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History

Chapter 8 – Canterbury

Event Summary

Teams start and finish their 2019 GODZONE adventure in Akaroa. The first stage involved four different disciplines (coasteering where they swam with Orcas, mountain biking, paddling and then orienteering) that took teams along the Banks Peninsula to the Christchurch Adventure Park. Teams were held for a few hours to receive course maps for the rest of the route at the park.

After a brief stop to digest maps what lay ahead and some food, teams jumped on an overnight coach to a restart location at Mt White Bridge towards Arthurs Pass. Teams then had to trek, packraft, canoe, cave, kayak, bike and orienteer their way home. The route included the Poulter, Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers along the way, with the latter taking teams from the mountains to the coast in one long paddle. Teams also visited Castle Hill, Alford Range, Lake Clearwater, Big Hill Range and Palmer Range, before finally heading over the Port Hills for an Akaroa Harbour paddle to the finish.

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The Teams

Another large field at GODZONE saw the introduction of the newly formed GZ Prime event. This event was a blend of the two existing categories, blending the slightly shorter format of the GZ Pursuit event with the unsupported nature of GZ Pure event. The aim being to create a format that is appealing to overseas teams and at the same time open up a pathway to aspiring racers who do not feel able or ready to take on the full GZ Pure event. The race was represented by teams from 11 nations with a strong contingent from Australia, South Africa and the USA.

