Top to Taupo trip for soldiers

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 490, 15 June 1993, Page 3

Top to Taupo trip for soldiers

"Kill Corp" may be the name for a tearn of military personnel entered in the U-Bix Great Lakes Challenge if the flamboyant team captain gets her way. Corporal Jo Bairett is spearheading a team of six soldiers and one civilian in the first ever Great Crater Lake Challenge to be held on 3 July.

The challenge is a multi-disciplinary event in which competitors will travel from the Crater Lake of Mt Ruapehu to the Great Lake Centre in Taupo. The course involves skiing (snow and water), cycling (road and mountain), kayak and both sprint and endurance running over a 140km course.

Cpl Barrett, a member of the Army Ski Team, has assembled a team which she believes has a good chance of success. "We're all competent performers in our own disciplines and we're hoping to do very well. Finance is a problem though. In addition to the entry fee costs are involved in providing the necessary boat, ve-

hicles and support crew." Cpl Barrett is still seeking a sponsor but remains optimistic. "If we don't find anyone we'll just have to go ahead as Kill Corp!" she said. Although organisers were able to accept up to 60 teams in the competition only 30 had entered. Individual entries were

also welcomed. Cpl Jo Barrett will start the race for the team with the 6km ski section. Staff Sergeant Billy Unsworth, winner of the Army Triathalon, will follow on with a 30km mountain bike ride from Top O' The Bruce to State Highway 47. Staff Sergeant Ian MacKenzie will continue the cycling, 43km on a road

bike, to the Turangi Yacht Club. From there Lance Corporal Pete Hayes of Queen Alexandria Squadron will water ski 40km across the lake to Taupo. This is expected to be the quickest part of the race with the boat capable of speeds of 130km/h. Vivian Goodman, from the Waiouru Pharmacy, will then 'sprint' 1km to the control gate bridge where Sergeant Carl Ahradsen

will take over in a kayak. Sgt Ahradsen is an instructor at the Army Adventurous Training Centre. His 6km section will take him to Reids Farm on Huka Falls road. The final 13km leg back into Taupo is the responsibility of LCpl Kelvin McMillan of Queen Alexandria Squadron. LCpl McMillan is an assistant Physical Training Instructor currently working at the Waiouru Gymnasium.