The All Blacks may have won the rugby but the Aussies will be tougher to beat in the upcoming Trans Tasman Adventure Racing Trophy, a stoush that will determine which side of the Tasman reigns supreme in the world of adventure racing.
The Trans Tasman Adventure Racing Trophy is a competition between Australian and New Zealand adventure racers held as part of the Anaconda Adventure Race at Augusta on 6 November.
The Anaconda Adventure Race at Augusta is Race 3 of the National Series and is the Southern Hemisphere's biggest adventure race with nearly 1700 other competitors also tackling the off road course that includes a 13.5km trail run, 1.9km ocean swim, 13km ocean kayak and 32km mountain bike.
Each nation fields a team of three – two males and one female racer – chosen from their results in similar adventure races in Australia and New Zealand to compete in the finale at Augusta. Each athlete completes the demanding 60km course as an individual with the winning nation being the team with the lowest cumulative time, meaning there is both personal and national pride on the line, not to mention the cash for podium placings.
Representing New Zealand is the multiple Adventure Racing World Champion Richard Ussher, who has been unbeatable in just about every race he has entered this year. Trevor Voyce takes the second spot after winning the recent Baise Leye Outdoor Quest in China and other Kiwi events, and Fleur Lattimore fills the female's position after winning the 2011 New Zealand Multisport Championships amongst a gaggle of other race victories over the last 1-2 years.
This is the strongest Kiwi team ever assembled for the Trans Tasman Championship and they will put up an almighty battle to take the trophy.
Representing Australia will be Jarad Kohlar who won the Anaconda Adventure Race at Augusta last year (beating all the kiwis) as well as nearly every other major title in the country. Second up is West Australian hot shot Sean O'Neil who tasted victory at Augusta back in 2009 when he went on to win the Anaconda Adventure Race National Series. The Australian female competitor is the unstoppable Deanna Blegg who has not been beaten in an Anaconda race for the last 2 years and is as tough as they come.
These are quite simply Australia's best adventure racers and they'll be eager not to lose face by being responsible for the trophy crossing the ditch.
Australia won the inaugural Trans Tasman Trophy when it was contested at the Anaconda Adventure Race at Dunsborough in 2007 and retained the trophy when conducted last year at Augusta but that could all change this time around.
They won't be the only hot shot athletes to chase victory at Augusta with the most competitive field ever assembled for an adventure race of this kind in Australia with all racers determined to secure a name for themselves and a share in the $12,000 cash prize pool.
Team Australia and Team New Zealand racer profiles at can be found here.
Further details on the Anaconda Adventure Race at Augusta can be found on the event website here: www.AnacondaAdventureRace.com/wa