Team Name Team Captain Team Member 2 Team Member 3 Team Member 4 Final Results
1. Accidental Adventurers ryan mcmahon Cam Kerr Lachie Brownlie Anna Needham Unranked
2. Adventure Racing Waitaki jason hayman Dan Burke twyla kingan ED FINLAY Unranked
3. Bend Racing/Yogaslackers Stephen Thompson Jason Magness Daniel Staudigel Mari Chandler Full Course
4. Can Do Tim Pearson Nathan Peterson Fanny Frechinet Benoit peyvel Retired
5. Carnivorous River Ducks Martin Peat Carey Lintott ANdrew Peat Dean Velenski Unranked
6. Checkpoint Zero Paul Humphreys Scott Erlandson Peter Jolles Emily Korsch Short Course
7. CIC Financial Luke Nuttall NATHAN HAY KIERAN SUTHERLAND Melissa Nuttall Full Course
8. Dreamers Race Team Chris Brand Sam scott Mark Tree Katelyn pascoe Unranked
9. Fenix Multisport Pavel Paloncy Kevin Stephens Marika Wagner tomas matera Short Course
10. Further Faster Fledglings Odie ruegg Bradley Scott Penzy Dinsdale Will Jones Full Course
11. Go Fence Marlborough Glenn Blackmore Mandy Macfarlane Kieran Hickman Andrew Jones Unranked
12. GuReus Jake Reus Sue Thompson Adam CaRter Darren harrow Unranked
13. Highland Events Brandon Purdue Patrick GARCEAU ERYN CUTLER ALI WILSON Full Course
14. Jabberwock Cobus van Zyl Craig Metherell Darren Berry Yolande speedy Full Course
15. Just Smile and Wave Brian Eason Marta zanetti Peter spagnoli Phil Nicolas Unranked
16. Kai Whakapai Wanaka Chris Higgs Ciaran thayer Dave dixon Shonagh north Unranked
17. Kayak HQ John Hart lou perkins Jared Wadsworth Kerry Semmens Unranked
18. KiwiHarvest Pieter Brits Craig Pelvin Matthew Dick Carrie Lakin Unranked
19. Mico Duncan Hamilton Rachel cashin George Christison Ian Huntsman Full Course
20. Mont Adventure Racing Paul Cuthbert Tom Brazier Alexandra Orme Jackson Bursill Full Course
21. Morrison Cars Devon Burchett Tony McGuire ARIANA SUMMERS GLEN FRIERY Unranked
22. Naki Adventure Racing William adlam Shaun Palmer Hamish Sturmer Charlotte Jones Full Course
23. No Idea Peter Marriott Lucy Crozier will hand Forrest Bilek Full Course
24. Nutrient Rescue Racing Dave Quested Martin Lukes Cheryl Keen Darron Jones Retired
25. On the Rag Holly McKee Jo Taylor Holly fry Elicia Milne Unranked
26. One Direction rICHARD MCINTOSH DENIS WOODS Richard Shields KAREN MULLER Full Course
27. Out for the View Rob Lei Rachel Smith Dave Blundell Cam bennett Full Course
28. PEnati Go Brent Steinmetz Nick Hann Tom Spencer Shannon Trimble Full Course
29. Perpetual Guardian Chris Forne Emily Wilson Simone Maier Marcel Hagener Full Course
30. Roving Tuke\'s michael mitchell mat haworth Katie bryan george kool Full Course
31. Soaked in Adventure Matt fredericksen Bernie Hopkins Michael Curtis Dean sisson Retired
32. sPORTOTAL lucas Vallejo Juan Ignacio Ceseracciu nicolas vallejo Magdalena Nieto Short Course
33. Swordfox Georgia Whitla Brent Edwards Stuart Lynch Patrick Higgins Full Course
34. Tavendale & Partners Belinda mccone james mccone sara oneill duncan rutherford Full Course
35. Team Awaka Simon BloomBerg Kieran Hambrook Ryan Hunter Frances Riley Full Course
36. Team Macpac Paul Rust Matt Lash Grant Hildred Leah Barnfield Full Course
37. Team NCX Stephen John julian Maclaren Dave Taylor Kelly Munro Unranked
38. Team Turiwhate Katie Smith Troy (Spot HEight) Watson Iain McIver Jono dobbs Unranked
39. The friction free FETTlers Abban quayle Joseph Rea JAMIE Davis Kat Reynolds Full Course
40. The Sneaky Weasel Gang Angus Watson Anna Dean Bobby Dean Tane Cambridge Full Course
41. ThoughtSports.com.au Rob Preston KatHryn Preston Tim Boote Dave Schloss Full Course
42. TIGER ADVENTURE Trevor Mullens AURELIEN PENNEMAN Emma Weitnauer MARTIAL Devillers Full Course
43. Tiki Tour Tom Lucas George Lucas Mike Kelly Corrinne O'Donnell Full Course
44. Torpedo 7 Richard Anderson Tim Sikma Tim Farrant Sara Prince Full Course
45. Virbac Animal Health Anthony Oswald jAKE sTOW Tina Moore Adam Stanyer Full Course
46. Walkers pps Michele Gillespie Mike Walker Geoff mccarthy Brett shields Retired
47. Wild Flow Tiger Adventure Christine perry Wayne zahra Brian chontosh Chriss Smith Short Course
Team Name Team Captain Team Member 2 Team Member 3 Team Member 4 Final Results
1. 23 Feet Not a centipede Alex Cull sarah cull Damien Taylor Tadeas Mejdr Full Course
2. 3 Officers & a Gentleman David o'carroll aaron williamson cameron howell andrew thornton Full Course
3. Crossing Peaks Jake Vargo Alistair Bird John Martin Hannah Presswood Full Course
4. For the Food Lucie Stanley Sophie wigley Beth Jagusch Kim armstrong Unranked
5. Ginger Ninjas Brian Wilson Darryl Sutton Jonny brewer Rachel simons Unranked
6. Mainpower Pip Were brendan were kirk mcdonald thomas downey Unranked
7. Stuck in the Mud Nick Collins Don PATERSON Melanie Hansen ROGER jones Unranked
8. Team Ledlenser Jason Searle Chantel Lindsay ruben connelly craig coote Full Course
9. Team Ranch Te Anau Helicopters Jade Lilo Guy Mexted Tiaan Mckinnel Lisa Te moananui Unranked

