Day
5 – Hobart, TASMANIA – The fifth and final day of the Swisse Mark
Webber Tasmania Challenge took over the city and outskirts of Hobart
today. The
morning started with a run along Mt Wellington summit and finished by
the water in Hobart’s dock area.
Racing
for Team discovertasmania.com, Richard Ussher and Braden Currie, Kiwi
powerhouses, may not have crossed the finish line first today but they
are
the leaders in the overall standings.
“We
didn’t really have our heads in the game today and we made a few silly
mistakes. But we’ve had a great week, and there have been some amazing
places
around Tasmania we’ve seen. Racing with Braden has been fantastic;
we’ve been pushing each other all week. And, now we can just relax and
enjoy ourselves,” said Ussher.
Currie
admits that going for the win wasn’t easy, “it was pretty tough out
there today, I was definitely felling five days of racing.”
Ussher
and Currie overall standings was 19:59:00, more than two hours and 42
minutes ahead of second place Team Swisse, Jarad Kohlar and James
Pretto.
Grabbing
line honours for today were former Ironman champ Guy Andrews and
triathlete Ben Allen who finished well ahead of the pack. And after a
bout
of food poisoning yesterday, Guy was looking strong and fresh when he
crossed the finish line, with a big smile on his face.
“The
whole course was fantastic; I think one of the best. The west coast is
amazing, starting in Launceston then finishing here in Hobart. And
today,
we had such a good day, couldn’t ask for better weather. I’m ready to
go again”, said Guy.
Guy’s teammate, triathlete Ben Allen, a first time competitor in adventure racing, is wrapped with the experience.
“The
satisfaction of getting through all the challenges, and some were so
grueling and really difficult, and you think it’s not possible, but with
your
teammate there encouraging you all the way, all of the athletes being
encouraging, it’s a huge reward and I’ll look at it as one of my
highlights.”
Guy and Ben didn’t place in the overall standings due to Guy pulling out for most of yesterday’s race.
The
two Olympian’s Courtney Atkinson and Kenny Wallace, racing for Team Red
Bull were surprised by what they achieved over the five-day adventure
race
but it was tough to compete with experienced adventure racers.
“We
finished really strong today and it goes to show with adventure racing,
that you never give up. This morning, we thought we were out of the
race,
but then we came good. A week ago, I never would have thought we would
be competing so close for a podium finish,” said Atkinson.
Wallace
admitted that it was a tough week but he kept, “going and going” but
“prefers kayaking to running”. He went on to say, “it’s a great event
but
I am wrapped it’s over!”
Enthusiast
winners, Team Backcountry Adventure Addicts, David Leggo and Jarrod
Mitchell, finished first for the second year running in their category.
“We
put a bit of pressure on ourselves this year after last year’s results,
we wanted to finish well and we got there,” said Leggo, “but I’m
knackered!”
The
adventure racers weren’t the only one’s competing in Hobart today. The
Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge Adventure Run also took place in
the
capital city. The 6.5km ‘fun run’ gave the community a chance to be
involved with the Challenge and help raise funds for the Mark Webber
Foundation that supports both the Whitelion and Save the Tasmanian Devil
Appeal charities.
Results – Overall Standings
ELITE PAIRS
1st Richard Ussher / Braden Currie, Team discovertasmania.com 19:59:00
2nd Alex Hunt / Mark Hinder, Pure Tasmania 22:41:30
3rd Jarad Kohler / James Pretto, Team Swisse 27:37:05
4th
Ken Wallace / Courtney Atkinson, Team Red Bull 28:59:51
ABOUT DAY 5
Day
five of the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge takes in the sight of
Tassie’s capital city, Hobart. Starting at the summit of Mt Wellington
lookout platform, the 5km run along the South
Wellington track is spectacular but rough and steep.
From
there the competitors transition into a 10km mountain bike leg, another
run leg followed by another 28km mountain bike leg around the North
West Bay River in lush bushland that feels like
it is miles away from the capital city.
The
competitors continued on their mountain bikes to Blackmans Bay for the
only kayak leg of the day. The 12km distance leg, with various check
points, weaved through several beaches including
Kingston Beach, Taroona Beach and ending at Long Beach.
From
Long Beach, competitors transitioned into the final leg run at Battery
Point and straight through to the finish line at the Henry Jones Art
Hotel in the heart of Hobart.
Competitors covered a distance of over 71kms.
The
Adventure Run also took place today, a 6.5km fun run that gives the
community a chance to be a part of the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania
Challenge. The run is open to everyone, regardless
of fitness levels, and is all about ‘getting out there and giving it a
go’. The course started and ended at the Henry Jones Art Hotel and
weaves through the streets and parklands of Hobart. Press Release
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