Posted: July 4, 2004

Adventure Racing: Tough team competition in the element Peak to Peak

Top athletes joined forces to battle against the weather and each other on Saturday in the eleventh element Peak to Peak.

There was a great contest on in the open team section with local Queenstown team Juice TV winning over Christchurch Top Sport Titans and holding off the reigning champions Queenstown Physiotherapy Biomedical analysis.

From early on in the race the top three teams battled it out as they traversed from the top of the Remarkables ski area across to Coronet Peak via downtown Queenstown. Competitors traveled using skis/board, mountain bikes, kayaks, foot and road bikes.

Whiteout weather conditions delayed the race by an hour but this did not dampen competitors commitment to enter the race. Despite the ominous weather conditions a record field turned out for the race with 73 teams and 55 individuals taking part.

For the first two sections the top teams were neck and neck. Then following a shortened kayak section multisporter Steve Gurney gave his team, Topsport Titans a three minute lead as they entered the run section. Local athlete Adrian Bailey started the run in third place, however, he powered through to win that section and put team Juice TV in to first place.

On the last leg of the race, a 9km uphill ride to the Coronet Peak Brasserie verandah, the first two teams were switching the leadership position. Then, halfway up skilled road cyclist Leigh Chapman dug in deep and rode his team to a one minute victory in a time of 2hrs 6 mins 51 secs. Members of the Juice TV team inlcude: Geoff Small, James McAlister, Niall Magee, Adrian Bailey and Leigh Champan.

Delighted with their win, Bailey from team Juice TV said the team thoroughly enjoyed the race and the tough competition.

"The element Peak to Peak is such a great event to do. Throughout the race the team camaraderie was fantastic, encouraging each member on for their stage. The spirit and determination of our team worked well and we are delighted with our win."

In the individual section local athlete Eric Billoud championed over the other male competitors to be the first individual across the line in a time of 2hrs 32mins 37secs and won the Veteran male section.

The men's section was won by Queenstown Glenn Roberts in a time of 2hrs 34mins 7secs.

Second place went to Dave Ball from Queenstown in a time of 2hrs 35mins13secs with Andy Beale also from Queenstown placing third in a time of 2hrs 36mins 12secs.

Up and coming female multisporter, Erin Greene, from Dunedin raced to first place female in a time of 3hrs 9mins 37secs and was delighted with her win.

Second placed in the female category was Cheryl Young from Mount Pleasant in 3hrs 12mins 55secs and third place went to Rachel Robertson from Christchurch in 3hrs 35mins 14secs.

Tony Middendorf came in second veteran in a time of 2hrs 53mins 56secs and Andrew McLeod from Wanaka third in 2hrs 54mins 20secs.

Traveling from Christchurch Team Topsport Titans, gave a good challenge to winners Juice TV, crossed the line in 2hrs 7 mins 52sec. Whilst Queenstown Physiotherapy Biomechanical Analysis lost their two year hold on the men's open team trophy finishing in third place in 2hrs 9mins 23secs.

First female team home was Wanaka Physiotherapy in a time of 2hrs 53mins 12secs. Active Health QE2 came second in 3hrs 18mins and third went to Back on Track Physiotherapy Girls from Queenstown in 3hrs 26mins 32secs.

ODHB PT's picked up the hotly contested business house title in a time of 2hrs 29mins 30secs with Naylor Love Construction from Queenstown coming in second in 3hrs 1min 13secs. Team RC from Cromwell placed third in 3hrs 2mins 12secs.

First home in the mixed team category went to the Huxtables team from Dunedin in a time of 2hrs 40mins 37secs. Team Fubar/R&R Sport from Dunedin raced to second in 2hrs 49mins 55secs with Team Mandy and the Mongrels in third place.

Dunedin's Browns team picked up the first and only veteran team prize in a time of 2hrs 20mins 15secs.

The element Peak to Peak receives great support from a dedicated group of associate and supplier sponsors who offer a fantastic line up of prizes for places and spot prizes including:

element, nzski.com, Back on Track Physiotherapy, Ground effect, Dux de Lux, Queenstown Night 'n Day, Coronet Alpine Hotel, Resort Radio, Kawarau Jet, Alpine Gold, Leppin, Coronet Brasserie, AJ Hackett, Peak Projects and New Zealand Multisport.