Queenstown multisporter Jim Hawkridge completed 16 laps in the challenging Patagonia 8hrs@Jacks mountain bike multi relay event at Jack’s Point yesterday to win the individual open men’s division riding the only single speed bike in the race.
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Hawkridge whose fastest lap was 26.48mins finished the race after 7 hours 39 minutes non-stop riding. "I finished second last year but this year felt more in control. Last year I hit the wall in about the tenth lap but I started out easier this time. I am sure next year I can push it out to 17 laps. I was shooting to get through the last lap by 5.30pm then I could have had a chance to go for it but I was just outside the time I needed."
The number of individuals competing doubled this year with eight men and two women vying for the titles. Teams competed in Junior, Open (men's, women's or mixed) and Veteran (men's, open and mixed) sections.
The 7.1km track, known as Straggler's Loop, has been developed specifically for the event and traverses areas through rocky outcrops, and even a small gum forest on the northern edge of Jack's Point resort, before returning to the internal trails.
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"The course was in pretty good condition apart from a few wet sections, one which we had to realign after a while because it got pretty rutted," says Race Director Geoff Hunt. "We are pleased with the turnout and the weather was ideal for the race, in fact almost too hot at times for competitors. There was some strong competition amongst both the individuals and teams and overall the course ran slightly faster than last year."
Hawkridge did battle throughout the race with Marty MacDonald (Queenstown) who completed 15 laps before the finish siren sounded at 6pm. Top female individual was well known multisporter Sarah Fairmaid (Cromwell) who finished in 12 laps and achieved the fastest women's time of 34.40 beating Yvonne McDonald (Cromwell) who finished in second place clocking nine laps.
The highest number of laps was recorded by the mixed team Team JRW achieving 17 laps to win the mixed division ahead of ABIFasterTFC on 16 laps. Third placed Rogue Mantis also made 16 laps less than six minutes behind. One of their team member had the fastest lap of the day in 24.19. The Open Men's division was won by Malty's Maverick in 16 laps ahead of Zookeepers and The Inhalers both on 15 laps. The Veteran Men's category went to Two Old Roosters and a Mountain Goat on 14 laps and the De-Funksters won the Veteran Women's in 10 laps.
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The Veteran Mixed was an exciting finish and won by Queenstown Pedallers-the Hounds who completed the course in 14 laps just one minute ahead of their fellow Queenstown Pedallers- Over the Hills rivals. The sponsor's Team Patagonia was a close third also completing 14 laps.
Mark Quickfall of the Pedallers-Over the Hills says the hero of their team was Paul Woodward who despite falling early on the course and breaking a bone in his hand continued on to help keep the team well up in the competition. "It was thanks to Paul that we made it."
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Two Clyde youngsters Nicole Shields (11) and Hamish McHugh-Smith (12) represented Clyde Primary and clocked a creditable 10 laps. Other original team members were unable to compete but they decided to enter as a two person team.
"It was pretty hard and really challenging but really good," says Nicole.
Patagonia Director Hamish Cochran who also competed along with his wife Jenny was upbeat about the event. "It has grown this year and will undoubtedly become an even bigger event as more people become aware of it. It's a tough ride but you can ride it as hard or as easy as you like which means bikers of all levels can enter. It has a good synergy with our clothing and we like the relaxed atmosphere that 8hrs@Jacks has. Throughout the day you get to know the riders as the come through the circuit at the base area and there's lots of friendly rivalry."
