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Kathmandu Takes Charge

Susan McKenzie / 18.11.2004

It didn’t rain today. Well, it did a little bit, but not enough to be worthy of a jacket for more than a minute or two. And when local favourites Team Kathmandu emerged from the Lower Paparoas in first place following a monster overnight trek through tussock and snow and rough, rough bush, the sun was shining.

“These boys are used to this kind of weather,� says Duncan Hamilton’s wife, Cherryl. “In fact, they were really hoping for it, because they train in it, and they’re used to it, so they knew it would be a great advantage for them.�

Kathmandu left TA6 in second place behind GoLite/Timberland, but was able to pass the American/Kiwi team in the dark near Crooked River Upper Hut (CP24).

“GoLite left around five o’clock this morning, in the dark,� says Duncan Hamilton as Dr. Tonya wraps his right thigh in tight tensor bandages and his wife feeds him hot chicken and rive and sips of a protein shake. “We slept for about an hour, and then went out after them. We caught up with them about fifteen or thirty minutes later.�

Hamilton’s injury occurred right about then.

“We were hiding from them, didn’t want them to see us move past, so I was climbing and almost landed on top of them� Hamilton says with a laugh.

But it could be no laughing matter. If the injury stiffens overnight when the team stop for the dark zone, it would leave them with a 22km struggle along the beach to the finish. With Golite Timberland chasing.

“They couldn’t find the trail in the dark, I guess,� says Kate Callaghan, who complained of a sore bottom following a tussle with some tussock. “They’re really making it hard for us up there, trying to get around. There’s snow up there, and tussock underneath it, so you just slide along.�

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