ARE YOU A RUNNER, CYCLIST OR
KAYAKER (or maybe all 3)
LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE ?
Well, this one’s for you.
Experience the beauty of the Upper Hunter
Valley with its horse studs, vineyards, dairy farms and pristine lakes. Put
yourself, and your team, to the test in the unique “Gravity Fitness” way : tough but rewarding courses in
scenically beautiful places, accompanied by friendly and supportive competition.
Presents
CHALLENGE 2004
A 2-day
6-stage Team OR Individual Endurance Race
Sat. 27th November / Sun. 28th
November, 2004
Lake
Glenbawn State Park, Scone NSW
SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE TO READ THE STORY
BEHIND THE 2003 LAKE GLENBAWN CHALLENGE
(Includes full results)
CLICK HERE TO
VIEW THE RACE HANDBOOK 2004
RACE FORMAT
DAY .1.
Sat. 27th November 2004
Start 7.00am
To Brushy Hill Lookout via Curra Keith North and return
Stage.2. KAYAK 18km
3 x 6km clockwise laps on Lake Glenbawn
Stage.3. CYCLE 62km
Eastern Foreshore Rd / Brushy Hill Rd /
Segenhoe Rd / Allan Bridge Rd / Rouchel Rd / Eastern Foreshore Rd (2 x 31km
laps)
DAY .2.
Sun. 28th
November 2004
Start 7.00am
Stage.4. RUN 14km
4 x 3.5km laps of Eastern Foreshore area
Stage.5. KAYAK 12km
2
x 6km anti-clockwise laps on Lake Glenbawn
Stage.6. CYCLE 31km
Eastern Foreshore Rd / Brushy Hill Rd /
Segenhoe Rd / Allan Bridge Rd / Rouchel Rd / Eastern Foreshore Rd (2 x 31km
laps)
Entry Fees :
Individuals $120
Teams of 2 -
$180 Teams of 3/4/5/or 6 - $240
(includes entry
fee / t-shirt / medallion / prizes)
RETURN ENTRY FORM COMPLETE WITH PAYMENT to
:
Ian Hollins
Gravity Fitness
10 Wagner Place, Seven Hills NSW 2147
02 9838 9585 / 0416 080 098
gravfit@bigpond.net.au www.oocities.org/gravityfit
ENTRIES CLOSE Friday 12th
November – NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE
ACCOMMODATION
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY :
Could we have gotten better conditions ? Unlike in 2002, Lake
Glenbawn bunged on its best face as competitors rose on the Saturday to a
glistening glassy lake, a view that gladdens any kayaker’s heart as well as the
cyclists who always prefer a wind free ride. The runners, well, they suffer no
matter what the conditions are so we get that one out of the way early.
This year 3 individuals and 4 teams (18
competitors in all) faced the starter and a good atmosphere had developed early
before the race as people milled around for the pre-race briefing. It’s great
to have people along to these races with the right attitude and the right mix
of competitiveness and collegiality. There were competitors from Sydney,
Newcastle, Singleton, Tamworth and Inverell, so we had a nice mix of
metropolitan, rural and regional Australia (the political pollsters would have
loved us as a focus group). As well as the competitors there were 6 race
officials and another 6 support crew for both the individuals and teams so
there was quite a decent crowd all up.
The race starts with Stage 1 (oddly
enough), a tough and hilly 20km run to the top of Brushy Hill and return, where
runners are afforded expansive views of the lake and the kayak course. After a
brief perv at the lake, runners either change with a team-mate (the smart ones
do this) or head back themselves to the transition area. Stage 2 is an 18km
Kayak, being 3 x 6km laps of the eastern section of Lake Glenbawn, in this case
a glassy dream. Stage 3 is a very tough, hot and hilly 62 km Cycle, comprising
2 x 31km laps, which can be very demanding given that you have to go through
again what you never wanted to see again after the first lap. After roughly 6
hours of racing on Day 1 the results stood as follows at the half way stage
(Individuals in bold, Teams in CAPITALS) :
1. Rod Tracey
5h38m 2. HAVE AGO (Tim Schneider /
Brendan Cowled / Kim Wilson) 5h51m 3.
COP THAT (Lauretta Mellows / John Hassett / Phil Dunne / Dave Vaughan) 6h13m 4. OLDIES + OFFSPRING (Mike Cowled / Murray
Cowled / Kerrie Murphy / Terry Murphy / Laurie Murphy) 6h14m 5. GRAVITY STUMPY (Matt Trute / Ian Hollins
/ Jane Law) 6h21m 6. Chris Lee
7h26m PLUS Greg May 5h53m
(unable to do Stage 1 due to unforeseen circumstances - given average time of
all runners).
As is now traditional, a Half-way BBQ was
held at Gravity HQ in Cabin 5 with its sweeping vistas of the lake and the
glorious sunset. Highlights were Dave’s kransky hot plate greaser, a few quiet
beers, wines and champagnes (I think we had earned them) and the T-shirt
ceremony – very stylish if I do say so myself. Fortunately, moderation was
adopted and people moseyed off to bed just before they got too involved in
anything which may have impaired their ability to back up the next day. Very
impressive discipline indeed.
