A light frost welcomed competitors to a chilly start line for the Auckland Arrow Adventure Race on July 24. The race start line was at picturesque Omaha Beach, an hour’s drive north of Auckland.

This year’s field, split across 24 and 6 hour categories, was one of the largest to date with around 150 competitors racing. The 24-hour starting line up included a number of experienced teams such as Sportzhub.com and the Blue Ducks, some 24-hour event newcomers, and an all women team from the Girls On Top multisport club. Major sponsor Arrow International showed their commitment to the series, by entering several teams into the relay and four person mixed categories.

Race director Richard Anderson unleashed an energetic field on a coasteering leg from Omaha Beach, along the spectacular Tawharanui Peninsula to Jones Bay. Team Sportzhub.com (Steve Knowles, Jo Gosse, Craig Stevens and Marcel Hagner) was the first to reach Jones Bay, beating the expected time in just 48 minutes. Arriving two minutes behind races leaders were teams Trek ‘n Travel (Craig Harper, Nick Sprott) and Taranaki Sneakers (Ramash Swamy, Greg Simpson).

The next leg was an ocean kayak across Kawau Bay to Martins Bay. The nippy winter conditions gave several competitors frosty fingers out on the water. One unnamed competitor even managed to have a few swims along the way, safely reaching the end of the kayak leg with the help of his team, who are now well versed in the deep-sea rescue.

In the four person mixed category, Sportzhub.com was first to the transition with Focus Chartered Accountants (Paul Willis, Kate Callaghan, Rhys Burns and Malcolm Hughs) arriving seven minutes behind. Team Trek n Travel held the lead in the two person open category, arriving at Martins Bay ten minutes ahead of Team DB (Dave Hicks and Barryn Westfield).

Support crews had a relaxed afternoon, as 24 Hour Race competitors commenced the next three unassisted legs. Teams mountain-biked their way up Conical Peak, and then dropped their bikes at an unassisted transition before disappearing into bush tracks on foot to search for orienteering controls. Some controls proved illusive, with teams spending up to eight hours navigating into the night.

Teams then enjoyed some great downhill roads, as they cycled their way back to the finish line at Omaha Beach Surf Club. Team Sportzhub.com were first across the finish line, completing the course in 09:07 hours. Team Focus Chartered Accountants placed second in 09:24, and in third place The Blue Ducks in 09:44. The open women’s division was taken out by Sunlatte Girls On Top (Ally Davey, Debbie Chambers, Sadie Parker-Wynyard and Amanda Peake) in 16:28. The team with arguably the most endurance was The Good Royal (Richard Moyle and Gemma Woods) completing their adventure in just over 19 hours (before penalties).

The series now moves to Christchurch on August 28-28; Wellington on September 11-12; Dunedin on October 23-24. Check out www.24houradventurerace.com for more information.

24 Hour Category Winners:

Six Hour Adventure Race

Race director Richard Anderson kicked off the new six-hour adventure race series in Auckland on July 24th. The aim of the six-hour series is to introduce an intermediary step for competitors aiming to do the 24 Hour Series and also to encourage new competitors to give adventure racing a go.

The event was run concurrently with the 24-hour race, based at Omaha Beach. The unassisted format proved popular, with competitors leaving their gear in a centralized transition point at Omaha Beach Surf Club.

The field contained a good cross section of experienced adventure racers, women’s teams, and school teams.

The event kicked off at a leisurely 10am, with competitors racing up Omaha beach on a coastal run. First to complete this leg was Team Orienteers Rob and Pete (Rob Gardener and Peter Swanson) in twenty-five minutes. Competitors then followed a similar route to their 24-hour counterparts, biking up Conical Peak to a bike drop zone from which they embarked on an orienteering trek leg through bush tracks to locate orienteering controls. Team A and P Show (Phil White and Anne Mortimer) and Orienteers Rob and Pete were the first teams out of the bush in just 1:33 hours.

From Conical Peak, teams raced back to the Omaha Boat Ramp on their mountain bikes for a short kayak leg. The 300m kayak sprint leg proved a novelty event, with teams competing in relay fashion in sturdy boats provided by race organsisers. One competitor neglected to put on her compulsory life jacket, so her teammate kindly swam out to deliver it to her (while wearing her own life jacket of course).

After racing neck and neck for several legs, teams A and P Show and Orienteers Rob and Pete opted to join forces to take line honours, both teams crossing the finish line in a total time of 03:39. The first school team home was New Plymouth Boys High (Alex Opie, Laura Fagg, Fergus Porteous and Tim Lepper), in 05:04.