Fulda Challenge
Tough Times on Day 2
01.02.2006
Event three: BiathlonLocation: Grey Mountain, Yukon
Following a successful start for the UK Fulda Challenge team, Kate Balchin and Martin Yardley were prepared for one of the toughest events on the 2006 schedule – a gruelling biathlon.
The event took place at the beautiful Grey Mountain, a place not to be missed by visitors to the Yukon. As they travelled to the course at sunrise yesterday, the teams were greeted with a spectacular view of the whole of Whitehorse, including Lake Laberge.
The exhausting biathlon event took place on 12km (five laps of 2.4km) of snow-covered hills and icy straits. The competitors negotiated the course on cross-country skis, a discipline that is incredibly tough on the body.
The Fulda Challenge organisers also added their own twist to the traditional biathlon, with four rounds of archery instead of the normal shooting event, and seconds added (or deducted) from the athletes’ overall times for missing or hitting the target. Trying to aim and shoot straight with cold and aching fingers proved difficult for many of the competitors.
Having done cross-country skiing before, Martin crossed the line in an admirable eighth place and collected three valuable points. The event was won by Martin Hollerbach, who claimed the ten points (and a record time) for the German Lowa team. This increased its overall lead in the challenge so far.
As for the female competitors, Kate Balchin finished in ninth position. Dutch competitor and fellow police officer, Irma Grrotscholten, accompanied her on her final lap. They congratulated each other as they strode over the finish line together and Kate walked away with a hard-earned two points.See All Event Posts
