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Suckling and Beckinsale triumph as Bevan and Leech revel in tough conditions in Anaconda Adventure Race

Rapid Ascent - Media Release / 20.09.2010

This didn’t detract from the action and in many respects heightened it as competitors took the extra hardship in their stride conceding that this is why these are adventure races. Race favourites, Kim Beckinsale from Noosa, QLD and Grant Suckling from Geelong, Victoria, proved too strong to win the individual crowns while team of Brad Bevan and Guy Leech won their two-man team category despite feeling like fish out of water.

Unfortunately a bleak morning greeted competitors and as the wind was building so was the choppy water. The atmosphere remained upbeat as the race started with a 1.9km river and ocean swim. Rhys Ferszt from team Power Pigs exited the water with a handy 40 second lead with Guy Leech in third place and Robert Pomie, Miami local, the first of the individual competitors. Ferszt tagged accomplished kayaker Julian Norton-Smith who maintained their lead throughout the 15km kayak paddle leg. Leech, legendary surf ironman, raced in his first adventure race at the Forster Anaconda Adventure Race in May. With that experience under his belt he knew that he required a great deal of speed to match it with the best competitors. “The competitors on the Gold Coast are a higher standard of athlete and are better swimmers and ski paddlers due to all the surf clubs. It was a suffer fest for me as I was up against ex-Olympians and people in teams of four. I just wanted to represent the 40 something’s well!�.

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