Coast to Coast (race)
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The Speight's Coast to Coast is a non-standard multisport competition held annually in New Zealand. It is so named as it traverses from the West coast to the East coast of South Island, and features running, cycling and kayaking elements over a total of 243 km (151 mi).
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[edit] History
The first Coast to Coast race was organized in 1983 by New Zealand sportsman Robin Judkins. The original race featured only 79 competitors and was considered a largely local event. Subsequent races have increased in size, and with the race's 25th anniversary run in 2007 the field had increased to 840 participants and has gained international acclaim as one of the premier adventure races in the world. [1]
[edit] Course
The race consists of 3 different timed events which all run over the same course: individual and 2-person teams competing over a 2 day event, and the titular World Championship race, a one-person, one-day event previously called The Longest Day competition.
The race begins with a 3 km (2 mi) run from Kumara Beach followed by a 55 km (34 mi) cycling segment through the Southern Alps. The next segment of the race is a 33 km (21 mi) run up the Deception River, through Goat Pass and then down the Mingha River. A 15 km (9 mi) cycling leg brings competitors to the Waimakariri River and the 67 km (42 mi) kayaking leg of the race. The final segment is a 70 km (43 mi) cycling race into Christchurch, finishing at Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean.
[edit] Records
The record time of completion of the race is in 10 hours, 34 minutes and 37 seconds, achieved by Keith Murray in 1994. Murray also holds the record for the 2 day competition at 11:05:18 from the year before in 1993. [2]
| Event | Time | Participant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Individual (One day) | 10:34:37 | Keith Murray | 1994 |
| Women's Individual (One day) | 12:09:26 | Andrea Murray | 1997 |
| Men's Individual (Two day) | 11:05:18 | Keith Murray | 1993 |
| Women's Individual (Two day) | 12:59:57 | Anne Woodley | 1997 |
| Men's Teams | 10:50:56 | Michael Causer Graham Causer |
1993 |
| Women's Teams | 12:37:53 | Suzanne Stowell Andrea Devine |
1994 |
Steve Gurney, a local from Christchurch, has won the event a record 9 times, in 1990, 1991, and 1997 - 2003. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Fred Woodcock. "Coast-to-Coast a life-changing event", The Dominion Post, 9 February 2007.
- ^ Coast to Coast:Individual Race Records.
- ^ Gurney Gears.
