Announcing Team New Zealand for the World’s Biggest Adventure Race

Press Release / 04.08.2014

New Zealand could be well-positioned to take out the Tri Nations Trophy again at this year’s Act-Belong-Commit Augusta Adventure Fest – the World’s Biggest Adventure Race - being represented by young guns Sam Manson, Olly Shaw and Emma McCosh.
 
The Tri Nations Trophy is a competition between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and is held as part of the main Act-Belong-Commit Augusta Adventure Race. Each nation has three designated competitors (two male and one female), all of whom compete as individuals and the nation with the lowest cumulative team time being the winner.
 
Olly Shaw has been racing Xterra (off-road triathlon) for the last six years, the last two in the elite category, and is expecting the mountain bike to be his strongest leg. “Racing in such a huge field of competitors will be an awesome experience. The best thing will be getting to race as part of a team, and try to help my teammates race as well as they can, so we can beat the Aussies and South Africans!” said Shaw.

Sam Manson hasn’t been to Australia before and is expecting his swim leg to be his weakest so is planning to pack some shark repellent in his suitcase. “Having never been across the ditch before, I've only heard great descriptions of the Australian outdoors. Despite the venomous and human attacking animals you may have I'm keen to get my shoes dirty on some alternative ground. I'm proud to be a kiwi and this race will be an awesome chance to race against great Aussie athletes,” said Manson.

Emma McCosh said the best part about representing New Zealand is the opportunity to do something she absolutely loves for a country that she’s extremely proud of. “I’m really looking forward to the stunning coastline and scenery that the event takes in and the coastal run - I love rock hopping and being near the ocean,” said McCosh who is tipped to dominate the run legs.

Who will they be up against? The Australian and South African teams are yet to be determined with selection of the Australian team currently in the hands of the Australian public.

The Australian public has the opportunity vote on who should represent Australia in the Tri Nations Trophy based up on the nominee’s recent race results. It’s a choice between Elizabeth Dornam and Peri Gray for the female position in the team. In the men’s, only two of the following accomplished athletes will make the team: Ben Allen, Guy Andrews, Matt Duncan, Jarad Kohlar and Balinga Pasco.

The premier Augusta Adventure Race is a 62km multidiscipline off-road race with over 1,900 competitors tackling a 12.5km coastal run, 1.9km ocean swim, 13km ocean paddle, 32km mountain bike and 2.5km beach run to the finish.

Two additional race formats are held to complement the sold-out premier race, the Mini Adventure Race and Junior Survivor, and over 3,400 competitors are expected across the weekend – making it the world’s biggest adventure race.

No doubt we will see some fierce competition as the three nations go head to head on 2nd November and Australia tries to reclaim the trophy.

Check out the details at www.AugustaAdventureFest.com.au

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