Experience leads the way at Macedon
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
FatRat Leads the Pack. Photo: David Colls
The first race in the 2009 SILVA DuO Adventure Race series was held in glorious weather on Australia Day with a 90-strong field turning out to tackle the courses set in and around Macedon.
While some competitors blitzed the course setter’s estimated winning times (2 hours for the long course) others decided to get more value for their money.
The race got under way at 9am and at the first transition there wasn’t much separating the top 5 on the long course with Jim Russell gaining a slight edge over Hayden Lebbink in the change-over by deciding to leave on his running shoes and pedal the whole mountain bike leg not clipped into his SPD pedals. Jim kept his lead winning the long course for the second year in a row in a time of 99 minutes, nearly 3 minutes clear of Hayden in second place.
Ben Rattray wasn’t far behind the leaders at the first transition but early into the Ride leg his seat post snapped, sending him flying and bringing his race to an end. He ran the final leg ‘before the pain set in’! Luckily that was the only mishap of the day.
Carolyn Jackson put in a typically gritty effort in winning the women’s long course in 2 hours and 16 minutes and Peter Hill won the men’s short course category, both also for the second year running. Nicki Taylor won the women’s short course category ahead of a field containing some experienced navigators.
Jim, Carolyn, Nicki and Peter all enjoyed $50 gift vouchers from the Clock and Beaver Café in Macedon after the race.
In the junior ranks Heath Jamieson showed how quickly he has developed as a foot and mountain bike orienteer by winning the Junior male Long course ahead of last year’s winner Peter Markworth. Heath was 7th overall on the long course.
Many thanks to the great team of Melbourne Forest Racers and other Victorian Orienteering helpers who helped make it a fun day for everyone. Thanks also to Hancocks Plantations, Parks Victoria and Macedon Council for use of their land, to Bayside Kangaroos and Central Highlands Orienteering clubs for use of their maps and to all our sponsors for helping us develop the DuO race series.
The next Du-O race in the series will be on February 21 at Gembrook and then another one on March 14 at the You Yangs.
If you were new to adventure racing or navigating and want some tips before the next race then get in contact with me and I’ll be able to point you in the right direction. A great way to start is to come along to an orienteering event, a full list of which can be found here
Your feedback on the race would be greatly appreciated. Tell us what was good or bad and what we could improve for next time.
Many thanks once again for coming, having a go and making it a great day.
Results
Photos from David Colls
Dion Keech,
Race Director
Melbourne Forest Racers
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