This year’s Wellington Arrow 24 Hour Adventure Race was held ín the Martinborough district - home of New Zealand’s most efficient wind farm! With winds threatening to close the Rimutaka incline, Race Director Richard Anderson contemplated canceling the event due to the blustery conditions. Fortunately the wind abated, allowing everyone to attend race briefing held in Martinborough’s Town Hall. 32 teams from Dargville to Invercargill were present to contest the third event in the Arrow series. With a record number of relay teams entered, all categories were going to be competitive.

After releasing the secret course at race briefing on the Friday night, all teams dispersed to return the following morning at 8am for the race start. The first leg was a sprint from Martinborough Square to the Ruamahanga River. At three times the normal flow, the river was still very flat and safe. Competitors enjoyed a pleasant paddle with the leading team, Team Aaron and Jeremy - Aaron Bennet and Jeremy Kuygelijn, completing the 30km paddle in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Six teams were in hot pursuit within four minutes of the leaders. Last off the water in a respectable time of 3 hours, was relay team Late for Lunch - Trish Morrison, Neil Morrison, Shane Hancock, Kaylene Wilson and Liz Thevenard.

With a growing tail wind, teams set off into the third leg - a short 28km mountain bike from the Tuhitarata Bridge to the Pinnacles car park in the Aorangi Ranges. Aaron and Jeremy were caught during the bike by three of the chasing five teams - four person mixed teams Icebrreaker Southern Flyers - Sally Fahey, Murray Thomas, Quenton Johnston and Tim Pearson, Team Sierra International – Mark Minerhan Julian Minerhan, Jo Forbs and Rob Harrow, and two person team Trek n Travel - Craig Harper and Dave Spring. With a wind assisted mountain bike and high river levels, all teams were an hour ahead of the estimated fastest times at the TA (transition area). However with the wind strength increasing and two very challenging legs to go teams still had a demanding race ahead.

Leg four seemed straightforward enough on paper, however on foot it was a different story. Approximately 27km long, participants were to trek through the Aorangi Ranges via CP’s (check points) at Washpool, Pararakai Hut and Kawakawa huts to the Kawakawa Station. The seldom-used track was easily lost on the undulating terrain. The trek was either uphill or downhill with only the last 6km of riverbed resembling flat ground. Leading out of the trekking section was Team Icebreaker Southern Flyers, in a total time for all four legs of 8 hours and 28 minutes. Only two minutes back after making up 16 minutes on the leaders, was 2 person open team Pim & Dean.Com - Dean Ford and Pim De Monchy. Sierra International was third placed, just 3 minutes behind the leaders. After being passed by Team Pim & Dean.Com, Team Trek n Travel were 10 minutes behind the leaders in fourth place.

Teams opted for different routes on the tramp course. After experiencing knee pain as a result of the hilly terrain, Team 2 Big Macs & a Kiwi Burger decided to pull out at Pararakai Hut and follow the Pararakai stream to Cape Palliser Road where they walked into the transition. After some hot food and slap on the back from their support crew they decided to continue with the race and complete the last mountain bike leg.

With the wind nearing hurricane force, teams departed on the final bike leg. The course took them 65km from Kawakawa Station to Cape Palliser around the North Islands most southern headland and back via the wind farm on Big Hill to Martinborough. For the lead teams who reached Cape Palliser in the evening sun, cycling the coastline was a highlight. Teams hardly had to peddle thanks to the strong winds, and also enjoyed some beautiful ocean views and a visit up the 130 steps the magnificent Cape Palliser lighthouse.

All this scenery was however about to change as teams turned into the wind and begun the grind back to Martinborough with a couple of substantial climbs. First to reach the finish line in 13 hours and 27 minutes was team Icebreaker Southern Flyers just 8 minutes ahead of team Sierra International. In third position and first 2 person open team Trek n Travel who passed team Pim & Dean.Com to complete the course in 13 hours and 46 minutes with Pim and Dean a further 13 minutes back in 13 hours and 59 minutes. While the faster teams were completing the course, others were still finishing the tramp at TA 4. Team 2 Big Macs & a Kiwi Burger, received the Most Endurance Award, completing the course in 24 hours and 55 minutes.

A challenge was presented to the race organisers when winds reached such strength that the portable toilet was blown off it’s transport trailer, but that’s enough detail about that. Many teams reported being blown off their bikes during the final ride. Some overcame the challenging conditions by cycling sideways to the wind and leaning 30 degrees into it in order to maintain forward momentum.

The series now moves to the final event in Dunedin on October 18-19. All four mixed person teams who enter the series gain points towards series titles. Currently series points for the New Zealand 24 Hour Champions title, and winners of free flights to Australia, $1000 cash and free entry to either the Melbourne or Sydney Arrow 24 Hour 2004.