherry Farm", located 20km north of where the event started. While navigation during this leg was introductory, the hill climbs were not. Many teams suffered from cramps after tramping and also a rare condition called "abuse the race director" while undertaking what seemed to be a never-ending climb out of Hindon Station. This was further compounded with the many undulating climbs that only ceased when competitors reached the kayak transition. Many teams found riding the mountaintops during dusk and overlooking the beautiful Otago coastline to be one of the highlights of the event. Under the great conditions, Team Outside Sports completed the bike leg in 2 hours and 55 minutes, despite experiencing a puncture. Only Sierra International changed position, passing team Neil and Ray to hold a narrow 5-minute lead at the start of the kayak. The all woman team Just for Fun (Linda Hope and Sue McAllister) reached TA 2 in a total time of 13 hours and 36 minutes. First relay Team Arrow International reached TA2 in 13 hours and 33 minutes.

Leg three consisted of kayaking down the Karitane Harbour, portaging kayaks to the beach to avoid the bar, then kayaking the coast line from Karitane to Doctors Point. A contingency course was in place should sea conditions become rough and the sea kayak cancelled. 33 of the 42 teams managed to complete the sea kayak before it was closed a 2pm due to rough sea conditions. The remaining 9 teams were forced to bike from Karitane to Warrington before swapping bikes for shoes to complete the leg with a tramp and swim across Blue Skin Bay to reach Doctors Point. First to complete the kayak was Team Outside Sports in a total time of 10 hours and 6 minutes. Team Icebreaker Southern Flyers were just 24 minutes back. Meanwhile team Sierra International still held a narrow 7 minute lead over team Neil and Ray who reached TA 3 in a total time of 10 hours and 35 minutes.

The final leg involved teams mountain biking from Doctors Point over Mt Cargill to the finish at Dunedin's Forester Park. Not a small climb by any measure, however Team Outside Sports completed the ride in 1 hour and 6 minutes to complete the event in a total time of 10 hours and 12 minutes. Icebreaker Southern Flyers were second place, in 10 hours and 38 minutes. This meant that Team Icebreaker Southern Flyers also won the New Zealand 24 Hour Champions title; 6 points clear of Sierra International. Team Neil and Ray managed to catch and pass team Sierra International during the last bike ride to finish third, in 11 hours and 35 minutes. Sierra International completed the course in 11 hours and 39 minutes. The all woman team Just for fun completed the course in 16 hours and 45 minutes. Last but not least, relay team Arrow International completed the course in 18 hours and 9 minutes. In all 32 teams finished the original course, 9 competed the contingency course and 1 team withdrew from the event. The fantastic weather certainly made team times fast, however it also made the event much more enjoyable than last years snowy conditions.

The Dunedin event completed the Arrow International 24 Hour Adventure Race Series for 2003. Plans to improve the series are underway with an emphasis on attracting new participants to the sport through the new relay category.

Draft dates (subject to change) for the 2004 series are:
Melbourne March 6-7
Sydney May 15-16
Auckland July 24-25
Christchurch August 28-29
Wellington September 25-26
Dunedin October 23-24.

Winners of this year's 24 Hour Series titles 2003:

New Zealand 24 Hour Champions 2003
Icebreaker Southern Flyers - Tim Person, Sally Fahey, Quenton Johnson and Murray Thomas

Australia 24 Hour Champions 2003
Team Checkpoint - Jarad Kohlar, Kim Willocks, Damon Goerke and Andrew McKenzie

Australasian 24 Hour Champions 2003
Icebreaker Southern Flyers - Tim Person, Sally Fahey, Quenton Johnson and Murray Thomas

For inquires about the series or to be added to the 2004 database e-mail Richard Anderson at:
richard.anderson@arrowa.co.nz or look up www.24houradventurerace.com