Climb that mountain
ADF cycling team take on the gruelling Hartley Ability Cycle Challenge to raise money for charity

Volume 48, No. 23, December 14, 2006

MOUNTAIN MAN: FLTLT Brendon Mulloy on top of Mt Kosciuszko after walking his bike to the top. Photo by MAJ Niall Pigott

CHAIN REACTION: LACW Fiona Bradfield from Combat Support Unit East Sale and CPL James Coolahan from 37SQN make the climb up to Perisher on day two of the Hartley Ability Cycle Challenge. Photo by FLTLT Brendon Mulloy

SCALING the heady heights of Mount Kosciuszko was not the only high achievement of the 15-strong ADF cycling team in the recent 2006 Hartley Ability Cycle Challenge fundraising event from November 24-26.

As part of a field of 290 riders who raised $484,000 for Hartley, the Defence team contributed $20,000 to the organisation.

“This is a record for the Challenge and will allow Hartley to expand its services in the coming year,” one of the Defence team organisers, FLTLT Brendon Mulloy, said.

Begun by staff from the CAMM2 Project Office in 1999 as a small charity fundraiser for Hartley Lifecare, the event has grown each year.

“The challenge is a ‘small’ ride from Canberra to Mt Kosciuszko and back over three days and challenges people both personally through fundraising and physically with the ride,” FLTLT Mulloy said. “This represents the challenges faced by Hartley clients in everyday life.”

The 2006 Defence team consisted of 15 riders from Canberra and RAAF Bases Richmond and East Sale.

The ride started from Boomanulla Oval in Narrabundah under clear blue spring skies, with the team quickly falling into their routine as the 170km to Jindabyne slowly rolled away. It was after morning tea that SQNLDR Greg Foord had a spill and lost skin from his shoulder, elbow and hip. After a trip to the doctor’s for a patch-up, he was back on the bike the following morning.

As lunch approached, the climbing increased on the run to Cooma. From Cooma to Jindabyne the first long, hard hills were faced. It was close to 4.30pm when the bunch rolled into Jindabyne for well-earned coffee and snacks.

Saturday was another perfect morning as the riders rolled out for a difficult, challenging day on the bike, climbing to Charlotte’s Pass and onwards to Mt Kosciuszko if they desired.

Once inside the Kosciuszko National Park, each rider settled into the long, arduous climb at their own pace. Lunch was scheduled at Perisher but many teams first continued to Charlotte’s Pass and then on to Mt Kosciuszko.

Four members of the Defence team elected to walk to the summit while the others enjoyed the fast descent back to Jindabyne. FLTLT Mulloy gave up driving the bus to ride his mountain bike to Rawson’s Pass and joined the group for the final walk to the summit. Once the summit had been achieved and photos taken, the group made their way back to the bus for the trip home.

Sunday dawned clear and cool in Jindabyne, with weary bodies readying for the third, and mentally toughest day of the ride that required them to be back at Boomanulla Oval by 3pm for the final celebrations. After the initial long climb out of Jindabyne, a southerly wind backed the teams as they made good time back to Canberra.

The fatigue that was setting in showed when, just short of the ACT border, SQNLDR James Waddington clipped the wheel of the rider in front and went down. A quick examination showed no serious injuries and he rejoined the pack after some quick first aid.

At Boomanulla Oval all the riders formed up to make one long convoy for the final 4km push to Reconciliation Place. A line of almost 300 riders made for a spectacular sight as they streamed along King Edwards Terrace into Reconciliation Place.

Tired, weary, sunburnt faces cracked into wide grins as the riders realised what they had just achieved and discussions began about training for the 2007 challenge.

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