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2010 event held on Saturday 15 May

What 2010 entrants had to say.

Results : 15 May 2010

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Unfortunately, bad weather caused the cancellation of the Kayaking Stage of the Multisport Challenge.

Some images from the 2010 event

Unfortunately, bad weather caused the cancellation of the Kayaking Stage of the event.

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View more than 400 images of the 2010 event at Snapfish. (Please note that you will have to set up a free account with Snapfish if you do not already have one.)

Media Articles and Press Reports 2010

Four Seasons in one day - the inaugural Top Energy Northern Crossing event

By Lian Brott

Even the squally weather and cancelling of the Kayak leg due to adverse conditions on the Hokianga harbour didn't keep around 240 competitors away. They were there to compete in the first coast-to-coast race from South Head, overlooking the Hokianga Harbour, to the Stone Store in the Bay of Islands. Started by Far North District Mayor Wayne Brown both events powered away on the first leg run. The farmland hill was a challenge that once conquered elicited huge relief from the runners as they poured down onto the beach under rainbows and shafts of sunlight glowing off the Hokianga sand-dunes.

At Opononi the transition was onto the extended cycle leg undulating across heartland Far North, regularly pelted by windy sheets of rain all the way to Waipapa. There the relief was palpable as competitors headed off on the final run down the beautifully bush clad Rainbow Falls track to the Kerikeri basin.

Tracey Brick, 45, of multisport team 316 Matthew & Tracey Brick of Milford Auckland, was the first competitor across the line in a stunning time of 3:45:30. Matthew Brick, a 47 year old orthopaedic surgeon who has represented New Zealand in road time trial cycling, said it was 'a very tough bike ride'. He usually averages 40-45 km/h on the flat, but with the event conditions he achieved more like 25km/h. When he had a tailwind for roughly 10km he was hitting 90km/h. 'Gusts of wind were coming through the trees, and you'd be hanging on for dear life.' Both said they were keen to return next year, but hoped for kinder weather.

Hot on Tracey's heels was Sam Goodall of Paremoremo , first solo Male Multisport competitor home with a time of 3:55:51. A keen kayaker 25 year old Sam was happy with his time minus his speciality leg. Deanne Hannan of Kerikeri claimed the first solo Female Multisport place with a time of 4:28:50. Brendan Erskine of Albany North Shore was the first solo Male Duathlon athlete back with a time of 4:00:49. Emma Macdonald of Birkenhead Auckland took the first place solo Female Duathlon in 4:58:25.

Worthy of mention was the junior Multisport team made up of Nick Fewtrell (14) and Ned Dalbeth-Hudson (13) both of Kerikeri who made a time of 6:53:45. Many such events preclude amateur athletes but this course while challenging is achievable.

Having started at 7.15am and 7.45am respectively, the vast majority of competitors had completed the course by 2.30pm. Appreciation and praise for the excellent organisation of the event was expressed widely. One competitor said we will need double the bike racks for next year as the good word will be going out.

'After 6 months of sunny, settled drought,' said Kerikeri Rotary President and participant Owen Smith. 'we are disappointed that Northland didn't turn on a spectacular day. But the wet and windy conditions brought the best out of the competitors. The sense of camaraderie that developed among participants at beating the elements safely to the finish line was huge!' The record for punctures sustained was 4.

Prize giving at the elegant Centre in Kerikeri was a lively affair presided over by MoreFM host Pete Gentil. Top Energy CEO Russell Shaw was delighted to present trophies and prizes to the winning athletes. Without the generous sponsorship received from Top Energy this event would not have got off the ground. From the enthusiastic responses of all the athletes it seems like its time has come.

Proceeds of the event go to Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter, Rotary and other Youth programmes.

We look forward to next year's Top Energy Northern Crossing event.

The word is out and people across Northland and New Zealand are training to participate in the inaugural Top Energy Northern Crossing, a new exciting coast to coast multisport event being organised for the North Island event calendar.

Kayakers test the course
Kayakers test the course, setting out from the south shore of
Hokianga Harbour

Kirstie Smith
Kirstie Smith

Kirstie Smith (17) has taken up the challenge to join her dad, Warren Smith of Homes in Harmony, in the companion duathlon event. Kirstie was shown the Northern Crossing brochure by her PE teacher at Springbank School and is using the event to train for Outward Bound, later in the year.

"I know it will be hard, but it will be worth the sense of accomplishment I’ll feel at the end, especially being part of the inaugural event," said Kirstie . "It would be neat for other young people to get involved and do it solo like me, or in a team."

"Next year I'd like to have the use of a kayak and do the entire Top Energy Northern Crossing event". To get fitter Kirstie has been to every Springbank Multisport club run/walk this term, is starting to cycle home from Kerikeri town to Doves Bay most evenings with her dad and plans to do a few 50km cycle legs before the big day on 15th May.

The course follows the unique historic heritage of Northland. From Kupe's first discovery of the Hokianga and the settling of his sacred guardian taniwha Araiteuru in a cavern at 'Araiteuru', South Head of Hokianga, the route follows the ancestral pathways across the island to Kerikeri, where the Stone Store represents the first permanent trade store built by English settlers.

The first leg runners will burst forth from South Head and have been generously allowed to cross John Klaricich's farm down to the beach and into Opononi for the first transition. From there the kayakers will paddle up the Hokianga harbour to Clendon House at Rawene. Transitioning from kayaks to bikes, the competitors then cycle through Kaikohe and Ohaeawai to Waipapa for the final transition to running down the Rainbow Falls leg to the finish at the Kerikeri Basin.

At every transition supporters and spectators will be taking advantage of this community event by providing market stalls, refreshments and street-party type festivities.

Competitors who register before the 15th of April go into the draw for three fabulous prizes sponsored by Fullers. So go online now and get your registration done.

The Top Energy Northern Crossing is a fundraiser for Northland Electricity rescue helicopter and Rotary and local youth programmes.

Mark Saturday 15th May in your diaries and participate in the first of what will become a renowned Northland community sporting and charity event!

Notice of sporting event on Northland State Highways

The Top Energy Northern Crossing Multisport event will be held on Saturday 15th May 2010.

Pursuant to requirements of the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management, notice is given of the following sections of roads in Northland that will be affected by the Top Energy Northern Crossing Multisport event.

Clear notice of the event will be signed at the start and finish of each affected road section.
Clearly identified Marshals will be present at all control points where the event may affect road users.
The affected road sections are:

The organisers apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your co-operation.