Runners battle clock, conditions

The Whiskey Creek Challenge was a test for competitors’ mettle in muddy, damp and cold conditions. PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG

The Whiskey Creek Challenge lived up to its name, with competitors battling not only the clock but also the conditions.

The endurance event, held this weekend at Dolamore Park in Gore, had 96 runners completing a 5km circuit.

The catch was the time limit, with options to run three, six, 12 — or a daunting 24 hours around the elevated trail.

Some competitors choose to walk instead for a few laps around the beautiful scenery in Dolamore Park in Gore. PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG

In the end, four runners ran over 100km — event winner Dave Pearson who ran 130km, James Scott and Jo Stevens who ran a clean 100km, and event organiser Andrew Tripp with 110km.

If a 100km run was not tough enough, rainy and windy conditions buffeted the athletes, with the course a muddy soup and competitors coming back covered in mud.

Mr Tripp, who worked as a race marshall during the event, said it was not called the Whiskey Creek Challenge for nothing.

PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG

"It was pretty horrendous, I was wet as a shag, cold, it was teeming with rain and mud. Not very pleasant," he said.

Despite this, at the prizegiving everyone was keen as to give it another crack, with the post-challenge buzz drying out any potential wet blankets, he said.

The tents held up for the most part against the 85kmh winds on Saturday, and Mr Tripp and his team will be packing and cleaning up, while considering next year’s event.

Before planning next year though, there was another matter which needed to be addressed.