The ARC 24hr – Search for the Akawhan Grail

The ARC 24hr – Search for the Akawhan Grail

Kawhia, an almost hidden region on the western cost of the upper North Island, has long been shrouded in a mix of mystery and majesty. This weekend almost 200 of the country’s best adventure racers will experience the history of this romantic but rugged region first hand.

In 1983 a group of young cavers made a grisly and mysterious find. They found hidden within a limestone cave a body perfectly preserved in a mummy-like wrapping with a puncture wound to the neck. A diary found with the body revealed him to be Mathias Wrigley, an archaeology scholar who had not been seen since the 1920’s when he was part of a group dispatched by the Royal Geographic Society to look for the “Akawhan Grail”, an ancient world within Azerbaijan that historians of the time were touting as the eighth wonder of the world.

This year’s ARC Adventure Race will follow Mathius Wrigley’s trail of the Akawhan Grail. Indeed, adventure racing was inspired in part by the old-style expeditions. Adventure racers travel non-stop, navigating their way around a secret course sometimes for a week at a time. The mystery, physical and mental demands are identical.

Using the popular 24-hour format, the ARC Adventure Race has established itself as one of the most popular North Island events. This year disciplines involve the traditional kayaking, mountain biking, trekking and navigation. But in keeping with the search for the Akawhan Grail, the race will also include caving, mine exploration, abseiling, target shooting and a mystery activity that organisers Andy Reid and Keith Stephenson describe wryly as “high adrenaline factor”.

The ARC Adventure Race also doubles as a round of the Sportzhub.com national adventure racing series. Reid and Stephenson expect the winning times to be around 19 hours, but stress that slower teams could be close to 30 hours.

Favourites are the Auckland-based Team Orion, led by well-performed adventure racer Wayne Oxenham. Orion took first and second place in last year’s ARC event before posting several top placings in international adventure races. But they will be pushed hard by Team Horleys, led by top multisporter Ross Rotherham, while the fast-improving Wellington team, Capital Stamina, are expected to provide some dark horse interest.

Despite the obvious challenges organisers stress that the event is designed for all levels of experience and ability. This year the ARC is open to four person or two person teams. The four-person category, in which teams must include one female, is the feature race. For adventure racing rookies there is also a 12-hour option that is no less spectacular but easier on both body and mind.

The race route, of course, is kept top secret until the night before the race. The only hint being organisers suggesting competitors book accommodation in the west coast region of Kawhia where the race will start at 5:00am on Saturday morning. Andy Reid says the course is as savage as it is scenic with a lot of variety that involved working with Department of Conservation, local Iwi and landowners.

The ARC event is also part of the Sportzhub.com NZ Adventure Racing Series, which runs year round between the countries major adventure events. In 2006 event organisers, Adventure Racing Coromandel, also have a 48-hour adventure race planned for September 14 to 16. April’s “Search for the Akawhan Grail” is the perfect warm up.

ENDS

© Scoop Media