 rob.g
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Posted: 4 November 2011, 8:43 AM
The World Champs AR in Tassie is getting interesting with Aaron's and Chris's teams up front, but Seagate got a 4 hour penalty for forgetting their spot tracker for a leg.
See xpd.com.au for live coverage and sleepmonsters and sportzhub for extra stories.
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Michael
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Posted: 5 November 2011, 2:19 AM
Be prepared for a yawning chasm between the promise of the website and the actuality. The term "checkpoint" seems to be used sometimes for a point and sometimes for a stage of the course (ie "Checkpoint #10 Details Ocean Beach / Mt Heemskirk Distance 65km CP's 30-36") The leaderboard is not up to date, eg at Strahan which is a place big enough for a compulsory sleep and you would think the organisers have a base there, the last arrival recorded as I write was about 16 hours ago.
Rob you forgot to mention Annie's excellent blog kiwixpd.wordpress.com which is ahead of the leaderboard in noting that kiwi teams Macpac Girls on Top, Nga Rakau and Bridgedale Socks have made it to Strahan. They are between 20-30th in the 80-strong field.
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Michael
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Posted: 6 November 2011, 2:27 AM
Most teams have now headed out from the mid camp at Strahan - up the coast towards the NW tip of Tas then into the interior. Aaron's Team Silva has had some sickness and got bumped into third by Thule Adventure. Chris's team Seagate was ahead on the road but they still have to serve their 4hr penalty at a checkpoint near the end. But sometime before dawn they came to a long paddle down the Arthur River; no-one is allowed on the water in the dark and Thule may have caught them at the put-in.
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mcroxford
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Posted: 6 November 2011, 1:16 PM
Team Seagate currently racing against losing the light on the Kayak section and a forced rest. They may end agonising close to the end of the leg. If they get there before dark and are the only team then they have in effect a free ride to finish.
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Michael
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Posted: 7 November 2011, 6:05 AM
And they had to stop. As did Thule and Silva. But this morning they were out and onto bikes and Seagate has reached the coast with the others in hot pursuit. Seagate now onto a coastal trek at the end of which they will have to take their 4hr "rest". Only a ride after that so not a lot of scope for change. But anything can happen. Can you fix a broken wheel with a plastic spoon?
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Martin
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Posted: 7 November 2011, 7:59 AM
Live from the course, waiting for further teams to reach the end of the paddle. I'm across here as water safety on the SAR team. Seagate chose to sleep at the last TA before getting on the river otherwise they probably would have avoided the dark zone. Estimated times have been quite varied and this may have contributed
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Michael
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Posted: 9 November 2011, 6:04 AM
So Seagate had the heartbreaking experience of seeing not just Thule but Silva pass them during their enforced break. In a determined final ride they nearly caught Silva but in the end finished 3rd. And another tale: 4th placed team had some trouble finding a vague control on a tree in the night; were caught by 5th and both waited until dawn; they raced to the finish and were beaten on the final racetrack circuit!
Looks like 3 other kiwi teams Nga Rakau, Girls onTop and Bridgedale Socks are off the long river section and riding for the north coast, with Kauri Coasters still on the water.
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Michael
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Posted: 9 November 2011, 6:10 AM
Nathan Fa'avae a bit dejected at the finish: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150391272936952&set=vb.162254323809953&type=2&theater
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Michael
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Posted: 10 November 2011, 5:38 AM
Girls on Top 22nd, Nga Rakau passed Bridgedale Socks in the last ride for 25th, Socks finishing 5min behind. All in the wee small hours today. Kauri Coasters at the end of the paddle.
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