The 2012 Barron River Challenge (BRC 2012) canoe race is only 13 weeks away.
Whilst Tinaroo dam is still 3m from overflowing – rainfall in the catchment areas below the dam wall have allowed for training/ recon paddles during the last couple of weeks.

Mareeba river height between 1.60 and 1.90 is generally an indication that the river between Mareeba and Bilwon can be paddled safely with intermediate experience.

Two fiberglass Canadians made the trip from Low bridge to Bilwon (rogers road) in 3 hours comfortably on Sunday 29/01 with 1.59 at Mareeba and 1.61 at Bilwon, however it was the fresh from Granite creek which made it possible.

The major creeks along the course also have to be noted as well if you intend to paddle the lower sections below Oak Forest.

The 4 gauges
Tinaroo Dam
Mareeba
Bilwon
Myola

Give the Barron River course heights whilst two further stations ; Clohesy River (joined with Davies Creek ) and Flaggy creek, monitor two other sometimes major inflows which enter before the oak forest rapid and hence only contribute to the Myola station heights.

Quite a few snags are exposed in the upper BRC 12 course. Take note of the logs produced from Yasi in 2011. It is still a worthwhile paddle to get familiar with the BRC 12 section of the race even if the height is just above 1.65 as tricky shutes such as the run into the high rocks can be scouted in relative safety. Take note of the screen captures from the BOM site below.

Yes no cups, none, nought, nada, zilch, zero, zip, who would have thought? It makes sense really. Consider this:

The paper cup is made from a composite of materials: kraft bleached paper sprayed with a polyethylene coating, or sometimes even worse – polystyrene. Paper cups are often impregnated with toxic dyes which make them difficult to recycle. The plastic lining in disposable paper cups means they are not recyclable. Biodegradation of a paper cup can take 50 years or more (~500years for a Styrofoam cup!). On average, each disposable cup contains 5% of the raw materials involved in the process of making and delivering it.

Small acts can make a big difference – for better and for worse. The environmental impact of all single use items is phenomenal. Through good design and a little effort we can easily incorporate reuse into our events and daily routine for that matter.

Lost cost events – Metrogaines and Rogaines and the like (Trail Runs have been cup free all year) are all reasonably priced and are well catered for considering the entry fee. Reduction of overheads like single use disposable cups goes a long way to allocating the monies else where – like (every athlete’s friend) food or prizes!!

I cannot think of why anyone who participates in an Adventure Sport NQ event would not have a water bottle of their own either at work or in their car or in the cage of their water bottle holder on the MTB. We all know the importance of adequate hydration.

Recycle – next event when you get to the finish, think first before you go straight to the water or staminade drums. Walk over to the car grab your sports bottle and fill it up instead of using a disposable cup.

Or BYO cups – keep some in your gym or event kit and be prepared before heading to the event. One leading contender in the Dirty Northern Trail running series simply keeps a plastic measuring cup tied in his drawstring and scoops a drink from the nearest appropriate creek!

Rubbish – the most common complaint I hear from organisers is about cleaning up after the event. And the worst offender is . . . you guessed it disposable cups! While our events may not be as bad as the high profile marathon pictured above, The events are all held in beaut parks and reserves in our region and are left disgraceful, littered with paper or plastic cups. The Trail running crew have set the precedent - a competitor was disqualified for littering last year. Its not hard just put the cups in the bin, if there is no bin (or its already overflowing) take yours with you and dispose of it at home, or even better – don’t use em!

Pete from Top Knot Climbing will be at the Aeroglen site for an afternoon of fun outdoors Saturday 23rd July.

Come along and give it a try.

Gear provided.
go here to check in or here for Pete’s Facebook page and details of Top Knot Climbing.

Bastille day, July 14th, sees our first Winter Series Metrogaine hosted by Muzza at Duplock Park, Cnr Palmerston St and Stratford Connection Road, Aeroglen.

Event entry is $5 per head or $10 per family with teams of 2 to 5 welcome. All entries are on the day, commencing from 1730 for a 1800 start for 1 hour.

Events will be held on 6 consecutive Thursdays – July 14, 21 & 28 and August 4, 11 and 18

Website info for the 2011 It’s Extreme Winter Metrogaine Series will be updated over the weekend.

Sundays Aloomba Bike Hike 2 hour Metrogaine was well received by teams.
Leanne, MF and crew did a fantastic job putting together a wonderful event with controls to suit all takers from the guns to a mum with 2 little ones.
Weather was perfect from 9 to 11 with a heavy shower sending people under cover during the bbq lunch.
Swags of Random Draw prizes were enjoyed by all present.

Teams competed strongly for points with perennials Team Happy Days [Blair & Meredith Cunningham] taking first spot in the hike category, followed closely by the young guns team Black & White [Steve Charlton-Henderson, Bini James, Dylan Lazzaroni, Marley Lazzaroni] and sisters team Will Hill [Kylie Hilton and Renee Wilson] third.
On the Bike, Out of Time [Bruce Monds and Kath MacFarlane] were too quick for teams spoky Dokes [Sam Buchanan, lisa perrett] second & Tough Titties [Marika Andersson , Kati Kotiranta-Harris, Loli Bok], third.
The sole entry in the Bike Hike was team D&G [dwayne williams, gwen hobbs-williams] and were declared winners.
Results are available here

Porcupine Gorge Race & Mt Walker Fun Run

18^th 19^th June 2011

Many a mate had touted this weekend as being great fun, in beautiful location and offering huge prize money. Not known as one to run fast when on camping trips, I rounded up my cash cows Chris White and Sue Crowe to have a crack at the sharp end! Together with Sue’s children Mikaela and Ebony we drove the 7hrs through dusk and into the night on the Lynd Highway. Two disillusioned kangaroos and several stops later (man do kids have small bladders!) we arrived at the Porcupine Gorge Camp Ground. Tents up, swags out, Clivus multrim visited, sleep.

