Challenging the mighty Brindabellas

Prankar Singh

I was all in preparations for my departure for home in India for my summer recess from studies, when a friend advised I should be in attendence at the Brindabella Challenges race in Canberra facilitated by the AROC company to cheer and observe.

Last time I was in attendance it was in Sydney Olympic Park as a volunteer. This time I was choosing to spectate from the margins. I had placed my cycle into a Stow-It facility and I did not have a team to be in membership with for the entry.

Firstly I was amazed by the starting positions of most people as they ran from the slopes of the Black Mountain. It was also very exciting to see in participation a league of gentleman from the Rugby Club of Canterbury. I have since made a Google of this code of football practice and I recognized many of the heroes from the tournaments on the website. I will watch some matches in the next season. It was also great to see so many of the ordinary peoples like me in attendance – it is uncommon to have such wide standards of athletes all mixing in one event which is why I have preferences for the adventures as these and for the opening of participation to everyone. This sport grows in a healthy manner.

I was invited by Tom to accompany him in his white lorry. It was a joy he recalled me from Sydney where I volunteered and to be riding in the same vehicle as he, because he shared many tales and secrets of what was to be forthcoming for the competitors! He kindly delivered me to the swimming facility and I had never seen such an amazing place since the aquatic playgrounds at Olympic Park. I am in regret that I did not foresee the need for my tennis shorts for I too would have enjoyed the sliding in the water. I watched for nearly a whole half of an hour as the peoples came sliding down into the water with whelps and whoas of pleasure. I also had conversations with the photographers about how they make pictures for the AROC web sites. I spoke to a man named Chris Holly and he was very accommodating to my enquiries and he even showed me some of the images on the camera he had. I saw many potentials before they went on the website and even perhaps Sleepmonsters – it is wonderful to see so much behind the scenes before everyone else is party to the results. I learned a new expression in Aussie vernacular – it is called “chimping” and it is a descriptor for when people look upon the images on the previewing screen of a camera and make expressions of ooh ooh aahh aahh much akin to the chattering of chimpanzees. This made for much giggling by Chris as I was the first to make such utterances. I share this so others will not be the focus of mirth if they respond in such a manner when next viewing the screens – or to be aware that this may create a situation of mirth if others make the chimpanzee sounds in their presence. I do not take offences to being the point of creating humour – in my country, it is a blessing to bring laughter.

Then I received a long lift to the place around the lake where the people walked through an amazing tunnel of light near to the parliamentary place and it began to rain which no doubt did make for some relief to competitors. It was dark now and I saw many little points of light that signaled entrants moving around the course. I accepted a vehicle journey to the Stromolo Facility where they started and we applauded and cheered the entrants as they returned. I played with the AROC mascot dog called Valley – it is peculiar why they would name a dog so, but I do not question dog wisdom as they are wonderful companions and this dog was placid and willing to receive heavy petting from me. I saw the Stingers cross in victory after a bonus leg and came very close to them as they walked past me. They had very large reflector lights on their heads which looked like they were satellite receivers for television like we have at home. I imagined inside what they could be intercepting and watching on televisions in the race and laughed if they may have to rotate their heads in an orbit to keep a steady signal in receivership. In the lull between completions across the line of teams I also had other conversations with many entrants. Again, there were so many prizes to offer and it was wonderful because they made the whole carpet of prizes available to everyone to select their choices; socks, bags, shirts, and many other useful devices for adventures.

All in overview, it was mostly dark so I did not see the contestants in the remoter regions of the course, but I did see them at the slide which was a highlight for me. It was also wonderful to be remembered to the photographers and Alina at the finish and to receive a ride in Tom’s lorry.
Adventures with AROC are akin to an extended family and it is with this memory I will travel to India and share my fondness for adventure with my siblings and old classmates for the holiday recess.
Thanks be to AROC and all the friendly adventurers who make my stay in Australia so wonderful.

Salutations for the Christmas festivities to you all
Sincerely

Prankar.

For full results - click here

For photos - click here

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