Cure Kids Reat Adventure Race Raises Over $190,000

March 3 2007: Outside Sports (Queenstown) was first across the line in the inaugural South Island Cure Kids Great Adventure Race today after 6 hours 7 minutes on a challenging adventure course based in the Queenstown region.

The race was held in scorching temperatures on a diverse course involving alpine, trekking, mountain biking and coasteering disciplines. The start was at the Remarkables Ski Area at 1620m and 13 teams competed in the event from Queenstown, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Race Director Alan Nelson unveiled the course an hour before the start at 8.30 this morning. It took competitors from the ski area base over the saddle into Wye Creek then into Doolans Basin and back to the ski area via the Alta Basin.

The following mountain bike section down the Remarkables skifield access road was not timed and the clock was restarted once competitors reached the bottom of the road. A gruelling mountain bike ride on Jacks Point track was followed by the last trek via Peninsula Hill to Lake Wakatipu for a 200m coasteering leg, before the final run to the finish line at Lakeland Camp at Kelvin Heights.

Outside Sports was the fastest team followed by Southern Alpine Recreation teams Leitner-Poma - Coronet Peak (Queenstown) in 6hrs 37 and Lyttleton Engineering- The Remarkables(Queenstown) in 7hrs 02. There was strong rivalry between the two SAR teams and both put pressure on Outside Sports.

All three teams competed in the informal category because all their team members did not represent the same company. The overall winner of the corporate section was AJ Hackett Bungy Nevis (Queenstown) in 7hrs 51 giving them the South Island Cure Kids Great Adventure Race trophy.

Competitors raved about the course. “It was awesome and we went to places we had never been,” said Outside Sports captain Jim Hawkridge. “”The course was a real credit to Alan Nelson.”

The hot, tough conditions took their toll on some competitors with some withdrawing before the finish. But most teams signalled they would be keen to return next year.

Mr Nelson said he was pleased with the event and the response to the course.

“We are delighted to have held the first South Island Cure Kids Great Adventure Race and it has been every bit as successful as our North Island races. The support from the teams has been fantastic.”

“The brilliant weather allowed them to enjoy a spectacular remote alpine experience on a course which went up to 2000 metres in places taking in high alpine passes, mountain lakes and wilderness areas just over the hill from Queenstown.”

The event raised $191,200 and Cure Kids South Island Funding Manager Josie Fitzgerald said it was an outstanding result.

“Cadburys Confectionery was the champion fundraiser raising $43,750 and Colliers International was runner-up raising $30,000. All the teams made such a huge effort and the money will be directed towards on going valuable medical research into children’s life threatening illnesses.”

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