Central Otago Teams Claim Titles in Cliff Hanger

Central Otago Schools took out all the South Island titles yesterday in the inaugural South Island Secondary Schools Adventure Race Champs (SISSAR). The star studded AWT team from Mt Aspiring College won the overall title plus mens open in a cliff hanger over Invercargill’s James Hargest Boys Team.

The 15 co-ed teams of four left at 6am in darkness on their MTBs from the Cromwell Sports Club in a blaze of lights. The leaders quickly cut out the first ride in 30 minutes before transitioning to the highlight for many, the Trek leg up onto the 1284m Mt Difficulty. On the three and a half hour climb team AWT showed their strength building up a 20 minute lead over Team Apartments from Cromwell. Chasing hard was the leading mixed Team Dunstan High School with National Rep Track Cyclist Georgia Wight showing many of the boys the way, as they completed the loop to Slapjack saddle before returning to transition to collect their bikes. On their return many of the athletes commented on the amazing views over the Arrowtown, Kawarau Gorge, Nevis Valley area as the sun rose from the top of Mt Difficulty.

The cycle took teams to the high point of the race which included a quick 25m abseil. All girls team Ichibon, from Mt Aspiring flew through this discipline with ease highlighting the team spirit evident which helped them later claim the Girls SISSAR Champ title.

Following the abseil, teams traversed neighboring high country stations looking for unmanned orienteering checkpoints, this almost become the undoing of the AWT team who were passed by the excellent navigation from Team James Hargest. Team James Hargest held the lead for a short time during the cycle stage until AWT found its legs taking a slim 3 minute lead into the kayak. Once on the water James Hargest’s challenge began to sink as they took on water in two of there kayaks which required the safety boats to assist.

The final leg was a quick run to the finish line at Cromwell Sports club saw lead changes and AWT taking the title followed by James Hargest then Cromwell College Apartments.

Ichibon raced strongly through the entire race beating the next girls team by over ninty minutes, crossing the finish full of smiles in 11hrs 8 minutes to claim the SISSARC girls title.

The Karamea boys team which included two 13 yr olds, raced above expectation finishing mid field in borrowed kayaks and MTB’s, in a time of 11hrs 14 minutes,.
The final team to complete the course “Lincoln Legends mixed” battled through the day fighting off fatigue finishing in 13hrs 30min. Their strategy was to experience the event so they could return next year and win, a concept that may pay them divides in a years time.

Race Director Bill Godsall said in 20 yrs of Adventure Racing he had never seen so many “positive smiling faces” from the adventurers that competed! After the race team members were buzzing as they told each other and support crews of their individual challenges and highlights, creating an amazing post race atmosphere. For Godsall the South Island Secondary Schools champs was the most successful adventure races he has been part of.

The SISSARC was organized as a partnership between Southern Lakes Multisport Club and Multisport Adventure Racing NZ as a strategy to get more young people into adventures. By utilizing the environment and encouraging team work, which builds respect between each other and the environment was paramount. 

RESULTS
Open
AWT Mt Aspiring 8:33 hrs
James Hargest Boys 8:53 hrs
Cromwell College Apartments 9:31 hrs

Mixed
DHS Dunstan High School Apartments 9:21 hrs
Propaganda Mt Aspiring 10:47 hrs
RGRC Mt Aspiring 11:43 hrs

Girls
1 Team Ichibon Mt Aspiring 11:08 hrs
2 Team Lambs Mt Aspiring 12:45 hrs