Event website ... Full results
It was definitely a weekend for the young and hardy as the Cyclic Saga returned to Scargill the weekend before Easter. Brutal hills, powerful rivers and challenging weather advantaged the young and foolish over the wise and world weary.
Aaron Prince and Jamie Stewart, both experienced adventure racers and orienteers, won the two-day MTB rogaine by a massive 580 points. The competition was really for second place, with adventure racing world champion Chris Forne and Emily Wall ahead of three other teams within 90 points, to take the mixed pairs title. Also in this group were the top women Sara Wallen and Sia Svendsen, and top vets Craig Starnes and Ant Bradshaw.
For the first time since its beginnings on Banks Peninsula, the Saga, truly one of the south's iconic races, returned to familiar ground after other planned venues were unavailable due to fire risk. The Scargill race two years ago was one of the best ever and there was much excitement around the event centre at the thought of revisiting some of the awesome riding available, particularly on the slopes of Mt Alexander. Most of the action on the first day was on an extension to the map, in the south east corner, a particularly brutal section, involving screaming downhills and agonising ups which linked up to the overnight campsite via the railway side track and the daunting for some Hurunui River, where the event definitely took on adventure racing characteristics.
The first day was absolutely boiling, the fierce sun beating on competitors as they struggled back over the ranges to the fabulous overnight campsite complete with hot showers, music, bbq and beer, a nice touch by the new race organisers Rob Harrow and Jo Forbes now in their second year in charge. In the premier mixed teams division the surprise leaders were French Connection, the Inglis from Christchurch, ahead of Forne and Wall, with well-known racers Ian Edmond and Nora Audra not far off the pace.
The hills/mountains surrounding the campsite took on ogre-like characteristics as evening fell and their dark shadows loomed. As exhausted competitors - such as Simon Kennett and John Randall aka the Makara Mudslingers - winners of the recent Akatarawa Attack, and thoroughly out of the running in this saga after incurring 1500 penalty points for being 2 1/2 hours late - slipped off to sleep, the ogres hurled gibbering squalls down at them, leading to much frenzied tent pegging and a slightly surreal dawn as the wrecked remnants of tents, and marquees greeted tired competitors on the still, grey morning.
It was a pleasant change of condition though with a light drizzle beginning only after the start and loosening up the legs of competitors, most of who began the traverse of Mt Alexander on the very rideable pylon track. Teams trying for more points were forced to make the most of leaner pickings on the northern ranges and what was much more pleasant riding on the new area south-west of Scargill. It was Forne and Wall who made the most of these opportunities with a very ambitious route which they pulled off to perfection, while another team to come through was the first all womens team Sia Svendson and Sara Wallen finishing 3rd overall, a hugely commendable result.
The institution that is the Saga looks set to continue into the distant future, pencil this one in for next year as an adventurous race with just the right amount of that X factor.
Full results have been posted. Next year's event is on 14-15 March - and maybe those unavailable courses can be used!