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Speights Coast To Coast Multisport Race

Steve Cooper ... with help / 19.01.2005

This year\'s race will see a team of 3 Aussies cross the Tasman to try and snatch the Innaugural World Teams Challenge trophy.

This new international class is formed from 3 athletes, 2 guys and a girl competing in the 1 day event. They\'ll run, cycle, run, cycle, kayak, cycle a total of 243km from Kumara on the west coast to Sumner (Christchurch) on the east coast on the classic C2C route. (Kayak 67km, Run 36km, Cycle 140km).

The Aussie team, comprising of Guy Andrews, Chris Clauson and Narelle Ash, will take on the other world teams, South Africa, the UK and Canada amongst them, plus of course the Kiwis on their own turf.

Our competitors come with some good results on the board; a 4th for Guy in \'04 and a 2nd for Chris in \'03, and with Narelle the team should go well. Placings will be important, but times even more so as it will be the team with the lowest cumulative time that takes the Trophy. It certainly won\'t be handed to anybody on a plate as the Kiwi team will comprise of George Christison and Richard Ussher (1st and 3rd in \'04) and Kristina Strode-Penny (1st in \'04), so good luck to all concerned.

The Race, now in its 23rd year, is the envy of Race Director\'s around the world as from it\'s humble beginings it has has grown to attract in excess of 1000 competitors who will make the Journey or almost pilgrimage from West to East.

The race has been graced with such names as Howard, Gurney, Jacoby, Westenra, Thomas to name but a few, and has certainly helped the explosion of the sport in general, and for that we are grateful.

So come the 4th and 5th of February watch for news here.