Otago Canoe and Kayak Club

We arrived in Alexandra in time to register on Friday night, meet up with old friends and attend the race briefing, which was highlighted by a talk on the weekend climate ( not weather ) statistics by a meteorlogical scientist from the Lauder station.
 
Saturdays start time of 8:30 saw everyone dropping boats off by the old rowing club  under the Alexandra bridge before converging on Pioneer Park for the first of the weekend`s many trips to the portaloo before starting with a brief run down to the kayaks.

Leaving Alexandra

Starting in four waves, the boats were soon strung out as the faster kayaks took off while others started at a more leisurely pace for the two and a half to three hour paddle to Roxbrough Dam. Support crews headed off in cars to await team mates arrival at the dam. The paddles had a slight tail wind which turned into a steady head wind on the following 35 Km mountian bike ride up over the Knobby Mountian Range to the Little Valley. Runners then took off for the day`s leg on the 18 Km run to the Upper Manorburn. Most of the two hundred and fifty competitors stayed the night camping in tents, or the few fishing huts at the dam. A strong wind blew in the night leaving at least one group without a tent in the morning.

Manorburn Campsite

Day two was made up of a 50 Km  mountian bike over the Serpentine mountians, passing the Poolburn dam, before descending again to the valley floor. A 24 Km road bike then a 156 Km run through the rail trail, followed by a 58 Km mountian bike through Thomsons George took competitors through some stunning scenery on a typically hot Central day. Camping that night was at the Tarras sports ground with a great meal provided by local community groups. Spot prize of the day went to one woman competitor who flashed for the camera after one of the tunnels on the run!

Day three saw some weary bodies emerge from tents to the sound of a steam engine chugging around the camp site at six am. The day started with cyclists, in groups of ten, setting off at one minute intervals, with the pace on all the way to Hawea Flat and back to Albert Town. The bikers then tagged their kayaker who headed off down a low flowing Clutha Ribver. With the river low, the sun up and no wind, the  paddle to Lindis Crossing was slower than other years with some paddlers even stopping to practise rolling ( unsuccesfully by the look of them !). Once off the river there was a short 2 Km run to the road bikes then a 50 Km ride down to Clyde. followed by the last leg, a 10 Km run beside the river from Clyde back to Pioneer Park in Alexandra 

It was great to cross the finish line with my team mate after three days of enjoying the stark scenery of Central Otago. So get a team together for  next year`s event and see for yourself.