Speights Coast to Coast
Coast to Coast 2008 set to be largest race ever
24.11.2007
The Speight's Coast to Coast is New Zealand's best-known and premier multisport event. It draws competitors from around the world; all keen to take on the gruelling course across the South Island's main divide.
The Speight's Coast to Coast can be tackled in either the one-day or two-day competition. Entrants facing the two-day challenge leave Kumara Beach on the South Island's West Coast on Friday 8th February at 7am. Competitors head off on a 243km journey taking them through the Waimakariri Gorge, over Arthur's Pass, and finishing up at Sumner Beach in Christchurch on Saturday 9th February. Around 250 individual competitors will take off on Saturday morning at 6am, pushing themselves to the limit by attempting to complete this difficult course in one day.
This year, the organisers are expecting more than 100 international competitors. Entries have been received from 21 different countries including Germany, South Africa, Iceland, the West Indies and Finland, confirming that the Speight's Coast to Coast has solidly established itself as an international affair. The race has already attracted the biggest Australian and British contingent ever, with over 30 entrants from each country.
International competitors include Nathan Facer, a pilot from Australia, who after seven years of competing solo is teaming up with his wife Katy. John Flanagan, an ex-rugby player who is now based in the USA as a mine clearance manager for the UN, will be attacking the Speight's Coast to Coast for his first time; as will be Daniel Cowley, an aid worker from Papua New Guinea. Another international highlight is Commonwealth Games boxing champion Brian Williams from Australia, competing in the one-day event.
Aja Shanahan of Australia is following in her father's footsteps. In 2004 he completed the race with Aja's best friend's father, after finding a list of goals he'd written years before, one of which was "Compete in the Speight's Coast to Coast".
"I am competing in the Speight's Coast to Coast for the first time with my best friend - the same girl whose father competed with Dad. So it is the same team, but now the daughters!" says Aja, "It is my first adventure race - and definitely one of the biggest physical challenges I have faced."
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