The last week of April, at the picturesque town of Wye River on the Great Ocean Road, saw the third running of the Keen Adventure Race. Know as Australia’s premier adventure race, the Keen Adventure race attracted teams from New Zealand, New Calendonia, Netherlands Singapore and from all over the country. This year we were lucky enough to experience the race in our own adventure playground, the Great Ocean Road and
the nearby Otway Ranges.
The main race consists of a 500km, 5 day stage race with a mix of
mountain biking, trekking, running, orienteering, paddling, surfing and
roping. Certainly a race for the endurance junkies out there. And boy,
did our local enduro’s do us proud.Geelong adventurers Luke
Haines and Grant Suckling – ‘The Keen Torqers‘ team completed the
four-stage race in 32 hours, 29 minutes and 54 seconds to claim second
overall, less than two hours behind Kiwi duo Stuart Lynch and Anna
Berthelsen who took overall line honours and a chunk of the $30,000
prize pool. An amazing effort on all accounts.
With unusually wet conditions over the course of the event, thirty-six
teams entered the 500km five-day race but only 23 completed all
four-stages.
This year, in addition to the 5 day epic, the Keen Adventure Race
introduced the 1 Day Exposé where the 5 day competitors were joined by
an additional 35 teams who conquered the final day stage around
Anglesea. The 1 Day Expose’ consisted of the same race disciplines as
the five day event.
And again our local talent shone, with Torquay residents and parents of
four kids, husband and wife team, Nichol and Linda Wiley, known fondly
on the circuit as team ‘Lamb Chops’ blew us all away when they came
home with a gold medal after taking out the overall first place in the
1 Day Expose.
Claiming to be "merely parents" instead of serious competitors, they
surprised themselves by winning the race today against experienced
adventure racers. With little orienteering background but obviously
fantastic athletic ability and teamwork, they managed to storm home in
four and a half hours. What an awesome team effort to these natural
athletes. We are in complete awe.
Claiming first place in the Female team division of the 1 Day expose in
6 hours 43 minutes was another local talent Liz Mulconry along with
teammate Jan Saunders. With the intention of going out and having fun,
the girls were thrilled with their win, and of course with their own
gold medal and let’s not forget the paddle voucher.
With so much local talent you never know who we will be writing about next. Good on you guys.
See you out on the road
Lorenzo Moro
Torquay Cycling Factory
