From Kumara to Sumner — the hard way

Press, 15 October 1982, Page 20

From Kumara to Sumner — the hard way

A coast-to-coast endurance race across the South Island has been completely replanned to cut the cost to entrants and to make it a more “physical” contest. The face, which will involve cycling, fell-running and kayaking, will be held over two days next February, starting at Kumara beach, between Hokitika and Greymouth and finishing at Cave Rock, Sumner.

Called the Macpac Wilderness Coast-to-Coast race, the event will be limited to 100 amateur athletes who can enter as individuals or as two-person teams. In its original form the race was to have been from the mouth of the Haast River in Westland to the mouth of the Clutha.

The organiser, Robin Judkins, of Wanaka, said it had been decided to modify both the course and the concept because of the expense to competitors. It had been found that teams of five

would have to have come up with $2500 to provide the jet boats necessary for the Haast-Clutha route. Judkins added: “Apart from the cost, we wanted to get back to a purely physical type of contest, without motorised assistance.” Competitors will line up on February 26 with one foot in the surf at Kumara beach. Each will be allowed one transport . assistant to get equipment into place for the various stages. A blast from a starting gun will send the field off across the sandhills to their cycles for a 58 km road race along State Highway 73 to the junction of the Deception and Otira Rivers. There they will leave their bicycles with their supporters and set off on foot over the ' Mingha-Deception route for Ghat Pass in the Arthur’s Pass National Park. This will entail boulderhopping. river-fording, running over upland tussock

country and negotiating a track through a swampy stretch, followed by a 12 km downhill jog to the confluence of. the Bealey and Waimakariri Rivers. Competitors will camp there overnight. The second day will begin with another mass start over shingle to kayaks which will be used for a 70 km section down the Waimakariri river to the gorge bridge, near Sheffield. The final stage down the old West Coast road, through Courtenay, Halkett and Yaldhurst to Christchurch will be another road cycle race. A set route will be followed through the city to Sumner, where competitors will finish by dipping a foot in the sea. ' Timings will be taken over all four stages and while there will be no cash prizes, section, individual and team winners will get trophies and equipment — packs, mountaineering gear and outdoor clothing. Teams of two will be able

to take, alternate stages, but both members will have to do one of the cycling stages. Competitors may choose their own equipment. Bicycles can have 10-speed ■gears and any form of oneman canoe can be used for the kayaking stage.

But for the mountain run which will total 26 km, the entrants will have to carry a day-pack with warm clothing, food, drink and a firstaid kit. National park rangers will assist with the scrutineering in their territory.

Judkins has recently been sounding out potential entrants. He said he was getting considerable interest from trampers, canoeists and cyclists throughout New Zealand.

Among the starters are a number of all-rounders who have done well in the first two annual alpine “iron man” contests Judkins has organised in the Wanaka region.