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World-class male entrants promise a sizzling battle for the 2007 Routeburn Classic title that should help to thaw typically chilly conditions in the iconic adventure race.
Routeburn Classic record-holder and top multisporter Richard Ussher, 30 of Nelson will be attempting to seize his fourth consecutive crown on Saturday 12 May.
“It’s a totally spectacular run,” said Ussher. “Conditions were slow last year. You never know who’s going to win on the day.”
Though the two-time Coast to Coast champion said he’s “nowhere near peak running fitness,” Ussher is an intimidating opponent, fresh from winning the Great Ocean Road Adventure Race in Australia with this year’s Coast to Coast winner Gordon Walker.
Hot on his heels will be Queenstown multisporter Jim Hawkridge, 33, eager to improve on his third position in last year’s alpine event. Hawkridge is in form after winning his first adventure race in a team, the South Island Cure Kids Adventure Race on March 3.
“I’m really focused on this event,” said Hawkridge.
“It’s my favourite run in New Zealand , even the world. It suits my style of running because I’m not a road runner. I like the climbs and the technical aspect. I’m aiming for less than three hours this year, which will be quite an achievement for me.”
A dark horse is French ultra-runner Morgan Garandel, 31 who has four top ten race positions under his belt so far this year.
Garandel finished fourth in last year’s Routeburn Classic, six minutes behind Hawkridge.
“I’m 100 per cent sure that I’ll improve my time this year, I’m a lot fitter”, said Garandel.
“I’d love to break three hours. I’ve done a lot of training on the uphill and I love the technical, downhill part of this race…that’s my strength, I like to take risks.”
Queenstown distance runner Chris Dagg will be hoping for a good performance in his second Routeburn Classic, so he can celebrate his 40th birthday two weeks after the event in style. Dagg finished second to Ussher in the inaugural race in 2001.
This race marks a return to racing for Dagg, 39 after a serious back injury, inflicted when a 1200kg bull ran over him in early February and hindered his training for six weeks.
“This type of running is not my forte,” said Dagg. “I’m a rhythm runner, and I’m a bit uncoordinated off-road. This is such a beautiful run, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. I really haven’t got a time in mind. I’ll want to run it as hard as I can though, I’ll race it.”
Entry is via www.goodtimesevents.net and costs $105 per person. Places still remain.
Entries received after 15 April 2007 will incur a late entry fee. Entries close on the 8 May 2007 or after a waiting list of more than 250 people has been established.
The Routeburn Classic regional sponsors include Outside Sports, Heliworks, Luxmore Hotel, Skyline and Heritage Queenstown.
A reserve wet weather day has been set for Sunday 13 May 2007.
Photo: Jim Hawkridge running over the Harris Saddle in icy conditions during last year’s Routeburn Classic
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