Adventure Racing World Championship 2016
The Last Tigers
Rob Howard / 17.11.2016
The last team to cross the ARWC 2016 finish line in Ulladulla just after 11.30 on a blisteringly hot day were Intrepid Tiger Adventures from Brisbane. (Though they placed 74th out of 76 full course finishers due to penalties for other teams, so were not last.)
There was a big gathering of teams, supporters and officials to see the last team in as they walked slowly over the line showing no sign of emotion or celebration. I think it was all a bit too much to take in as they are a novice team in their first expedition race and they were a little overwhelmed. Only after lots of shouting and encouragement they did they manage to raise their arms aloft in celebration of their achievement for some photos.
Puffy eyed, sunburned and battered they settled down for their pizza and champagne and began to let the experiences and emotions of the last week sink in.
One of the supporters there was Trevor Mullens and with his Tiger Adventure group he was the one who put the team together and encouraged them to have a go at a World Championship course. If you’ve been following the race you’ll have noticed there are 15 Tiger Adventure teams taking part, and he’s played a part in putting them all together.
“This team are all novices in their first expedition race,” he told me, “and here they are at the finish of a World Championships. They are from Brisbane and are people I’ve met and told about adventure racing, and through Tiger Adventure I’ve found them a team, and helped them train and prepare.
“Helen wasn’t sure she could do this, but I felt she could and encouraged her. She looks after 2 children on her own and had to make all the packed school meals before she left and arrange 6 different babysitters for the period of the race.
“I think adventure racing is the greatest sport there is, and I tell people about it, and they have a go. I study their profiles and abilities to try and be sure to put together compatible teams and it’s worked here. Of the 15 teams we had 12 finishers. And it’s not just newcomers who struggle to find teams. Gary Sutherland has been in the sport for 15 years, with some top teams, and we helped him put a new team together – and they finished 11th!
“That team includes MTB champion Jodie Willett and I met here while out training one day and she had national team leggings on. I said hello and we talked about adventure racing, and she ended up on a team. This team here I know from different friends and training partners.
“If you tell people about adventure racing, help them find teams and encourage them, it’s amazing what they can achieve.”
With the success of the Tiger Adventure teams at this race I think he’s proved his point.
You can find out more about Tiger Adventures on their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Tigeradventureracing/
[Team Adventure Racing Coromandel were still out on the course at the time of writing, but are beng picked up as they won't now have time to finish the race.]
UPDATE. Adventure Racing Coromandel were not picked up after all! The race had a change of heart and the team picked up speed to arrive just before the prize giving festivities. And just as the food was served. So 77 teams completed the full course in all!
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