Eco Challenge 2001 Under Way

Just a quick reminder that the 2001 Eco Challenge in New Zealand is underway.

The 67 teams started at 7.38 am on Sunday morning with two members from each team on horseback and two on foot, with the two groups eventually taking different lines.

The gruelling 300-mile race will take between five and 12 days and include running, biking, swimming and other disciplines with a major challenge this year being the cold conditions and rough terrain of New Zealand's mountains.

The event started on horseback pic: Tommy Baynard

Among the competitors, is Steve Watkins of our magazine partners On The Hill, who is competing with Team Microsoft/Asite/Maritz. This was his pre-race take on the event:

'I'm here in NZ just one day from the Eco start with Team Microsoft/Asite/Maritz (!!). Just got the maps for the first 100km of the 450km course. Start on horses up near Lake Tekapo, near Mount Cook. 150 racehorses all together, could be a buzz! Probably the most dangerous section of the whole course.

'Then we get into a big trek over the NZ alps into the Murchison River valley before rafting 24km down heavily braided channels to a 14km lake paddle. Fun with the wind, a mare into it in a raft! Safety is a big issue and Mark Burnett talked about how Carolyn Jones' accident has changed their thinking. Teams will not be disqualified for using their radios to seek advice on sections, a welcome change.

Mountain terrain and conditions are the toughest challenge in NZ pic: Tommy Baynard

'There are 72 teams here with two UK teams, ourselves and 9feet.com. Both teams are looking good and raring to get on with it. Team Uruguay only arrived today, two days late after a mare journey to Queenstown. We have been promised that the mountain bike leg is a true epic, the toughest Eco bike to date with one section.

'Overall It's hard to see anyone beating the Kiwi team PureNZ.com, on home ground...

You can follow the progress of the race on the official Eco Challenge web site. Interestingly, it's now dubbed itself 'The Expedition Race'. As we went to press, Steve's Team was in 52nd place, while top Brits were Team 9feet.com, including model adventure racer Sarah Odell in ninth place. To put that in perspective, Steve's pre-race choice are the clear leaders aftyer two days and 17 hours of racing.

Note Adventure racing is, as ever, unimaginably hard. For a monthly fix of adventure race news and reports check out the race section at the back of On The Hill magazine.