Rollo's 8 Hour adventure race - Nelson!

Post China had been pretty mad at the gym but my decision to take a month of light duties training was paying off. The thought of racing just down the road and with Rach had me really excited. Keeping a long story short we had a great day racing from Pelorus Bridge to the Trafalgar Pavillion in Nelson. Given that Rach at best manages to train for an hour a day she was amazingly strong AND despite all her pre race talk about not racing and taking it easy she warmed to the competitive spirit very quickly and effortlessly. Rach commended me after the race for "listening" to what she wanted to do. Faster, slower, left, right, tow, don't tow you name it I did it. As a result we produced our first argument free race and I now have discovered a significant relationship tool moving forward.....just do what she says. Brilliant! I always was a slow learner.

Anyway, onto the race. Race director Chris James was organising his last Rollos. It will be sad to see him step aside after such a great service but he sums the race up perfectly below:

Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Race 2013 – The Journey Home

Anakiwa to Nelson is not that far isn’t it? That may have been the thought on most competitor’s mines once the 2013 Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Race course was release on the Friday night. Actually the course may have looked a little soft.

It had a bit of everything in it, the Marlborough Sounds Kayak Portage race, parts of the 2002 Southern Traverse, the Migym Musselman, The Rollo’s 3&6Hour and the Coppermine Epic.

Anakiwa was the start line for both the AR12 & AR24 sections of the race that started at 9.30am with a short jog to their waiting kayaks at Tirimonana Jetty for the paddle stage to Mistletoe Bay. Leading the charge to Mistletoe Bay were the best in the game, Team Seagate – Subway, who as they paddle past the Anakiwa jetty had already put 200mm on the field on what was a picture postcard morning.

Once at Mistletoe Bay there was a portage over the saddle to TeMahia Wharf for the 19km paddle to Kaiuma Bay. The day was warm, the scenery stunning and the pace was hot for those trying to keep up. However there had been a catch, those paddling non racing kayaks were given a 30 minute head start, it was going to be interesting who would arrive at CP2 first. It was the 2 person team Motueka High/ Coppins Cycles of Jake Stow and Andrew Read who arrived first. They had a plastic double and a trolley and they were paddling across TeMahia Bay when Seagate-Subway arrive, with Faavae doing a Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads impersonation with  JKK Quasar on one shoulder while Richard Ussher, JJ Wilson and Sophie Hart followed behind. Auckland team True Adventure were next having been passed by Seagate – Subway before CP 2, while the Rollo’s Shuffle, Andrew Martin, Matt Ellery, Tony Bateup and Lynley Coventry were next onto the water.

Meanwhile at TA1 – Kaiuma Bay. Those doing the Adventure Duathlon’s AD12 & AD24 were getting ready for their start at 11.30am. They would ride to the Maitai Dam in the back of Nelson via the not often used Kaiuma Bay Road to Pelorus Bridge, up the Pelorus Valley then over the Maungatapu Track to the remote transition at the Maitai Dam. There was a bunch of 5 Adventure Duathlon teams that reached CP4 together, teams C&B Sessions, Fe Maidens, A Mixed Bag, The Mount Somers Panthers and Not another Bloody Hill. And it was another (first of many)Bloody hill that was to sort these 5 teams out as the ascended the Maungatapu Track to CP5 at its Saddle before the descent into the Maitai Dam and TA2.

A little later at CP4 was the start for the AD8 – the Eight Hour Duathlon started at 1.30pm. They would also ride to the Maitai Dam, have a short trek, there continue onto TA4.

Yes another start, you haven’t missed anything, the race had 3 starts. This made the race interesting as the AD 8 would start last, but finish first, the AR12, AD12 & 24 would also be able to finish before most of the AR24 teams. So there were races within racers and course within courses. Teams would see the leading teams in the other racers during the day & night. Normally at an adventure race you would only see the favourites at the start line, not today and the leading teams would pass the others during their race to the finish. With 3 minutes of the AD8 starting team Seagate – Subway arrived with the Rollo’s Shuffle only 15 minutes back. It was going to be interesting what would happen once they caught the AD8 race as Team Seagate’s - Trevor Voyce had elected to race with wife Rachel in her comeback race since adding to the population of the Voyce house. At the top of the climb to CP5 at the Maungatapu Saddle Voyce’s Team Migym Truck & Trailer were 5 minutes ahead of Seagate – Subway unaware that they were so close and at this stage only 20 minutes behind the leading Adventure Duathlon teams.

