Seven Bay women take on the Spring Challenge endurance event at Lake Rotoiti
The two Golden Bay teams who competed in the Spring Challenge last week. From left, Jill Foxwell, Frankie Knowlson,Gretchen Lund, Jeanine Taylor, Justine Butler and Melanie Miller. Photo: Karl Thompson.
Seven Golden Bay women took part in the gruelling multi-discipline endurance event called the Spring Challenge in the Nelson Lakes National Park last weekend.
The Spring Challenge is a three-woman team event organised by Nathan and Jodie Fa’avae’s company Ten Events Ltd, which is known as New Zealand’s premier adventure sporting events organiser.
Participants can choose from two courses, one called a nominal six-hour course, and the other a twelve-hour course. Disciplines include rafting, mountain-biking, running or walking, and navigation. Teams in the twelve-hour event are also required to paddle a canoe part of the way.
Locals who took up the challenge were Annie Telford, Frankie Knowlson, Gretchen Lund, Melanie Miller, Jill Foxwell, Jeanine Taylor and Justine Butler. Annie and two friends from Christchurch formed a team; Frankie, Gretchen and Melanie were known as the Golden Bay Girls; and Jill, Jeanine and Justine were called Team Squealey.
The multi-discipline endurance event called for months of serious training that provided challenges to the competitors before the event itself took place.
“You had to go a fair way outside your comfort zone,” said Jeanine. “The whole thing was really challenging. It wasn’t going to be any good turning up for the real thing underprepared. You’d risk letting your team down. In our team we all had things that we were better at and things that made us struggle. Training together was a really important part of our preparation.”
Justine agreed. “We knew each other really well by the time the event came around. It made us a better team on the day, I think. Jill was a machine, though, she kept us together. We had really good help with our preparation too. Tony Bateup and Lisa Savage worked out our training schedules. I’ve never met two people as positive and encouraging. Right from the start they told us that there was no point just completing the event, we had to do it to the best of our abilities. They’re top endurance athletes themselves and they told us exactly what to expect. Without them, we’d never have done it.”
Team Squealey completed the course in 7 hours 46 minutes and were very satisfied with their efforts.
“The fastest team finished in about 5½ hours and the slowest was just over 10 hours, so we were pretty pleased,” said Jeanine.
Gretchen Lund rated the Spring Challenge “One of the best adventures ever.”
“Everyone can ride a bike and everyone can run, but when you put it together as a team on the day it’s just awesome,” she said. “We had a great support crew and so did the other Golden Bay team. The whole thing was just a cool experience and I’m absolutely planning to be involved again next year. I’d consider the 12-hour challenge next time.”
Golden Bay Girls completed the challenge in 6 hours, 21 minutes.
Annie Telford said that she was pleased to have been involved and that she would definitely be interested in participating again.
“It’s an amazing event. It’s inspiring to see all those women out there doing it.”
The Spring Challenge also raised funds for DOC’s Kiwi conservation efforts in Nelson Lakes National Park. The event raised $1000, through voluntary donations from the 600 women participants.
The money will be put towards introducing more Great Spotted Kiwi into the Rotoiti project area. Known as a mainland island, it consists of 5000 hectares being ecologically restored through intensive pest control to protect native species.
Nathan Fa’avae, of Ten Events Ltd, said using the event as a fundraiser showed his company’s respect for the national park and the conservation efforts being made there.
“Nelson Lakes is a superb venue for the Spring Challenge because of its scenic beauty. The lakes, mountains and rivers come together to form an extraordinary stage and backdrop for adventure. The Spring Challenge will introduce more people to the area, enabling them to see why it’s important to preserve these wilderness locations. There’s a bigger message behind the dollars: keep up the good work, and thank you.”
Neil Wilson