Day 2 commences with Stage 4, a 14km run
comprising 4 x 3.5km laps. The teams did very well in sharing the laps around
and the finish was very tight, with the first 5 kayaks into the water for Stage
5 within 30secs of one another. This kayak stage is12km (2 laps), going in the
opposite direction to the previous day’s paddle. Once again great conditions
made for very fast times and before you could say “shit it’s hot !”, the cyclists
were on their way for Stage 6, one 31km lap. The closeness of the racing for 2nd
and 3rd place kept everyone on edge but the one thing that was never
in doubt was that Rod Tracey would be rewarded for his guts and talent with the
race win.
FINAL RESULTS :
1st - Rod
Tracey – 8h53m
2nd - HAVE AGO
(Tim Schneider / Brendan Cowled / Kim Wilson) – 9h20m
3rd - OLDIES +
OFFSPRING (Mike Cowled / Murray Cowled / Kerrie Murphy / Terry Murphy / Laurie
Murphy) – 9h39m
4th - COP THAT
(Lauretta Mellows / John Hassett / Phil Dunne / Dave Vaughan) – 9h40m
5th – Greg
May – 9h42m
6th - GRAVITY
STUMPY (Matt Trute / Ian Hollins / Jane Law) – 10h13m
7th – Chris
Lee – 11h57m
HIGHLIGHTS :
·
Rod Tracey’s steady effort throughout – brilliantly
paced himself with the help of Greg, his ever-present support crew.
·
The determination of Chris Lee to not only finish
the race but enjoy it as well – won the admiration of everyone involved.
·
The friendliness and enthusiasm of all the team
members and supporters – it’s great to watch and be a part of.
·
The keenly fought race for 3rd between
the Old Pharts and the Singleton Mob – amazing to think that only 1min.
separated the two teams after nearly ten hours of racing.
·
The weather – what can I say ? – brilliant,
bewitching, beauuuuuutiful !
·
The scenery – you can’t fault it really. Even the
most tired and cranky competitor would have to concede that the course is quite
sublime in places.
·
The brilliant times recorded – last year’s results
are fading fast … gooone (in fact, not one record from last year has remained
intact). Although I must say, in defence of the 2002 competitors, that last
year’s conditions were very tough for the kayakers and cyclists with howling
winds dogging them on both days.
·
The fact that no-one was hurt or injured – maybe
some pride was dented but you get over that.
·
To me the actual race is only one part of the whole
experience, one which allows people to work together to achieve a common goal,
and one which brings out the best in people, opposed to some other competitive
situations which often bring out the worst in people.
My hope is that everyone who competed
this year returns in 2004, and that this race can be used as a goal to maintain
a level of physical fitness that is advantageous to good health. Let’s keep the
“earn it” philosophy alive and well in your communities and feel free to spread
the word, but not too far and only to people who know how to compete in a
friendly and courteous manner. Next year’s event will have a cap on the number
of competitors, and of course preference will always go to those who have
competed before.
I have booked all the Cabins (8) and
Bungalows (6) for 2004. The race will be held on Saturday 27th and
Sunday 28th November 2004. The Lake Glenbawn State Park management
(Phone 02 6543 7193) will hold on to them up to a certain date and if not
booked they will be returned back into the system. I have booked Cabin 5 for
myself. The Bungalows (which sleep 4-5) are just 100m from the Cabins (which
sleep 6), which are just 200m from the Transition Area.
All the best,
Ian Hollins
GRAVITY FITNESS
==============================================================================================================
THE LAKE GLENBAWN CHALLENGE 2004
ENTRY FORM – INDIVIDUALS / TEAMS (Detach and
return to Gravity Fitness)
** Note : This form may be
photocopied if required – each team member must complete and sign an entry form
and include the names of team-mates on the form where requested – you should
send your team’s completed entry forms along with payment in the one envelope
***
1st Name ____________________________
Surname ____________________________
Male
Female (Circle)
Address (include Postcode)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Phone Numbers
Home _____________________
Work _____________________
Mobile ____________________
Email Address ______________________________
Date of Birth ________________
Shirt Size
S M L XL XXL
(Circle)
Any relevant Medical Information ?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Race Category (Circle)
Ind. Male
Ind. Female
Team Male
Team Female Team Mixed
Team Name ________________________________
Other Team Members
1 ________________________________________
2 ________________________________________
3 ________________________________________
4 ________________________________________
5 ________________________________________
WAIVER
I hereby take action for myself, my
executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors and assigns as
follows :
a)
WAIVER,
RELEASE AND DISCHARGE from any and all liability for death, disability,
personal injury, property damage, property theft, and all other foreseeable
risks or claims or actions of any kind (including negligence) whatever and
however occurring which I at any time had or have as a result of or in
connection with, directly or indirectly, my participation in and traveling to
and from this event the following persons or entities : Gravity Fitness, NSW
Govt. Departments, event sponsors, event producers, volunteers, all cities,
shires, districts in which the event may be staged and their (its) respective
officers, directors, employees, independent contractors, agents and volunteers.
b)
INDEMNIFY
AND HOLD HARMLESS the persons or
entities mentioned in the above paragraph from any and all liabilities, claims
or actions (including negligence) whatever or however caused arising as a result of or in connection with,
directly or indirectly, my participation in and traveling to and from this
event.
SIGNED __________________________________
DATE _________________
ENCLOSED IS CHEQUE or MONEY ORDER (made
payable to Gravity Fitness) FOR
$ __________
being payment for
Individual (Name) ____________________________
Or Team (Name) ____________________________
ENTRY FEES
Individual - $120
Team of 2 - $180
Teams of 3 / 4 / 5 or 6 - $240