The Speight’s Coast to Coast 11 – 12 February 2011

The Speight’s Coast to Coast
11 – 12 February 2011

In February, around 800 competitors from around the world will tackle the grueling Speight’s Coast to Coast.

Now in it’s 29th year, this epic 243km course takes competitors into some of the most rugged South Island terrain, starting at Kumara Beach on the West Coast, over Goat Pass, through Arthur’s Pass National Park, down the Waimakariri River, across the Canterbury Plains and finishing at Sumner Beach in Christchurch for a cold and well-deserved can of Speight’s (a fun tradition in the race’s long history).

Last year a weather bomb caused race organiser Robin Judkins to alter the course at the last minute, which saw competitors running the Arthur's Pass road and cycling 160k to Christchurch where they kayaked the Avon River – a first in the history of the race. Gordon Walker (pic attached) from Auckland took out the title for the first individual male competitor to cross the line, completing the course in just 9hrs 43mins and 24secs. It was his third Speight’s Coast to Coast win. Nelson’s Elina Ussher (pic attached) was the winning female individual competitor, completing the course in 10hrs 59 mins and 54 secs.

This year the official beer of the race is Speight’s Traverse Traverse contains half the carbs of a normal beer and is slow-brewed to give this golden lager the renowned Speight’s full flavour.
www.coasttocoast.co.nz

ENDS

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