NZ Coast to Coast Goes Global
Rob / 29.06.2004
Robin Judkins, Race Director of the Speight\'s Coast to Coast, probably the best known multisport race worldwide, has announced a new section in the One Day event for 2005 – The World Teams Challenge.\"Over the last three years I\'ve had many competitors from Australia and South Africa wanting to enter the One Day event in teams representing their countries. So I\'ve devised a new section – the World Teams Challenge,\" said Judkins.
\"Each national team must have three competitors, one woman and two men. Each of the three competitors in the international teams must complete the One Day race, doing the whole course themselves, and the lowest combined time of the teams will be the winner of the World Teams Challenge.\"
\"Over the next three months multisport and adventure racing athletes throughout the world will be invited to submit their teams to me for approval and registration.\"
The New Zealand team will be chosen and led by George Christison, winner of the 2004 Speight\'s Coast to Coast, with Guy Andrews, the former Australian Surf Life Saving Ironman who was 4th in 2004, choosing the Australian team. Max Cluer, captain and manager of Team Rocky Adventure Racing Team in South Africa is co-ordinating the South African Team.
\"All international competitors will be advised of this new section in the One Day Race and they will have until August 31st to submit their proposed teams. I\'ll then travel to all those countries in September to assist them in gathering sponsorship and to expand the international television coverage of the 2005 event\" Judkins said.
Together with Gordon Legge from Leggework Productions in Auckland Judkins is expanding the live television coverage of the 2005 Speight\'s Coast to Coast on Sky TV from 6 hours in 2004 to 8 hours in 2005 and progressively to 12 hours in 2008. With the assistance of the New Zealand Tourism Board the live and delayed broadcast will be offered to television broadcasters worldwide.
The focus of next year\'s Speight\'s Coast to Coast will be on the World Teams Challenge.
Entries open for the 2005 Speight\'s Coast to Coast closed to New Zealand racers on June 15th (it\'s hard to get in), but international racers who want to take part have until December 31st to enter.
Entries are limited to 350 individuals and 250 two person teams in the two day event and 200 individuals in the one day event.
[Ed. The enquiries are already coming in from racers trying to put national teams together so looks like the world team challenge is going to be popular.]
