Judkins adventure led to Coast-to-Coast

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 29

Judkins adventure led to Coast-to-Coast

Robin Judkins' sense of adventure eventually led to the first Coast to Coast race.

Six years ago, Judkins set himself a stern test in what he termed the "Aspiring to the Pacific” event.

The 10 days it took him to complete this tough journey saw him climb Mt Aspiring, kayak across Lake Wanaka and then down the Clutha River to the Pacific. “From that I looked for a similar event that went from coast to coast,” he says. “We found a suitable area and in December of 1982 with 11 others I set off to complete the course laid out.

“Only two of us finished,” he says.

A year later the first official Coast to Coast race was held.

That year it attracted 79 entrants and such was its popularity that by race time the following year some 140 had entered. In 1985 the number doubled again and 321 faced the starter. Entries threatened to mushroom yet again this year but safety precautions made it necessary

for Mr Judkins to place a limit on the number of entries accepted. From over 500 applicants, a total of 360 were chosen.

“Entries opened in July and were closed a month later with over 500 applicants,” says Mr Judkins. “They applied from all over New Zealand, Japan, Australia, the United

States, Canada and France. Its popularity has spread that much,” he says.

“It’s the challenge that attracts them because it is not something that you would do on just any week-end without careful thought, you have to plan and train very hard for it. “We provide all the back-up for them to achieve their goal. That in itself is a major exercise,” he says. “It normally takes six months to organise and, as has happened in the last two years, the weather has ruined the best made plans.” “It is a critical factor. The rivers go up quickly, particularly the Mingha and Deception, and it makes the entire event very difficult for competitors and officials alike,” he says. “You get extremes of temperature during the event. If it’s wet it is very cold; if it’s sunny it is very hot, well over 30 degrees Celsius in the shade, and there is no shade,” he adds.

The first competitor to cross the finish line at

Sumner is expected in at around 1.30 p.m. on Sunday.

The fastest time for the event was recorded by a Wellington science technician in 1985.

Brian Saunders, aged 32, completed the 212 km course in a time of 12 hours 26 minutes 23 seconds to win the individual time. At the other end of the scale, the slowest time was recorded by local radio announcer, James Daniels. In 1984 he took 23 and a half hours to complete the course although, to his credit, he returned in 1985 and chopped five hours off his previous “best.”

The sheer numbers involved in running the race are quite staggering.

Officials number 60, there are 12 jet boat drivers, one helicopter pilot, 17 traffic officers, 16 St John officers, 12 radio communications experts, one doctor and 12 Jaycees who cater for the second tent city of the couise, at Klondike corner.

“The cost of the event over all runs into the $200,000 mark but the bare bones of it would be around $80,000,” says Judkins.

“Once again though the spin-off value is great. It has been filmed in one form or another since its inception and this year TVNZ is filming a documentary for international release,” he adds. Besides the numerous officials and the TV film crew, 30 other media representatives will be following the event including journalists from Australia and. the United States.