Aussies Steal Tri Nations Cup in Augusta Anaconda Adventure Race

News Release / 04.11.2012

Wet, slippery and windy conditions greeted 1,800 adventure racers early this morning as they lined up underneath the iconic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, ready to tackle Race Two of the Augusta Anaconda Adventure Race National Series, the biggest adventure race in the world.

In the first wave of solo runners were a bunch of Kiwis, South Africans, English, Scots, a Singaporean and, although the address listing didn’t show it, we swear there were some American accents debating the best racing lines.

Of course, it was a Tri-Nations Trophy rather than an All Nations on the line with a competition of national pride to be played out within the overall race, so all eyes were on the bibs carrying the Australian, South African and New Zealand flags. National representatives were racing for personal and country honour, the collective results of the two males and one female racing for each team deciding which would claim bragging rights as the southern hemisphere’s best adventure racing nation.

For the individual title, most money was on New Zealander Braden Currie, last year’s Anaconda Series runner-up who also recently took a 17th placing at the World Xterra Championships in Hawaii, placing him in the top league of off road racers worldwide. The fact that he beat last year’s Anaconda Series Winner, Richard Ussher, in that same race speaks volumes for his form.

That form was on blistering display today in Augusta, Currie leading the race from start to finish, his focus on swim training for Xterra paying off. Currie’s trail run was lightening fast as always and his paddle and bike strong enough to put a good ten minutes on nearest rival, Australia’s Jarad Kohlar.

The win makes it two from two in the 2012 Anaconda Series, Currie having won Race 1 in Noosa, which means he can now be confident of taking the series title assuming his Lorne finale outing in December goes to plan.

“If you told me a year and a half ago that I’d be racing this well, I wouldn’t have believed you," said Currie in the finish circle at Turner’s Caravan Park, Augusta.

“I felt good out of the swim today, so my training in that discipline obviously paid off," says Currie. “And I felt good on the run before that. Knowing I had a good lead I just maintained the tempo and enjoyed it."

Victorian, Jarad Kohlar upheld Australian pride, taking overall second place just under ten minutes behind Currie, with fellow Victorian James Pretto filling the final podium slot a further five minutes back.

The minor placings were enough to put the Aussies ahead in the Tri Nations Adventure Racing Trophy stakes, the result put beyond doubt when Victorian Deanna Blegg smashed through the 63km course in a sterling time of 4:33:11 to win the women’s category by more than a few country miles. Her dominance on the course was also emphasised by the fact that she was the 11th solo competitor overall, across both male and female fields.

“I had an average time of it here last year (finishing second to Kiwi Fleur Lattimore) so I’m very happy with the win," said Blegg, who jets off to New York in a week to take on the Tough Mudder World Championships.

Despite the convincing win, her form fluctuated out on course, according Blegg. “I had a few flat spots out there in the run, and in the swim I was really sluggish."

Blegg’s power returned in the paddle, however, “and I was just praying for the mountain bike leg to go well. Last year I had a horrific time of it. This year, when I got out there it all just flowed for me on the bike, which on this course is a rare thing for me. Overall I’m just really stoked with my time."

Like Currie, it is Blegg’s second win from two outings in the 2012 Anaconda season and she now heads into the final round looking good to take out the Anaconda crown, making it back to back titles following last year’s win.

Behind Blegg, South African Jane Swarbreck put in a consistent performance to take second placing, beating out Nikki Williamson, who took third. It’s a step up for Williamson, from Duncraig, WA, following her seventh overall female placing in last year’s Augusta Anaconda.

It was also a respectable performance for second placegetter Swarbreck, an Anaconda first timer who more used to expedition style adventure racing on courses that take days to complete rather than hours.

“I’m stoked," said Swarbreck, who came in 14min 33sec minutes behind Blegg. “My legs were a little slow in the first run leg as I took my time to find footing and get into a rhythm. But once I found that, I felt strong."

Swarbreck’s silver-lined finish wasn’t, however, enough to hold out the Kiwis from snatching 2nd place in the inaugural Tri Nations Adventure Racing Trophy. Braden Currie’s win, along with team mate Gavin Mason’s 7th overall male and Nic Leary’s 5th placing in overall female, was enough to secure second in the Tri Nations league table.

Swarbreck’s South African team mates still performed admirably, Alex Pope coming home 11th male overall with Rob Crichton running 23rd under the finish arch.

While the all new Tri Nations Trophy will sit in a Victorian cabinet for the next 12 months, the Kiwis and the Springboks will head home to figure out how to make up time next year. Braden Currie is however, likely not too worried, his win meaning he could have done no more except perhaps a superhuman feat of going even faster - but 34 minutes faster?

In the teams’ category, who could forget some of the names entered: Blood, Sweat and Beers, Phat Punks, Fulleskies, Befat. That group of notables included the smartly dressed (they wore business attire) Handsome Idiots, who were first team across the line in 3:57:55. Close behind them was The One Armed Verity's (3:59:59) and the more non-enigmatically named Team Total Triathlon, a bunch who have come to the dirty side and taken home third for their bravery (4:06:09).

At the time of writing there was, however, a cloud of inquiry over The Lance Armstrong Experience team , their 14th category placing prompting some to push for the crew to be tested.

Special mention goes to solo competitor Rob Lim, a true Anaconda adventure racing legend being the only one to have competed in every single WA Anaconda event to date, this year knocking off number seven and doing it in style with a 4hr 40min 35sec time, enough to take sixth in his Veterans (40-49) category).

Full results are available at http://www.bluechipresults.com.au/Results.aspx?CId=11&RId=2162&EId=1

OVERALL RESULTS

MEN’S CATEGORY

1. Braden Currie (3:50:59)

2. Jarad Kohlar (4:00:11)

3. James Pretto (4:33:11)

WOMEN’S CATEGORY

1. Deanna Blegg (4:33:11)

2. Jane Swarbreck (4:47:45)

3. Nikki Williamson (4:52:30)

OVERALL TEAMS

1. Handsome Idiots (3:57:55)