Mud Rookies Super Sprint to Spartan Success

October 16, 2014

Mud Rookies Super Sprint to Spartan Success

Four members of Nelson’s first Obstacle Racing Club, “Wairua Mud Rookies”, have once again returned triumphant from Australia, following the successful completion of not one, but two “Spartan” obstacle races in Sydney on Saturday 11th October.

The team, Karly Larking, Ilisa Higgins, Daryn Johnson and Stephen Fitzgerald all completed the Spartan Super in the morning, a gruelling 14 kilometre course, consisting of 25 obstacles designed to test body strength and endurance. This was followed in the early afternoon by the Spartan Sprint a 7 kilometre course, consisting of 20 obstacles.

The team finished in fifteenth place out of 94 teams, with all four members earning themselves an additional coveted “trifecta” medal for completing the Spartan Beast (21 kilometres), Spartan Super and Spartan Sprint within one calendar year.

Mr Johnson said, “Although we completed a longer course last month in Brisbane, the rising temperatures in Sydney, hilly terrain and plenty of mud made these two shorter races just as taxing in terms of endurance.”

Team member, Ms Larking, said “The challenge was tough and competitive, but there was still a spirit of camaraderie that is so often the case within the sport.”

Wairua Mud Rookies, club president, Mr Greg Witika, has confirmed that this fledgling sport will soon become more prominent in Nelson. The club has teamed up with Sport Tasman to launch the region’s very own obstacle race, “Wairua Warrior”. The new event on Nelson’s sporting calendar, which organisers hope will attract visitors from all over New Zealand and Australia will take place at Happy Valley near Hira on April 11th 2015. Mr Witika says, “Happy Valley is an ideal venue with its undulating terrain and river, and competitors will face a range of natural and man-made obstacles involving mud, water and walls to challenge body and mind.”

The Wairua Mud Rookies Obstacle Racing Club is based out of Wairua Body Coaching Systems at the Wakatu Industrial Estate, it is the only facility in the upper South Island that caters for obstacle course racing. The club is holding an open day on 1st November and encourages all those with an interest in participating in the sport to come along and meet the team.

ENDS

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