2011 Patagonia 8Hours@Jacks Slashes Previous Records

Previous lap times were slashed at the annual Patagonia 8hrs@Jacks yesterday (October 22) when the Placemakers team clocked 20 laps and multisport guru Mark Williams achieved 17 laps in the individual section of the challenging eight hour mountain bike event.

Race Director Geoff Hunt says last year the fastest team recorded 17 laps and the best individual 16 laps.

“These guys were really flying this year and there were some outstanding lap times throughout the day.”

The 6.9km track, known as Straggler’s Loop, has been developed specifically for the event and traverses areas through rocky outcrops, and even a small gum forest on the northern edge of Jacks Point resort, before returning to the internal trails.

The aim of the race is to complete as many laps as possible within the eight hour timeframe and twenty nine teams consisting of two, three or four members competed along with seven individual competitors.

“We were very happy to maintain our numbers for this event in the face of competition from a new Wanaka based ten hour race scheduled for today (October 23). It is difficult for potential competitors to commit to both and we would like to thank those people who have continued to support 8hours@Jacks.”

Hunt says conditions were slippery for the first few laps of the race.

“But once the cloud burned off and the sun came through the course dried out and became faster. The thing about this event is that competitors can go as fast as they want and do as many laps as they choose. There is no pressure and it suits all biking levels from the hardcore to the recreational.”

The young Placemakers team made up of Hawkes Bay and Hamilton racers was excited about completing 20 laps and spokesman Ryan Gough says it was a fantastic event.

“We have been competing in the Junior Tour of Southland and other events down south and it was great to come and do a more relaxed race like the 8hours@Jacks. It was definitely tough though but we loved it.”

While Placemakers had the most laps on the board to win the Open Teams section a young Alexandra team, Curious George which won the Junior Male category, put in the fastest lap with team member 16-year-old Tom Vessey crossing the line in 23.01 on the fourth lap. The team recorded 18 laps overall.

Mark Williams (Queenstown) made his debut in the three-year-old event and as a sponsor (R&R Sport) was upbeat about the race.

“It was amazing to ride along the edge of the track and look out at the stunning scenery. It is a brilliant course and definitely has its challenges.”

Williams, who had the fasted individual lap time of 23.57, was three laps ahead of second placed Brendan Callaghan (Queenstown) who completed his 14 laps on a single speed bike, the only one in the event. Mitchell Kleemann (Queenstown) took out third place recording 11 laps.

The women’s individual event was a head-to-head clash between well-known Cromwell multisporter Sarah Fairmaid and top ranked national mountain biker Kate Fluker. Both completed 15 laps with Fairmaid taking the honours just six minutes head of Fluker. Their fastest lap times were 29.06 and 29.07 respectively reflecting the close competition between the two.

“It was definitely a challenging ride but incredibly enjoyable,” says Fairmaid. “I would particularly like to thank Patagonia and the other sponsors who enable events like this to take place.”

Fluker who is the current national women’s hill climb titleholder entered the 8hours@Jacks for the first time –“it was “a tough ride but a lot of fun.”

In the Open Teams section the X Factor (Queenstown) was second completing 17 laps and the Inhalers (Alex / Wynham / Queenstown) took out third place on 16 laps.

The runner –up team in the Junior Male category was the Crazy Clyde Boys (Clyde) made up of 12-year-old Fletcher Sharman and 13-year-old Hamish McHugh-Smith, the youngest competitors in the field.

“These are a couple to watch in the future,” says Hunt. “They completed 15 laps as a two-man team and never looked like slowing down during the eight hours.”

The Junior Mixed team was won by Fifteen (Alexandra / Invercargil) in 13 laps.

The Team Veteran Mixed section went to Monty Pythons (Queenstown) 14 laps, On We Go Again (Invercargill) 12 laps 2, and Pedallers Multi (Queenstown) 11 laps 3.
Three teams in the Team Vet Male category clocked 15 laps with Team Lippy Lettuce (Alexandra) taking first place followed by Pair of Pedallers (Queenstown) and The Mighty All Blacks (?) third.

One Pedal in the Grave (Invercargill) took first place in the Team Female category recording 13 laps ahead of second placed Chickety Chicks (Christchurch) 12 laps. The Funksters (Queenstown) won the Team Mixed on 16 laps, with NZby Bike (Queenstown) 14 laps second and Turtles (Invercargill) 13 laps third.