The Route

Chapter 8 felt like quite a contrast to the long and slow progress of Chapter 7 through Fiordland. The route was high but fast with teams covering a record breaking distance in quick time. This put a lot of physical pressure on teams and the ability to rest and recover was limited. The GZ Pure route covered a total distance of approximately 613km, longer than all previous Chapters of GODZONE. However, the terrain was usually open and quick going so teams made good progress, when the vertical ascent wasn't slowing them down. The route comprised roughly 133km of trekking, 286km of biking, 77km of kayaking, 109km of packrafting, 1km of caving and 7km of coasteering. The GZ Pursuit event covered approximately 555km with packrafting being substituted for canoeing.

The event had extensive vertical climb. It also contained the single longest trekking stage ever at GODZONE...a mammoth 84 km for GZ Pure teams with nearly 4000m of ascent. The route choices over the Palmer Range were almost infinite and teams were left scratching their heads about the most efficient way to cross the many mountain ridges along the route. It proved a decisive tactical point for the leading teams and a tough deadline for those looking to avoid the short course cut off.

Results

The top 3 GZ Pure teams were the same three from Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 - but with second and third switching positions. This time around it was an incredibly close race at the front between Perpetual Guardian and Tikki Tour. There was barely an hour separating the teams from start to finish and the result seemed to come down to some strategic route choices over the massive Big Hill/Palmer Range trek. Chris Forne wasn't convinced that he'd taken the best route through the mountains but they were pleased to come out on top.

A particularly warm congratulations to Further Faster Fledglings who won the Colts Trophy and prize. They are on a steep improvement curve and it will be interesting to see where they go from here. Hat tip to the winners of the International Trophy, Thoughtsports.AU, who achieved fourth place overall, no mean feat against such a strong contingent of Kiwi teams.

GODZONE Chapter 8 - Canterbury, was won by the Perpetual Guardian team. The team comprised Emily Wilson, Marcel Hagener, Simone Maier and Chris Forne (his 7th victory in the event). Perpetual Guardian completed the challenging course in fine style, paddling into Akaroa after an epic journey, completing the course in 104 hours and 30 minutes.

This was the first time that a team of two female and two males have stood on the GZ Pure podium. To stand on the top step is something special. The manner of the victory was also noted by officials and staff who remarked that the team were always having a good time and giving off good energy to all.

Team Name Team Captain Team Member 2 Team Member 3 Team Member 4 Final Results
1. Perpetual Guardian Chris Forne Emily Wilson Simone Maier Marcel Hagener 4d 08h 30m
2. Tiki Tour Tom Lucas George Lucas Mike Kelly Corrinne O'Donnell 4d 10h 15m
3. Swordfox Georgia Whitla Brent Edwards Stuart Lynch Patrick Higgins 4d 14h 00m
4. ThoughtSports.com.au Rob Preston KatHryn Preston Tim Boote Dave Schloss 4d 16h 33m
5. Torpedo 7 Richard Anderson Tim Sikma Tim Farrant Sara Prince 4d 17h 15m

This was a long race for the GZ Pursuit teams and for some it was the very first experience of an expedition race. The overall distance was more akin to an earlier Chapter of a GZ Pure course, but the navigation was slightly easier and the going was generally fast (at least when they were going in the correct direction).

Congratulations to Crossing Peaks who blitzed the rest of the field in the GZ Pursuit race, racing over 118 hours 45 minutes, beating their nearest competitors by over a day!

Team Name Team Captain Team Member 2 Team Member 3 Team Member 4 Final Results
1. Crossing Peaks Jake Vargo Alistair Bird John Martin Hannah Presswood 4d 22h 45m
2. Team Ledlenser Jason Searle Chantel Lindsay ruben connelly craig coote 6d 01h 30m
3. 23 Feet Not a centipede Alex Cull sarah cull Damien Taylor Tadeas Mejdr 6d 01h 45m
4. 3 Officers & a Gentleman David o'carroll aaron williamson cameron howell andrew thornton 6d 02h 45m