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The Chasing Pack

Rob Howard / 16.11.2005

Almost 8 hours after Balance Vector had left TA6 at ‘Airstrip Camp’, a large grass field surrounded by heavily forested hills, the chasing pack arrived. And they came in close together after a night of difficult conditions and constantly changing positions.

At 17.46 Powered by Velvet.org.nz came in followed 6 minutes later by Merrell Wigwam Adventure. The Kiwi team were still being ‘didymo’d’, standing in buckets of water after being hosed down, when the mixed nationality Merrell team checked in with the marshals and followed them through the process.

Merrell decided on a short sleep while Powered by Velvet eat, changed and headed straight out on the long ride ahead. “Navigation between 12 and 13 was just impossible,� said Richard Anderson, “so we gave up and slept 2 hours in a hut thanks to some amazing marshals. Merrell had been in there for 30 minutes before us and had just left, so we settled down. Lots of teams who came after had to sleep outside in horrible conditions.�

As they were getting ready to go the team were all given large drinks which looked like chocolate, but were made with the antler velvet promoted by their sponsors, the New Zealand deer industry. Hence the team name! All the team pulled faces as they drank it, so it can’t taste too nice, but it’s said to promote endurance and healing and seems to be working for the team. “This is 50 times the recommended dose,� joked Anderson, “and we’re not sure of the side effects yet!�

By the time they left another 4 teams had already arrived. Nike Balance Bar came in with Cross Sportswear, then came Port Nelson, followed by the young Swedish team Lundhags Adventure. As John Howard predicted Nike Balance Bar made up 10 places during the night and once again decided to take a comfortable sleep at transition, rather than chase the teams who moved straight through. This time they planned a 2 hour sleep.

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