---

Groundhog Day

03.05.2006

Stage 2 – Day 10; The Challenge served up another generous helping of the same high energy, appetising fare dished out 24 hour earlier: more blazing sunshine, more competition points, more jaw dropping scenery – and more throbbing pain for South Africa’s Martin Dreyer.

The hard as nails professional kayaker woke up to find the haematoma (blood clot on the muscle) on his thigh – had swollen further, requiring heavy strapping. One event later and the ambulance was called into action, providing a tighter wrapping – this time in bright yellow duct tape – for the expanding red lump.

‘It’s painful,’ he admits. ‘But it hasn’t been a problem today. I’m still competing at a fast pace.’

It didn’t look that comfortable in the final event of the day. Martin, who normally drives 50-year-old Takashi Sugiyama to faster times, appeared to limp some way behind him across the paddy fields. And he later revealed the angry purple bruise that started on the inside of his thigh had spread up the right side of his groin.

Away from the injury that‘s generating much interest on the Challenge, competitors continued to plunder points. With the competition locations easily reached from one principal road, the pressure switched to performance.

And they didn’t disappoint. Most teams started off successfully on a stunning caving competition. As early morning ribbons of mist clung to the jungle-covered mountain face, competitors entered a gaping limestone cave to climb and abseil past dripping stalactite and rock sculptures worthy of an art gallery. From far below, their torches shone like pinpricks in an inky night sky.

See All Stories On This Race