Great stories from mountains to sea race

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 411, 5 November 1991, Page 12

Great stories from mountains to sea race

Despite being tipped out of their canoe, and the Lifespan Mountains to the Sea triathlon at Labour weekend, two local teams are still talking about the experience. The two Ruapehu Health and Fitness Centre teams took part in the three-day event to take part, and became the centre of attention on a number of occasions. The teams were: veterans, Siggy Bauer (run), Jim Gosman(bike) and Ritchie Akapita (canoe); and open, Robin Kakahi (run) Gavin Johnson (bike) and Charles Mareikura (canoe) The two teams' fortunes were entwined on the canoe section of the race, where 63 year old Ritchie Akapita, racing in the veterans' grade, and Charles Mareikura competing in the Open grade paddled the same canoe, as Ritchie could not fit into a kayak due to knee problems and Charles couldn't because he had his foot in plaster. The two spent all but the last two hours of the river section providing inspiration to other competitors, as well as a few treats. "We could fit a lot more in the Canadian canoe than they could carry in a kayak, so we'd hand out the odd drink to the guys who had lost theirs," said Charles.

"The only thing we couldn't take was the barbecue!" Unfortunately their race was ended by an unmapped rapid near the end of the race, where a slip had brought down a huge tree and debris. The pair's canoe was trapped sideways against the tree and was stuck fast for about half an hour until witnesses in the form of a TV crew turned up, not only to help but to record the even. After releasing the canoe (with great difficulty) it floated half a kilometre downstream, finally running into another jetboat, where the bow of the canoe was smashed, putting the team out of the race. "We'd been averaging 10 kph and only had about 20 kilometres to go," said Charles.

"Though we were first home - in a jet boat!" Despite being disqualified the teams carried on, just to take part and to test their individual times. "We could have made third place in the veterans, and that is. despite being the oldest team in the race," said Siggy Bauer. "Most of the other so-called veterans were baby veterans, all about 40 years old!" Siggy is 50, and Jim Gosman, celebrating the first anniversary of his triple heart bypass operation, is 48. Not all their problems were on the water, Siggy said he had trouble on the rubble, saying he was ok running on smooth surfaces but had difficulty on the park tracks. "The other guys just

leapt past me." Even before their misfortune the veterans were catching media attention, but this was added to when Ritchie lead the competitors and officials onto the marae at Pipiriki and helped them out with the protocol of the occasion. The teams had a lot of help before the event, from the fitness centre; Ohakune New World; the Whanganui River Trust Board (who paid the entry fees for the teams) and several Taumarunui sponsors who paid for their petrol; and Sven Efstrom who provided them with paddles and the very necessary lifejackets! Why do it? "We try to get involved with triathlons because we need some

incentive in our fitness training," said Charles. "They are our drive - why not put all that sweat and energy to good use?"