IT'S CHALLENGE TIME!
Teams and Solo Elite Challenge
In this event teams compete in teams of two, with one member completing the 18km run, and the other the 27km bike. As an added challenge each team is given a give-a-little page with which to raise some money for local, regional, and national charities.
This year we are also introducing a Solo Elite Challenge. This is where an individual will tackle both the 18km run and the 27km MTB as well as taking up the fundraising challenge!
We are continuing the same format as last year leaving the fundraising target at $250 and then rewarding you with 'time' for every $ you raise above that.
You will receive a bonus of 1 second off your teams time for every dollar raised above the $250 target. That means if your team can raise an extra $300 they get a 5 minute advantage on the pack. Last year fundraising played a huge part in the final results, so these seconds could very well be crucial to who takes home the trophy! It will also mean any team can be in it to win it - the winning team will be a combination of sporting AND fundraising prowess.
If you are interested in putting in a team or you think you've got what it takes to enter as an individual, then complete the form below and we will be in touch.
For any questions or queries please phone Ryan Luckman on email.
The 2019 Legends
Waituna Creek School - Nicky & Jane
Nicky and Jane have entered the teams challenge as part of the Whitehorse Big Easy Event. They are competing both for pride (Waituna Creek are the defending champs) and to raise some funds for some great local charities.
The first all female team to enter the challenge, they are coming with all guns blazing. Jane, a teacher at Waituna Creek, is spending the Summer training in the Rangitata Gorge so will be hill fit. Rumour has it Nicky, who works in the office, has enrolled her husband for some serious parenting time over the school holidays so she can get her bike humming up the Whitehorse Tracks.
Your donations not only help the community, but also help Nicky and Jane to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
Centennial School - Avril & Renee
Avril and Renee have entered the teams challenge as part of the Whitehorse Big Easy Event. They are looking to put Centennial School's name on the trophy this year, as well as raising some funds for some great local charities.
Avril is taking on the bike leg this year. Often seen up the Big Easy tracks trying to keep up with Cam, Fergus, and Robbie, she will be one to be feared.
Renee is no slouch in the running stakes either - having taken out the Lovelock Classic (as well as running at advanced stages of pregnancy!!). Combined with their renowned fundraising skills they'll really be a team to beat.
Your donations not only help the community, but also help Avril and Renee to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
Waimate Harriers - Brendan & Burt
Brendan and Burt have entered the teams challenge as part of the Whitehorse Big Easy Event. The Harriers are helping organise the event, so thought they'd better put a gun team in to help win AND raise funds for some great local charities.
Brendan was teamed up with Avril (#wife) last year, but he ruthlessly kicked her off the team when he saw Burt's fast pace in the run leg. (The Lane's are reasonably competitive so it'll be a good sideshow in itself!!). Brendan should bring some fierce pace on the bike leg, and Burt brings a very strong pedigree, having almost taken out the run leg last year.
Your donations not only help the community, but also help Brendan and Burt to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
Those Girls - Alice & Rebecca
After talking about it for the past three years, Alice Hore and Rebecca Ryan have finally committed to entering the teams challenge as part of the Whitehorse Big Easy (and our first Oamaru entry for 2019).
Alice is taking on the 27km bike leg and has spent a lot of her summer training at Herbert Forest and the Oamaru Reservoir. Having barely been on a mountain bike for the past five, or more, years, this is her first ever mountain bike race. The only event Alice says she has ever previously trained for was Beervana!
Rebecca is tackling the 18km run. A Type 1 diabetic, Rebecca leads a running group called Type One Run, in New Zealand, part of an international movement dedicated to building support, community, and awareness for those affected by Type 1 diabetes through running. She’s also been keeping fit over summer playing tennis for North Otago.
Alice and Rebecca are hoping to go big on fundraising in the lead up to the event, especially when every dollar raised over $250 gives a one second advantage.
Team Oceania - Dion and Rachel
Dion and Rachel have entered the teams challenge as part of the Whitehorse Big Easy Event. The pride of Oceania is on the line (we're still awaiting a Fonterra fight back!!) as they take on the bike and run legs, all while raising funds for some great local charities.
Dion has also put up the family bragging rights for a wee side wager of $100. His sister Renee (Team Centennial) is a bit of a gun though, so Dion may require a bit of a head start - don't be surprised to see them out and about twisting some arms for some extra team funds. Rachel has often been seen out and about on a fancy e-bike, so there will need to be a bit of extra scrutiny at the start line this year if Renee's to have a fair fight.
Your donations not only help the community, but also help Dion and Rachel to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
Waimo Rugby’s Young & Old Wallabies - Jamie and Simon
What started as some office banter has led to an (ex) prime athlete and a (sub) prime athlete entering in to this year’s Waimate Big Easy event. Simon is taking on the biking leg but specialises in running although body is broken at present (back). Training has consisted of ahhhhhh *cough cough*. Jamie is taking on the run – he has taken his training to a new level with high altitude training in Japan, however the off field debriefing has been a severe mitigating factor. Paying very well at the TAB, not an outside chance.
They feel that a big help out on the time front will really help bring home the trophy for the rugby club. Remember your donations not only help the community, but also every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage. Help the boys hold their heads high in the office on Monday the 25th Feb by getting donating!!!
