Survival of the fit

From left: Capt Brett Warner, Sgt Andy Knight, Sgt Cath Daniel and Sgt Bob Rawlinson, 13CSSB, will soon compete in the Kalbarri X-Raid Adventure Series. Photo provided by Capt Brett Warner, 13CSSB

By Pte John Wellfare

A TEAM from 13CSSB will be competing in a 36-hour, 190km cross-country race in Western Australia.

Capt Brett Warner, Sgt Andy Knight, Sgt Cath Daniel, Sgt Bob Rawlinson, Pte Cindy Greenfield and Pte David Ross have begun their training program and are setting their sights on doing well in the Kalbarri X-Raid Adventure Race Series, held from September 4-6.

The identified disciplines - noting that nothing is confirmed until the evening of the race - are mountain biking, cross orienteering, inline skating, sea kayaking, hydro speed, canyoning, caving, cramponing, ride and run, snow shoeing, canoeing, rogaining, climbing and roping.

The team of Army members, sponsored by The Bicycle Entrepreneur and Paddy Pallin, are newcomers to the X-Raid event, which is regarded as the adventure racing world championship.

While the Army team will only be competing in the Kalbarri race, the Western Australia course is the last in a series of four qualifying events held throughout the year. The first three in the series were contested in Morocco, the US and from Mont Blanc in France to Courmayeur in Italy.

After the Kalbarri event, the X-Raid World Championship will be held in Patagonia, Argentina.

Teamwork is regarded as the crucial factor in the X-Raid series, with each team member offering specific skills among the disciplines covered.