Godzone Adventure video and photos

Here are some photos of the course and Team Blackheart at the The new AR World Series race in New Zealand, the Orion Health Godzone Adventure. Thank you for the fantastic photos from Green Pixel.

		Godzone Adventure VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

And if you haven’t already watched them, here are the Wild Racers summary for each day. I can’t wait for the full series which starts screening in Australia on Fox on 23rd May.


Day 1 http://vimeo.com/40006975


Day 2 http://vimeo.com/40084929


Day 3 http://vimeo.com/40154523


Day 4 http://vimeo.com/40228708


Day 5 http://vimeo.com/40290236


Seagate win http://vimeo.com/40280504

Team Blackheart- What have we been up to over summer?

With the impending Orion Health Godzone Adventure starting next week, you may have been wondering what we have been up since the ARWC last November.

The Adventure Junkies X-marathon race held in late December was a great race for the team(s) with the pairs format enabling a rearrangement into 3 teams. Rob and Kathryn, Damon and Fleur and Josh and Chris Mucha teamed up to take on a small but quality field including Peak Adventure (Jarad Kohlar and James Pretto) and Thule Adventure (Jacky and Mimi) the recently crowned world champions. The course centred around Lake Nillahcootie in Central Victoria was picturesque and challenging, and the low 30’s temps made it ever tougher. Peak Adventure took the overall win in 15hrs 10mins, with Rob and Kathryn coming in just 30mins behind and 1hrs in front of 3rd place Team Thule. Josh and Chris finish 4th, and Damon and Fleur 5th (2nd mixed). Full results

Rob and Kathryn’s Wedding

On New Years Eve, the social event of the millennium took place at Mt Baw Baw in Victoria- Rob and Kathryn’s Wedding. A perfect weekend in the beautiful Victorian Alps was enjoyed by the cream of Australia’s Adventure racers and orienteers.

Damon’s running adventures

Damon continues to add to his already impressive Ultra-running resume. At the Bogong to Hotham race in the first week of January, poor weather caused the cancellation of the race at half way. Damon was leading the race at this point, 9 mins faster than his previous best time, but he didn’t feel right about keeping the winners trophy so will return next year for another go.

Then Damon headed overseas for the The Coastal Challenge, an annual 6 day, 225km adventure run through Costa Rica. After a very tough battle with a local athlete, Damon won the race. Damon's Coastal Challenge race report

Orienteering season begins

Rob, Kathryn and Josh have been keeping busy with orienteering races, both on foot and mountain bike. The first round of the SILVA National Orienteering League was held in Ballarat on the Labour Day long weekend. With 3 races over two days, and some very close and fast racing, it was great start to the season.

The following weekend was the SILVA Duo at Silvan in the Dandenong Ranges. This race involved a short scatter-o on foot (choose your own order), then MTB, then again on foot. Aaron Dodd (Melbourne Forest Racers) had a great race to defeat Rob in his first Du-O from 5 starts by about 30secs. Josh continues to improve his nav skills and was satisfied with 3rd place.

And not to be forgotten, Kim and Dave Provan teamed up with Rob Davis to win the Melton Meanders 5hr MTB rogaine.

For the first time in many years Rob and Kathryn will miss the next round of the SILVA National League, the Easter Carnival in Queensland to compete in the Orion Health Godzone Adventure.

Snowy Hydro Upper Murray Challenge

Josh Street has smashed the previous course record in the Masters Class by over 20mins to set a new mark in 6hrs2mins57secs. Josh finished outright 5th place, and spent most of the race in sight of 4th placed team mate Rob Preston.

Jarad Kohlar (www.peakadventure.com.au) put together an amazing race, starting with a course record on the bike leg. Extending this lead on the Murray river kayak leg he was able to cruise a the line in 5hrs28mins beating Jeremy Ross’ previous record by 4mins. Two time UMC winner Luke Haines (www.train4adventure.com) was satisfied with his race, setting a personal best time and comfortably in 2nd place 4mins behind Kohlar. John Kent from Bright had a very consistent race to take 3rd place in front of Blackheart.com.au boys Rob and Josh. 

Kathryn Ewels (6hrs51mins43secs  finished in 3rd place in the Women’s category, behind one of the best female multisport athletes in the World- Mimi Guillot from France, and Australia’s #1 athlete Deanna Blegg. Kathryn overcame a mechanical on the bike- a bolt fell out of the shock in her brand new Gary Fisher Superfly 29er. After some very grateful help from a course official she was back on the bike battling the super hilly mtb course. She improved her kayaking time by 10mins from her 2008 race, and then smoked the final run leg in 2hrs13mins- taking back 10mins from Mimi and 16mins from Deanna.

If you haven’t done the Upper Murray Challenge before then you should really put it on your must do list for 2012. The course is fantastic and the community support behind the race really makes the trip to the Towong Shire worthwhile.

Full results Race website

Rob’s full race report to follow

Josh is happy with his new paddle thanks to Meek Kayaks and free 1 on 1 training session with Jarad Kohlar

Kathryn collecting her medal

Team Blackheart heading to Upper Murray Challenge

3 Blackheart team members are in the car heading to the Upper Murray Challenge, one of Australia’s premier multisport race. The race consists of a tough and hilly 38km mountain bike, 26km downriver paddle on the Murray River, and finishes with a 25km run.

Rob and Josh will be out there trying to keep race favourites Luke Haines and Jarad Kohlar honest. Though Josh insists he is racing in the old-man category so he doesn’t need to get caught up in any grudge matches with the young bucks.

Kathryn is also racing, and hoping to repeat her podium finish from 3 years ago.

Check out the race at http://uppermurraychallenge.com.au/

Live results- from 8am

Course map- http://uppermurraychallenge.com.au/UMC2009V4.pdf