Coast to Coast place for Waiouru's smiler

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 273, 7 February 1989, Page 7

Coast to Coast place for Waiouru's smiler

by

myra

macgibbon

Waiouru's L/Cpl Robbie (The smiler) Vant Wout competed in the North Island Shell Kiwi FM Ultraman Coast to Coast last month.

Thc race zig zags from Waihi to Raglan and includcs four disciplines - swimming, running cycling and canoeing, covering 209 km. A total of 74 individuals and 50 teams (consisting of two or more membcrs) competed in the January 21-22 event. L/Cpl Vant Wout's boss and coach W02 Pete Worthington, W02 Alan Hood and his daughter travelled as road crew. Robbie's comments en-route from Waiouru to Waihi that he only wantcd to finish proved to be an understatement considcring the results. Day One, Saturday 9 am and despite the rain a smiling Robbie

entcred the cairn waters at Waihi Beach and completed the first scction, a 600m swim in 16 minutes. After drying off Robbie started on the 11km road run into Waihi Township with his mascot, a six inch tall Pink Panther taped firmly to his neck. This run took him 47 minutes. Still smiling Robbie leapt aboard his special Ultra bike to do the 60km cycle from Waihi to Morrinsville via Paeroa. During this section Robbie was ablc to make up several places. At this time Robbie ncarly lost his smilc as his Pink Panther fell off his bike, but he continued on and completed the 60

km in Ihour 34 minutes. For coach Pete Worthington lunch seemed to take forcvcr evcn though they wcre allowed an hour. Back on his bike, the ncxt 40 km to Cambridge took Robbie lhour 15 minutes. Legs aching, smiling Robbie took to the water to canoe down the Waikato River to Hamilton, covering the 27km in just ovcr lhour 44 minutes. That saw thc end of Day One with Robbie's time at 5 hours and 26 minutes. Day Two, Sunday 9am. Once again Robbie was in the water, this time the Waikato River, to swim the 800m in 10 minutes. Drizzle accompanied Smiling Robbie on the

canoeing section of the river, doing the 19km to Ngaruawahia in only 1 hour 15 minutes. Out came the sun and the ensuing humidity caused problems for some of Robbie's fellow runners on the 11km through to Te Kowhai. Robbie pedallcd the last 40km to Raglan, in 1 hour 42 minutes crossing the finishing line in 18th place. Dcciding that he had come this far Robbie, with an evcn bigger grin on his face, walked thc last fcw

mctres and took an unscheduled swim in the Tasman Sea. His total time of 9 hours 13 minutes for both days gained Robbie 9th place overall and a prize of S100. Robbie said that he enjoyed the weekend and ycs, that, he would do it agaih. Support crewman Alan Hood was overheard to say the Coast to Coast he would take part in would bc the one from Westfield to the Panmure Basin ( the shortest possible routc, about 2.5km).