Adventure team has navigation edge

Anne Hardie

It was mud that made biking challenging for Waimea College’s senior adventure racing team in Kaikōura last month, but teamwork and their own secret weapon got them over the line in first place.

The Waimea Mixed team of Amelia Clark, Brooke Bowen, Danyon Oakes and Eddie Swain covered the 12-hour Kaikōura Adventure Race in 10 hours 27 minutes, which was one-and-a-half hours ahead of their nearest competitors. Their secret weapon was Eddie Swain who competes nationally in orienteering and has been named in New Zealand teams to compete in Australia and Europe this year.

“Our navigation was really good,”

Amelia says. “You can be going fast, but if you’re not going in the right direction, it doesn’t really work.”

Rain had turned hillsides to mud, and she says most of the bike section involved pushing bikes up steep hills overlooking Kaikoura. Teamwork played a big part, with Danyon and Eddie taking the bikes when the going got really tough.

“It was pretty tough and a big challenge,” Amelia says.

“We were trying to set a manageable and fast pace for everyone and there was so much mud.

“We were covered from head to toe in mud.”

The team is now aiming to qualify for the Hillary Challenge, with a qualifying race this month and then finals for selection.

String together a couple of wins and we’re right back in the playoff picture, was the message from NBS Nelson Giants head coach Mike Fitchett after they put on a demolition derby against the Taranaki Airs on Saturday night. It was a breakout performance for the home side’s starting five, like guard Alex McNaught (pictured), as they finally found their winning formula, leading by as many as 41 points before sitting their starters for the final quarter in the blowout 11783 win. The bench also got in on the action, with Ernest Kerr making a massive highlight-reel block on Taranaki’s giant centre, Anzac Rissetto, earning a foul while in the bonus and draining both free throws. Despite being 0-5 coming into the game, the crowd were right behind their home team from the first buzzer, lifting them to one of the biggest wins in the NBL this season. The Giants return to the road this week for a double-header of action as they travel to Southland for a game against the Sharks on Friday night before heading north to play the Canterbury Rams on Sunday evening. Photo: Evan Barnes/ Shuttersport.