Southern Traverse
Local flavour to race
Claire Hathaway / 22.11.2002
If they do manage to do this it will be an appropriate close to New Zealand’s icon adventure race. It was Nelson team Seagate.com that crossed the line first yesterday.
It is possible they may be put onto a short course, but nothing is clarified at this stage.
Currently Mondo Kopua’s team Dodson’s Brewery Malborough are in the first/middle stages of the mountain bike through the Wairau River Valley and over the Malvern hills. It is the penultimate leg of the race and takes about seven hours. Six other teams on the full course are also on this stage.
Ahead of them is a six hour kayak that will lead teams to the finish line down the Wairau River, onto the Opawa River, and up the Taylor River. There is an alternate route through and overflow channel that the teams can take on the final leg.
The other teams left racing are completing a short course and should easily make it to Blenheim by the 5pm cut-off, all going well. Heinz Wattie’s and Team Berocca will be the final teams in the short course to cross the finish line.
According to Southern Traverse weather man and radio operator Jeff Desbecker, “the sun is up, the wind is down, clouds are still lurking about and will continue to throughout the day. It’s not too hot, not too cold and all items that you have that are wet should dry out today.�
Anyone wanting to welcome the amazing competitors of the Southern Traverse at the finish line should go down to the Marlborough Club on the Taylor River in downtown Blenheim. Teams will be paddling in through the day.
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