Kathmandu Sprint Race - Wild Horse Mountain, 20^th March 2005

THE sun was out and the path was hot as 150 fitness fanatics tackled the Beerburrum East State Forest on Sunday by foot, wheel and paddle.

Wild Horse mountain and its surrounds was conquered by the hungry athletes as they chased glory in the lastest stage of the Kathmandu Sprint Series adventure races.

A lot shorter than the convential adventure race, these short, sharp versions still offer plenty of challenges for competitors, with a 10km trek, a 25km mountain bike ride and a 3km kayak leg all to be tackled.

Adding to the fun of the day was the combination of high 20 degree temperatures and a reliance on compass and map to find your way around the course.

But the race's shorter format also allows it to be used as an entry format for novice adventure racers, who want to try the sport but aren't capable of throwing themselves into a 12 or 24 hour event.

While elite adventure racers such as Upper Kedron's Narelle Ash and Gold Coast resident Guy Andrews were unsurprisingly at the head of the field, a number of first-timers beat a path to personal success over four, five, six or even seven gruelling hours.

The Kathmandu Sprint Series is in its fourth year and features races all over Australia's east coast, with the main concept behind the series being to provide an accessible, easier form of the sport to everyday athletes.

The brainchild of Sydney businessman and adventure racer Gary Farebrother, the event is now in its third year in Brisbane and he said it was going from strength to strength.

His company, Maximum Adventure, hold races in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane and he said the interest grew each and every year they came back.

``Brisbane is now a bigger race than our Melbourne one,'' Farebrother said.

``Over the three years the market has doubled and now we have about 150 athletes competing here today.

``It's a good introductory event for those new to the sport and haven't had a taste of the longer events and we also find a lot of experienced athletes say they just want to do sprint races as well, there are those who are out here competing to win and there are other who just want to give it a go and see if they can finish.''

Narelle Ash would be one of those who is out to win, having taken out longer and larger events in New Zealand and Mexico this year, but the St James' College teacher also encourages those just starting out to give it a go.

She said giving those starting out a chance to compete in a tough, but not excessively so, event was a great way to promote the sport.

``You see a lot of new people out there and the beauty is that everyone is out there having a go and learning about the sport as they go,'' she said.

``With the navigation aspect anyone can make mistakes and that's how we've all learnt, by making mistakes and not repeating them, you also talk to them on the course all the time and try to help them along.

``We like to have a fun race as much as anyone, with Guy it's always fun, we do like to win but we also like to have a bit of fun with it too.''

Thankfully as the day drew to a close everyone crossed the finishing line, some as event winners, others as winners in their own minds and while some may have discovered the sport is not for them, even more will take on the challenge again when the next Kathmandu Sprint Series race is held near the Gold Coast in July.

 

Ed Jackson