The Cotter comes to life with Adventure

Paddy Pallin Adventure Race - 12 February 2011, Canberra

The Paddy Pallin Adventure Race Series ventured into the Cotter area for the first time and with a brand new area to explore there was a buzz amongst the competitors before they set of on the third race for the 2010/11 season. Over 450 people were lined up for the le mans start of running to their bikes before ascending the summit of Mt Stromlo. From the top it was a quick descent along the renowned Skyline, Luge and Double Dissolution single tracks and for the first time teams were allowed to split up during a leg. ARnuts took full use of the rules by getting two of the checkpoints each and took the lead over The Bike Shed. By the end of the first orienteering leg The Bike Shed had regained a small amount of time to be within a minute of the lead while the winner from the last event , Egos Like Hairdos, an all male team, was comfortably in third. Bedraggled Berra Babes who won the female category of race #3 looked to dominate once again and had a 22minute lead after 2 legs.

A good second run leg saw The Bike Shed take the lead for the first time and sneak onto the bike leg into the Cotter ahead of ARnuts. They hit some bad luck however getting the red light across the Cotter bridge allowing ARnuts to rejoin them. Despite dropping some time on the last two bike legs, Egos like Hairdos had an eight minute buffer on the second placed men’s and fourth overall team VO3MAX entering the last leg. Dickson Chicks had moved into the second spot amongst the women but Bedraggled Berra Babes had maintained their healthy lead.

A quick transition saw ARnuts open a small gap on The Bike Shed and after a short run they were first into the water with their tubes. After 1.5km, some rapids and a few bumps ARnuts emerged from the river still in the lead and sped up and down Casuarina Sands in the kayak leg to start the run home. The Bike Shed followed four minutes later. It was on this leg that Egos like Hairdos imploded. After not reading the race instructions properly the fellas returned to the finish after completing only half of the tubing leg. By the time they had completed the leg they had fallen to fourth overall, two minutes behind VO3MAX.
tubing

The top four were the only teams who qualified for the bonus leg and despite recording the fastest bonus leg The Bike Shed were unable to run down ARnuts who took the victory with a three minute margin. VO3MAX held off the frustrated Egos Like Hairdos to take the final spot on the podium, their second 3rd placing in a row. Kirawee Hunting Club were 5th overall and third male team while The Giggitys were the third mixed team and sixth overall. The Dawson family, team MAgics, moved up to the Classic Course and easily took the extra distance in their stride in becoming the number one family team. Dee Phat Racing Crew showed the public servants aren’t all long lunches and offices slouches by toppling the Corporate category competition.

Much like the Classic Course, the Novice competitors took off at a hare-like pace to pick up their bikes for an exploration of the old Paddy’s River pine plantation. Luckily for the novices they didn’t quite have the climb or the technical level MTB ride but the network of firetrails and the two small hike-a-bike sections added to the adventure! It was You Bewdy! Who were first off the bikes and after grabbing their tube headed towards the river with one eye over their shoulders looking out for the chasing pack. HOTSOX and onya mal came through just over a minute behind neck and neck for second place. Handsome Bald Men weren’t far behind in fourth.

The tubing and kayak leg was the same as the Classic Course and it gave the shorter course warriors a chance to compare themselves to the Classic. You Bewdy! Will surely move up to the Classic Course next time they race as their time for the leg was in the top five Classic times! This gave them a six minute win in their AR debut and led to much celebrating and high fiving once they crossed the finish line. HOTSOX won the battle for second and first mixed team with onya mal fading slightly to finish fifth overall but managed to remain as the second mixed team. The streamlined craniums of the Handsome Bald Men must have helped them glide through the water as they moved into third. AROC n Roll won the women’s category with strong seventh overall placing, one behind the winning family team The Racing Reises. Bayer Pharma Ladies must have taken the right medicine easily winning the Novice Corporate category.

As with any successful event AROC Sport have many people to thank that helped make the race a success! The crew of staff and volunteers including - Timmy, Lovey, Malcolm, Wanda, Anna, Jennifer, Jessica, Matt, Kristy, Sandi, Sean, Wendy, Lynn and the very pregnant Selina. The land managers and owners including ACT Parks, Conservation and Lands, Stromlo Forest Park, Roads ACT and Michael Blake.

Our wonderful sponsors who continue to support the series and provide plenty of prizes to spread the love around - Paddy Pallin, Fitness First, icebreaker, World Expeditions, Salomon, Sea to Summit, Suunto, Skins, UltraFit Magazine, Australian Geographic Outdoor Magazine, GU, as well as local partners The Bike Shed and the Crowne Plaza.

The final event for the 2010-11 Series is on 2 April on the Central Coast.