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