Adventurethon National Challenge 2016 brought with it spectacular successes, bicycle stacks and new experiences with the competitors eager to tackle Pallarenda’s trails. This year brought something we haven’t seen in a while to the Adventurethon experience, with several possible contenders for the podium and no obvious stand out as a clear winner. And the day did not disappoint. With the top 7 Individual Ultras being within a very short time of each other most of the race and the exact pecking order changing at each stop, we were never sure who would be crossing that finish line first.
In the lead up to the event the cooler weather promised very mild conditions and by the weekend Townsville really showcased how gorgeous North Tropical Queensland can be with our beaming sun and cool soft winds. Runners and Mountain Bikers favoured these conditions making the courses a very comfortable race. The water conditions were also very mild, with no real white caps or bumps until around 10:30am at which point most paddlers were back off the water.
Adventurethon National Challenge is
With Australian Adventure Racer and multiple winner of Adventurethon events, Jarad Kohlar not attending due to the impending birth of his first baby, there was much anticipation about which way the race would go. And the day’s competition would prove to be a fantastic display of each competitors’ best legs and determination. Alex Hunt (who travelled from Tasmania and ended up finishing in 1st place as the Elite Individual) was in the lead most of the day (even if by only a whisker and you know how quickly these leads can change). But it was the battle behind him that was something else.
Alex said the mountain bike leg was the “best multisport mountain bike leg going around”. Although Alex was ahead for the majority of the race, he said he realised that any of the other guys was a possibility to get past him on certain legs. Second place changed at every checkpoint along the way in a fierce battle between James Pretto, Sam Stedman, Luke Smythe, with Alex Polizi and Tom Chadbourne also making a push for the top spots, it was “game on”. Every checkpoint update brought us new adjustments in the lead 3 and we were on the edge of our (virtual) seats to see who would win. The final winner in the Male Elite Individuals was Alex Hunt with a time of 4:34:16. With just over ten minutes behind, Sam Stedman finished in 2nd place at 4:44:29 followed by Luke Smythe in 3rd place at a time of 4:58:49.
James Pretto made the trip from Melbourne and finished first in the Male Open category with a time of (5:13:50). Tom Chadbourne (who finished 1st place at Adventurethon Kalbarri (WA) last month) made the trip from Western Australia, and finished 2nd in the Male Open category in 5:17:17 while Townsville local Michael Pannach came in 3rd (6:20:39).

Elite Females
The top 2 elite females came from out of town, with Elizabeth Dornom from Melbourne, who was ahead of the rest of the women’s field for majority of the race finishing in 1st in the Women’s Elite category in (5:46:35).
Elizabeth has been meaning to do the Townsville event a few times and something always happened, getting in the way of it. She says, “I loved this race, what was originally just an excuse to get out of the cold Melbourne weather turned into a fantastic "tour de Townsville" (well Pallarenda and Magnetic Island at least. I loved the entire course especially the proper single track mountain bike leg. After a couple of false starts and not being able to make it to the start line of other Adventurethon events it was nice to pull out a cracker of a race. After the first paddle out to Magnetic Island (which seems deceptively close yet never gets any closer) I knew I had a bit of a lead on the other girls and so it then became a mission to ensure that things would stay that way for the rest of the day. I encountered a local turtle and swordfish on the return paddle and fortunately not any of the less friendly local sharks or crocodiles. All the marshals out on course were fantastic and again the ride and run legs both technically and endurance wise challenging especially when you keep forgetting you are racing trying to enjoy the scenery. Did I mention it is much warmer than Melbourne up here!!! I will definitely be back for more!!!”
New Zealand’s Andrea Peebles finished second Elite female with a time of (6:17:50). After back to back races over the last few weeks, Andrea opted for a slightly less intense pace and enjoyed the event, while still pulling out a second place. And there was a tie for 3rd place with Townsville locals Daina Clark and Melanie Goehr crossing the line in (6:41:08).

The next Adventurethon event is in Coffs Harbour NSW on August 20 & 21. More info at https://adventurethon.com.au/events/coffs-harbour/