The plan with the staggered start was to have all the teams at TA2 doing the treks at the same time. Yes treks, as the AR12 & AD8 had a shorten trek CP6, CP7 & CP11. AR24 & AD24 had the full trek to complete while the AD12 had a ½ trek CP6, CP7, CP8 & CP9.

The Maitai Dam was a remote transition, no crew allowed, so team had to self-supported, so once they arrive at TA2 they grabbed their team’s transition bag before heading into the wilderness. Teams in the full race would be required to trek to CP6, CP7, CP8 – Dew Lakes, CP9 – Dun Shelter, CP10 – Wooded Peak before heading to CP11 to then return to TA3. There is a lot a lot of climbing between these CP’s.

TA2 & TA3 were the same spot and it was busier that a railway station as team came and went.

Leading the charge back into TA3 were Migym Truck & Trailer of Trevor & Rachael Voyce. It was still daylight as they headed out on the pipe-line and dun mountain walkway ride to TA4 at the Brook Motorcamp they looked well clear of the rest of the field. The Forsyth Barr Trillseekers of Ken Page, Reid Forrest and Robyn Dunmore & Euan MacIntosh now had the AR12 lead and left TA3 ahead of the leading AD12 team Brenda Clapp & Chris Burr of the C&B Sessions. However the night was but young.

CP12 could have been a game breaker, a lonely picnic table on the Dun Mountain walkway, with an option. Either descend down Bullock spur, a nationally ranked downhill MTB track or face to the valley below or take the longer and safer route to the crossroads above the Brook Motorcamp to TA4 – Cabin 23? Many took the spur option, maybe it was because it was dark and all the danger may have been hidden it the shadows. How they ride down this is amazing, just walking it is a mission.

At TA4 teams were given a new map they needed to get the 7 checkpoint numbers on their way to the Trafalgar Park Pavilion finish line. This was to take teams on foot over the Grampians behind Nelson, before descending (for the last time) then across Nelson city via the church steps and the Rollo’s shop window to reach the finish to complete their journeys home.

As predicted the first team home was the AD8 winners Migym Truck & Trailer in 6hours 19 minutes and the Waimea College Hillary Challenge teams in 7hours & 41 minutes.

The AD12 winners were C&B Sessions in a very smart 10 hours and 54 minutes ahead of Fe Maidens all women’s combination of Ingird Ritcher, Jane Orbell & Meg Bichard who were 12hours even with a Mixed bag 3^rd in 12hours & 25 minutes.

Poppy’s Choice of Leigh Champion & Mike Kyle claimed the AD24 title in 14hours and 27minuntes

The AR12 title went to the Forsyth Barr Trillseekers in a respectable 13hours & 8 minutes, with Team Kamakazi Joe & Jackie MacIntyre with Brian & Jacqui Nathan in 14hours 12 minutes and Hobbling But Hot & Awatea B&B 3^rd in 14hours 45minutes.

However in between all these teams finishing, on the stroke of Midnight, the 2013 Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Race champions team Seagate-Subway arrive in 14hours and 18 minutes leaving all behind them in their wake. The Rollo’s Shuffle were second in 15hours & 38minutes and the Wombles (yes that 70’s TV program) of Ash & Naomi Whitehead, Gilbert Robinson & Gerald Malcolm took the bronze in 18hours & 2 minutes.

As the church bells rang out across Nelson that Sunday morning, 13 years earlier I had started the first of the 12 Rollo’s Nelson Adventure Races on Tahunanui Beach and this morning I had brought the race home. My journey home was now complete.

Chris ‘the Sheriff’ James