Roasting the Pork!

Race start at 10am had the sun up, a record field of 110 amassed and the gun ready to fire. Mr White lead the field, I was soon in 5^th with Sue in 7^th. The course was pretty straight forward – 3.5km up the creek bed and its banks, same back, then a 1km climb out of the Gorge.

I ‘high fived’ Chris as he doubled back past me – if not for the cool air in the gorge and the water crossings he would have been breathing fire with smoke burning from his Vibram five fingers! Between other competitors stopping for a drink and falling over, Chris disappeared and I ended up running into second place wondering how long this would/could last! As Chris will contest, the course was too rocky to safely turn around and check your ‘six o’clock’ so you just hoped no one was on your tail!

Porcupine Gorge Race Start Area

By this time Sue had re tied her shoelaces, rolled her ankles and stopped at two drink stations all while establishing a solid lead amongst the gals!!! Sue’s comments post race were that the she felt compelled to stop at the drink stations as the volunteers had gone to significant effort to set them up!! Sue missed the race record by 20 seconds…smokin

Line honours went to Chris in 40:02, I was second in 41:47 and Sue skipped across the line in 47:55 – well hydrated!, first woman and 7^th overall. Mikaela and Ebony charged their events, met heaps of kids and had plenty of fun. While all breathless, we were so busy concentrating on foot placement the race was over before we knew it.

For the second year running the organisers have promoted a ‘weekend of running’ with the Mt Walker 4km fun run on the following day. After another 2degree night of camping, complete with Champagne and marshmallows, we drove 80 clicks to the southern side of Hughenden arriving at the spectacular start line high on the tabletop plateau of Mt Walker.

Park Benching...the Planking of the West!

We met up with Arnstein who picked up a 3^rd and 4^th for the weekend and evened the standings in what looks to be a long friendly battle between Sue and himself – one all folks! Similar results to the previous day ensued with Chris super speed shuffling ‘Tarahumara style’ up the final 1km hill climb for line honours. Sue’s final ‘kick’ strode her from 7^th to 4^th for the day and first in the women’s division, and I figure a second behind Chris is a first for my book!

Home via Townsville, next year locked in. Whose coming?!:)    Stru

Saturday June 25th see the inaugural Cairns 2 Kuranda Train Race, commencing at 0845.
Competitors will race the Kuranda Scenic Railway Train from Freshwater Station to Kuranda via tracks and trails.
Go here for the race profile and here to view the full details and race entry form

Photos from the RVEMSR 2011 are now the Adventure Sport NQ Facebook Page for you to peruse and download. There are more than 500 photos in several albums right here.

Make sure you like us while your there!

Last years Cairns Adventure Film Festival (CAFF) absolutely rocked and with the second one coming this weekend you better hold on to your jocks. Three nights of absolutely outrageous entertainment, all you need to do is be there. Details below.

Screening Last Paradise

Thursday 26th May @ 7pm
Centre of Contemporary Art Cairns (Jelly Beans)

Screening Bikes and Broken Bones

Friday 27th May @ 7:30pm
Centre of Contemporary Art Cairns (Jelly Beans)

CAFF Awards Night.. this is gonna rock!

Saturday 28th May @ 7pm
AJ Hackett Cairns

Much more details on the CAFF site.

Cairns Chamber of Commerce
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Guest Speaker: Steve Moneghetti
One of Australia’s greatest marathon runners – Steve draws parallels between the demands of an elite athlete and the corporate world
$47 – Cairns Chamber members & guests
$60 – Non-members
- Welcome drink and hot plated lunch served,

Time: 12:00pm to 2:15pm
Where: Shangri-La Hotel, Shangri-La Ballroom – Level 2
Welcome drink on Level 1 – Poolside Terrace
Parking: Under hotel parking:
- First two hours free
- $4.00 2-3 Hours

Price:(incl GST)
$47.00pp – Cairns Chamber members and member guests
$60.00pp – Non-members

BOOKINGS CLOSE:
2.00pm, Friday 20 May 2011
Book online http://www.cairnschamber.com.au/content/view/305/398/

Cairns Business Women’s Club June Lunch to listen to guest speaker local Ultra Endurance Athlete Mike Le Roux.

Mike is going to present some of the amazing races he has participated in, share his philosophy for training and racing, and what getting out of his comfort zone had meant to him (on the day of the lunch Mike will have just competed in the Challenge Cairns on 5th June in Cairns).

Event Details

Book Online www.cbwc.org.au/book.lunch

Tuesday, 7th June 2011
Members $48, Non-members $61
Time: Registration and networking from 11.45am.
Lunch from 12.30pm to 2.00pm, and listen to guest speaker
Where: Casino
Price: Champagne on arrival and two course lunch meal
RSVP: Friday, 3rd June 2011