Harriers Team - Peter and John
Peter and John have entered the teams challenge as part of the Whitehorse Big Easy Event. Coming of injuries in previous seasons, they really are shaping up as a team to beat in 2019. Both are considered guns in the Harriers and Cycling Club respectively, so come with weighty expectations on their shoulders!!
Peter is taking on the run leg. If anyone's tried to keep up with him over 5km you'll know that it just ends in disappointment, exertion based vomiting, and Peter looking fresh as a daisy. We expect that 19km will just be an extended form of this torture for any of his competitors.
John meanwhile takes on the bike leg. Traditionally a road cyclist, John has built muscles which can cope with both altitude AND uneven terrain, so we expect a very strong showing.
It will be interesting to watch the battle between the two Harriers teams........ may the fastest team take out the trophy!! Assistance in the forms of donations will not only help the community, but also help Peter and John to take the trophy home.
Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
All Family Team - Jeremy and David
The first all family team to enter, Jeremy and David are really putting the genes to the test as they battle both endurance and familial relations in taking on the teams challenge. David has been a previous entrant (Jeremy was pulling the injured card), and was cruelly denied 3rd place by some very poor adding by the time keeper (sorry David!!).
David is no stranger to those in the Waimate running scene. Often seen with a smile on his face after a horrendous uphill section, he's kind of like a mini-terminator, albeit one perfectly designed for running! His only downfall could be that he's always carrying a niggling injury (or so he tells us), although this could be the mark of true gamesmanship.
Jeremy meanwhile comes into the mountain bike on some serious form. He's recently had a triple triple (the new term for placing 3rd in 3 events in a row!), with placings in the Gut Buster, Wanaka Big Easy, and Defiance Minaret Burn Bike. He really is proof of the hybrid vigour that Pam has bought to the Gardner genes.
So get donating - your donations not only help the community, but also help Jeremy and David to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
Sports Guys - Tim and Tom
With the first all nude photo shoot for a profile pic, Tim and Tom certainly bring their individual flair to the teams event this year. Tom did have quite a long explanation as to why the team name was "Sports Guys", but unfortunately we forgot to write it down - so be sure to ask him when you see him!
Although the censorship may suggest a non-competitive team Tim was in fact the inaugural winner of the Teams Challenge Trophy AND previous record-holder for the 18km run course. He's been training hard again this year in the hills around Arrowtown, so will once again line up on the start line as one to beat.
Tom has also been out training at least twice this week! Sporting wheels wide enough to double as spares on the family tractor, Tom is certainly prepared for all terrains. And again don't let the physique fool you - Tom will be a front-runner in it to win it!
So get donating - your donations not only help the community, but also help Tim and Tom to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
Team Fonterra - Bridget and Brad
Fonterra have taken up the challenge laid down by Oceania and stumped up with a cracking team for the 2019 Challenge! Alan and his team at Studholme have called on their wider resources in sponsoring ring-ins from the Fonterra Rapid Response Unit in the form of Ambo Bridget, and Fireman Brad.
The civil minded, life-saving duo bring not only rapid response times, but also rapid race times! Brad took out the challenge on behalf of Waituna Creek School last year (in spite of lining up a tree the night before in the Naseby 12 Hour), and Bridget really, really, really likes dressing up in costumes when she runs. We're not sure yet if this makes her any quicker, but it certainly makes us smile which must be worth a few seconds!!!!
So show some civic pride and get donating in support of the Rapid Response Unit. Your donations not only help the community, but also help Bridget and Brad to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives the team a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
The Crazy Double - Paul
You may notice there is no "team" in this challenge, just one crazy multi-sport junkie who is going to be our guinea pig to see if the solo double is actually a possibility! Where most of us mere mortals look at an 18km run as a good days work, Paul sees it as a chance to get warmed up for the 27km Mountainbike!!!
Fresh off taking out the top spot in the Open section of the Coast to Coast Longest Day he brings some serious pedigree. Placing 15th overall for the day (a few elite's sneaked by him) we're pretty sure he can hold his own running and biking. We might even need to add a kayak section in next year to really let him show off his skills!!
So get supporting this crazy effort. Your donations not only help the community, but also help Paul to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives him a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give the team a head start!!!
Whitehorse Team Challenge - The Double Double!! Daniel Bishop
You may notice that again there is no "team" in this challenge, just another crazy multi-sport junkie taking on the double of the bike and run! Daniel saw his training partner Paul taking up the challenge and thought why not (who wouldn't want to finish a small 18km run and then back it up with a wee 27km Mountainbike!!!).
Daniel has pedigree having recently completed the two-day Coast to Coast event in a blistering time. Plus representing the Kurow community he certainly has some good terrain for training. The bookies are undecided on the odds in what has become a race within a race - our sources (aka Paul) claim that Daniel will bring a run speed to match the top Olympic marathon runners, while Daniel claims that Paul will leave him in his wake over the bike leg. We'll find out who's telling the truth on Sunday!!
So get supporting this crazy effort. Your donations not only help the community, but also help Daniel to take the trophy home. Every dollar raised over $250 gives him a 1 second advantage, so get donating and give him a head start!!!
2019 BENEFICIARIES
