1999 6-Hour
Madness in the mist or Laughter in the Rain? - Wayne Kotzur
The tents are dry and repacked, the banners are sorted and the ropes unknoted. The course sits quiet, save for the kangaroos in the evening rain. The Canberra Six Hour is over for another year.
Set at the Driver Training Course near Queanbeyan in southern NSW , the Canberra Six Hour is the way to test your fitness without being more than 2.5km from a break and a hot soup. Conceived by OzHPV's Damien Clark, who also designed the computer scoring system, it is open to all riders and all types of bikes and trikes.
This years weather closed in rather early, but like all friendly endurance sports, spirits were high and spectators cheered on the close rivallry between the first three placegetters. Both first place team winners (Peter Mclennan & John Drsousa) and solo trike rider Ian Humphries had punctures which saw the lead transfer several times. At one time Ian had to transfer temporarily to his recumbent low racer bike after some tyre seating problem on a front trike tyre.The drizzle slowed down the field, with the top team winner managing to achieve 73 laps of the hilly course to achieve 178.26km. This is an average of just under 30kmh. Ian came in with 70 laps or 171km which was a very credible pace. Third was the Victorian team of Ben Goodall and Will Kirkham on recumbent trikes with 153kms covered.
The most unusual course coverage was by Andrew Pratt - who wiped out his rear derailleur on the third lap. Perhaps motivated by the collective cheers and his long drive back home to Griffith, he chose to run the remainder. He covered 11 laps or 36.63km - his acceptance of a merit award was well received. The womens winner, recumbent Helen Curtis clipped a growing womens particapation to take her second win.Several large family groups participated, the two local Gundaroo teams even came with caravan, BBQ and awning. The most unusual entrants were two recumbent tandems who rode with the Officials team, and which attracted much demand to be stokers.
Thanks to OzHPV for the spendid excuse to get on the saddle, and to all the volunteers who assisted ably in the setup, the scoring and the demob.
Thanks to the roos for being there and everything.
Wayne Kotzur
1999 Challenge 6 Hr Results click here for Excel format