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National representative canoeist, Dan Hall, of Hobart, showed off a clean pair of pedals, paddles and heels to a record field in the 21st annual Forestry Tasmania Ben Lomond Descent on Sunday 1st August.
He took just two hours five minutes and 32 seconds to complete the three legs of the multi sport event.
One of 28 entries in the individual section, Hall used his experience and technique in the 11 kilometre canoe section in the flooding North Esk River to build a buffer over opponents who did better in the 16 kilometre mountain bike and nine-kilometre running sections.
“The river is running pretty high so that helped get down the course nicely,” he said.
Hall’s cause was aided when Launceston-based national mountain bike rider Ben Mather, who clearly won that section, pulled out soon after the start of the run with a strained quad muscle.
Another Hobart multi sport exponent Kris Clauson finished second, three minutes adrift of Hall.
Burnie athlete Kirsten Baker won the women’s individual event in four hours 16 minutes and 30 seconds and Hobart’s Sally Prescott was runner-up an hour and 20 minutes back.
After heavy overnight rain brought some mud and potential spills to both the mountain bike and running tracks the Upper Blessington course turned on brilliant conditions for the event.
Organiser Claye Mace, for the Tamar Canoe Club, believed the overall entry of more than 120 to be a record, bolstered by teams from corporates and colleges.
“It’s good to have the top level competitors, but the Descent hasn’t lost its roots which were always about involvement for people of average fitness and abilities.
“That where the teams, with challenges among companies and now the colleges getting on board, really helps.”
Forestry Tasmania’s Bass District Forest Manager, Peter Bird, who kicked off the FT team on the mountain bike and later presented prizes said the sponsorship of the event was a good fit for Forest Tasmania.
“Most of the mountain bike track was on State forest and we like to promote healthy outdoor activity.”
The full results for the 2010 Forestry Tasmania Ben Lomond Descent can be found on www.tamar.canoe.org.au
