Race results queried and interesting AR World Champs format

A few folks have queried the race results, and I confess a few errors may have crept in, so I will gladly fix it if you point out a mistake.

I have also checked the format of the AR World Champs in Portugal.It is interesting to see that they also have some sort of bonus system featuring in the race. Team Cyanosis from SA are doing quite well and with a day or so to go hopefully they will finish strongly!

So perhaps the bonus points system was confusing because it may be the first time something like this is being tested in SA, but it seems to be the way that AR is evolving overseas (at least in Portugal that is). So in that sense it is re-asurring to see we may not have been so way out in our approach to the race.

Race reports online

The Pennypinchers Team and the guys from Team Gijima have posted their race reports online. (Click on the links on the left side of this page).

Go have a read and hopefully you will get a warm glowy feeling as you remember the day.

Lost property

Your kit is always taking shots at an AR, so you will know the feeling of getting home and wincing when you see something is missing. And the worst part is that most times it was SO unnecessary.

So if you can help a fellow adventurer out, please send me the good news if you found the following kit:
Lettman Paddle (it fell out of the trailer that was transporting the boats)
Bratcha Paddle (it was left at the Swartvlei Caravan Park TA)
Any other bits and bobs that you picked up along the way.

Then I have the following items in my possession if you lost them:
Neon orange tie down
Thick black tie down

And if you think it was only the racers that suffered from "loosing" stuff, when I went out to fetch CP 2 on Monday evening - it was missing in action, so at least in this instance I am feeling the same pain as everyone else who is mourning over lost kit!

BTW, I am also still catching up on sleep and my legs are still a bit tender from all the running around putting out CP's and fetching them. At least I was spared the ferocious fynbos and blazing sun on the Tierkop Hike (but I know it all too well.).

Cheers
Garth

Give me the bad news (but keep the rave reviews coming too)

As much as I love hearing that people enjoyed the race, I would like to get constructive criticism from time to time. I am sure some people have some complaints and some ideas on how to improve...

There was confusion about the various categories and bonuses / penalties so that is something we will be looking to improve in 2010.

But that said, here is what you are saying about the event so far:

Thank you again for a great event and its was an absolutely fantastic experience for me to have raced with such committed youngsters who never lost their focus even when it meant some painfull back tracking to find a missed CP. (I did not navigate at all and relied on the team for everything) ! - Chris Crewdson who raced with the Elephant Park Pennypinchers School Team

Thanks guys for an awesome race. - Drew Scott, Enthuisiastix 

Thanx for a good event. I did appreciate all the correspondence before the race – does make organising teams a lot easier. - Rob Flashman, AR Wannabees

Thank you so much for the opportunity! We really loved helping and met some great people on the day.
There are two people that help us a lot. Please thank them for us - Desire Roos, second for Pieterman

Thanks for another super Saturday with all your competitors and supporters.  Again they left the farm immaculate. - Vivien Harpur, co-owner / manager of Herold Wines

I wanted to congratulate you on the great success in the Eden Duo 2009!! The turnout was brilliant and although the race was very tough for most of us, I think every single person who took part enjoyed it to the max for the time they raced.

Being my first ever adventure race, I knew I would learn a lot through the race- not only on a personal level but also about the strength of the bond between my husband and I. A steep learning curve it was indeed and although we were disappointed we didn’t make it through the full course, we were very excited at what we did manage to achieve. With the bond between us stronger than ever, we know what our pitfalls were and the areas we need to change and work on for next time round. I may need to work hard to convince Mark to do it with me again but either way, I’m in for next year!! - Amanda Judson Dixon, The Dirty Dixons

Thanks for putting so much effort into keeping the adventure racing flag flying, this was my third Duo and it’s nice to see it growing and evolving.  I still have great memories though of the original long tough hike in the dark – I used to look forward to that!

I do have a complaint though, that quite simply comes from the complete confusion you created at the race briefing:

‘There is the Eden Duo and there is the Open category  –a category made for the ‘Professionals’. Open category cannot win the main categories. There are bonus points for those racing in the standard duo of 30min per CP but as an Open category a 90min penalty for missing one’.- Owen Middleton, OMI

Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you!. What a great race it is so so nice to be able to race in ur own back yard usually we have to travel far away to experience an adv race but what pleasure to be able to do it here and why not we do have the most stunning area, the most stunning people to do it. Well done Garth and Jan for a great adventure and work out it was great fun a nice wake up call realizing I'm not as fit as I thought. Well done your great team. Thank you to Merrell as well for the support and prizes. 

and how awesome was it to see old familiar adventure faces from all over and new ones!! - Jeanette "Bubbles" Walder, McCain Chicks

What a great race you guys put together. I think it was enjoyed by all from the racing snakes to the novices. Merrel put on a great show and Jan as usual a great route. - James Stewart, Pennypinchers AR Team


Thanks for a great race. - Ronald Jessop, Team Parallel



Thanx Jan, Garth and all the rest for organising a superb event . It was pretty challenging for us -more the time factor than the distance one but all the same we had a great race , our seconds promised to come back for more and our time in the Wilderness on both sides of the race was just awesome .Facilities too were something that I can only wish for on more of the distance events. So a big thumbs up . - Grant Frewen, Team Freegone

Glorious weather for the weekend

Teams have already started arriving at Ebb and Flow and the weather is looking great! Blue skies warm sunshine, and the same is expected tomorrow... wohoo!

Some teams have already hit Vic Bay for a bit of a dip in the ocean, so all in all things are looking like a great weekend!

As they say - "wish you were here" if you are sitting in the concrete jungle reading this!

Weather and land owner check

It's getting hotter, from 22 we have gone up to 25.

The little "peninsula between the Swartvlei and Karatara River can now legally be crossed without fear that the farmer will be shooting to kill :-) He said he found the channel the other day so it is possible paddle all the way - but you need to know where to look.

Well, not sure if I will get the chance to post again so if's this is the last post before the race - see you at registration, I am putting CP's out tomorrow, I really do hope they don't get stolen...

I will make a point to take a photo of each one I put out there! So at least there is evidence if they "disappear"

Ciao
G

Wednesday weather

The temperature has dropped by 1 ° to a cool 22 ° C. Still cloudy, a 20 km /h wind blowing, might cause a few waves on the Swartvlei paddle later in the afternoon.

It looks like it just could be the perfect weather. There might be some mist / fog in the early morning / evening, but that may serve to make things a little more interesting. There may also be some fog / mist on the higher parts of the mountain hike near Tierkop.