A strong onshore breeze greeted competitors as they lined up at Titahi Bay for the Wellington component of the Arrow International Adventure Race Series. The role call provided some light entertainment, with teams entered under creative names such as “Nigel and the Sequined G-Strings” and “Junior Burger Strikes Back” causing a few sideways glances. Jill Westenra was among the field, the prospect of another Arrow 24 Hour Race luring her out of race retirement.

Teams attired in bike helmets, personal flotation devices and poly pros raised a few dog walkers’ eyebrows as they commenced the initial coasteering section of the event. For the uninitiated, coasteering involves negotiating the coastline running across sand, rocks, and where impassable by land, swimming. The course took teams around the headland to the transition at the Rowing Club inside Porirua Harbour and was expected to take fastest teams about an hour and a half. During this leg competitors enjoyed spectacular Wellington coastline as well as checking out the numerous car wrecks along the way (the headland is also renowned as a car graveyard).

Samson’s Downfall (Brent Smith and Gerard O’Flynn) was first to complete the coasteering leg in 1 hour 10 minutes. Teams On Yer Bike (Jill Westenra, Al Cross and Dave Hicks) and Focus Chartered Accountants (Paul Wills, Ramash Swansy, Stuart Lynch and Koleighne Ford) arrived shortly after where they quickly changed and refueled.

The field then commenced the kayak leg up Porirua Harbour, via Browns Bay to Motukaraka Point. Team K, H and no S (Jeremy Kuggeleijn and Wayne Hodgetts) arrived at transition two after 2 hours 17, just one minute ahead of team On Yer Bike. The wind increased, hampering the progress of the slower teams with Fergs Rock ‘N Kayak arriving last at the transition after 4 hours 2 minutes.

Teams then embarked on an epic mountain biking leg through Battle Hill Farm, Moonshine Road, the Hutt River then along the Crazy Man mountain bike course and through Wainuiomata to reach Camp Wainui. The leg was expected to take teams up to eight hours to complete, as it included a number of hill climbs and undulating tracks. Team On Yer Bike blitzed the leg, arriving at the transition first after 4 hours 10 minutes on the saddle, half an hour ahead of the nearest competition, Samson’s Downfall. As daylight faded and the rain came in, teams became more dispersed and support crews realised it was going to be a long night. The last team to complete the mountain bike stage and arguably the most chipper team was team Dynamic Duo (Helena Court and Tania Younger), arriving just after midnight complete with superhero capes.

The final stage of the event involved a rogain/trek, which started and finishing from Camp Wainui and included Mt McKerrow and the Orongorongo River area where teams had to locate remote check points. Route choice played a critical role, as many of the tracks were gorse ridden and hard going underfoot.

Three person mixed team, On Yer Bike, took out line honours, completing the entire event in 13:31. Team Focus Chartered Accountants won the four person mixed category in a total time of 15:31 and will now move on to compete in the Southern Traverse. Team Dynamic Duo rocked up to the finish line in great spirits, claiming to have achieved great value for money having completed the entire course in an epic 26 hours and 39 minutes.

The Arrow 24 Hour Race Series now moves to Dunedin for the final event for 2004. To check out preliminary race dates for 2005, or for more information see www.24houradventurerace.com.

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