Eco-Challenge
News of XL Lupus UK
Maureen Peatfield / 18.10.2002
Maureen Peatfield, whose husband Mick has been competing with Team XL Lupus UK has kindly passed on news of how the they got on, and to let us know all are OK. Here’s what she had to say:
I just received an email from Mick – and they are all safe and healthy. Naomi twisted her ankle and was forced to leave the race after PC5. The three guys carried on to PC 6 arriving at 6pm (after hiking since 2am) and at that point they made a unanimous decision to leave the race, due to the cold and a lack of food.
For some reason they were not flown out by helicopter at PC6 like all other teams, but travelled down a river to the nearest village and made it out to Nadi from there. They are off today to an island for a couple days (most likely until the post race party). Mick seems in good spirits and said the trip has been an incredible cultural experience as the people in the remote Fiji villages are the friendliest he has ever met.
A bit of history on the three guys - Chris and Bob have been friends for close to 30 years, they both used to race K2 for England in the 70\'s (this was before my time so I hope I have the facts straight). Mick met Chris in high school - Chris as teacher and Mick his student. Chris was a keen kayaker at the time and started a canoe club. Mick started canoeing when he was 12 and carried on racing until his early 20\'s.
I am sure the guys are disappointed they did not reach the water as this is their area of strength. Chris met Naomi at the Eco-Challenge in Borneo (Chris was on another British team) and she approached Chris about staring a team this year.
That is all I know for now.
Maureen
[TNF Kona are still out there! They’ve now finished the second Mtb stage and are preparing to set out onto the water for the kayaking/coasteering section. They are currently in 11th place.]
SleepMonsters
