Future set for epic race
JON HOUZET and ROB KNOWLES
BLISTERS bleeding, muscles aching and deprived of sleep, Team Husqvarna from Port Alfred took just under four and half days to complete 500km of cycling, trekking and kayaking around the Sunshine Coast in the Expedition Africa international adventure race.
Receiving the biggest welcome home at the finish line out of the 13 teams competing, Team Husqvarna – leader Neil Currie, Kerry Longhurst, Richard Legg and Rick Betts – came ninth in the extreme adventure race, arriving at 2.40pm last Friday.
"Not bad for novices,” said Betts. "We're all over 40.”
| FINISHED AT LAST: Team Husqvarna from Port Alfred received a hero's welcome from local supporters when they cycled over the finish line of the 500km Expedition Africa adventure race last Friday afternoon. From left (in front) are Richard Legg, Kerry Longhurst and Neil Currie, with Rick Betts at the back Picture: JON HOUZET |
First home, in just 64.45 hours, were the machine-like Team Merrell Adventure Addicts, comprising Graham Bird, Craig Carter-Brown, Tatum Prins and Donovan Sims. They are ranked the number one adventure team in South Africa.
A small but dedicated group of spectators gathered at the Halyards Hotel to welcome them home just before midnight last Wednesday night.
As the Merrell team members crossed the finishing line to complete the course, several other teams had yet to reach the sanctuary of the midway point, at Boyd Farm, and a mandatory five-hour rest period.
With tired but elated expressions Team Merrell posed for photographs and popped open a bottle of champagne in celebration of their victory.
Looking alert and fresh after the arduous race, Bird said he was delighted with the result and the performance of the team.
"It was fantastic,” he said. "We managed to complete the course by just focusing on one stage at a time.”
"The hardest part of the race was at Hamburg where only two members completed the kayak leg,” said Bird. "Knowing the two left behind would be able to sleep was a very difficult thing to cope with.”
The experienced Bird went on to say the course was excellent with lots of variety; superb views and an abundance of wildlife.
| TOP OF THEIR GAME: Team Merrell Adventure Addicts, who completed the 500km Expedition Africa adventure race more than 10 hours head of their closest rivals, received the winner's cheque of R16 000 at the prize giving at the Halyards Hotel on Saturday night. From left are Donovan Sims, Tatum Prins and Graham Bird. Fourth member Craig Carter-Brown was absent Picture: JON HOUZET |
"But the course was stunning,” he said. "And it was great the race took place in South Africa. Let's work toward bringing the World Championships to the Sunshine Coast in a few years' time.”
He also commended event organisers Heidi and Stefan Muller for making the 2012 Adventure Africa extreme challenge such a professional and well organised event.
Betts of Team Husqvarna described the race as "epic and well organised” and said the finish was very emotional.
"We had at most eight hours sleep through five days,” he said.
"On day two I wanted to give up. It was at about 2am on the kayaking stretch on the Bushman's River. I was cold, wet and didn't want to be there,” said Betts.
"(This race) is definitely the most difficult thing I've done.”
Among the other challenges was trying to navigate an indigenous forest at night wearing headlamps. Betts said they got lost and it cost them a couple of hours.
Longhurst, whose blisters were bleeding when she took her shoes off at the finish, said the race was "amazing” and her teammates "awesome”.
The experienced triathlete has done several Iron Man races and said the most difficult thing about the Expedition Africa was crossing the ropes at the Blaauwkrantz Bridge as "I don't like heights”.
"As a team we were all very compatible,” said Betts. "Richard was the most phenomenal navigator, Kerry has been a fantastic, strong sportswoman and Neil put this all together.”
The race will appear on SuperSport in about a month.
