Four ADF Cycling members have conquered the gruelling Peaks Challenge, tackling three major climbs as part of the event. 

At 235km and more than 4400m, the challenge is one of Australia’s longest and highest single-day cycling events, with a strict 13-hour cut-off.

Leaving from Falls Creek in Victoria, cyclists who took on the challenge on March 8, tackled climbs on Tawonga Gap, Mount Hotham and Back of Falls, including the infamous pinch ‘WTF corner’.

Flight Lieutenant Grant Soutar completed the course in 7hr 33min, finishing in the top 3 per cent of his 31-40 men’s category. 

All four ADF members earned the coveted Peakers sub-10 cycling jersey. 

Among them was Chaplain Darren Cronshaw, who completed the event alongside Warrant Officer Class 1 Paul Kitching in 9hr 34min, which was in the top 30 per cent of their 50-59 men's category.

Chaplain Cronshaw joined Defence after the death of triathlon training mate Ashley Burton eight years ago.

Private Burton was an Army reservist at Monash University Regiment and 5th/6th Royal Victoria Regiment.

Chaplain Cronshaw, then a Baptist Minister, conducted Private Burton’s funeral, at which dozens of his Army mates attended, five of whom contributed stories of their training and Solomon Islands’ deployment in a eulogy.

“I felt vocationally at home serving that community in their grief, and as Burto’s mates shared stories I thought, ‘I’d like a piece of that’,” Chaplain Cronshaw recalled. 

'Events like Peaks inevitably also challenge my mental resilience.'

After enlisting as a chaplain, he maintained a passion for endurance sport. 

Chaplain Cronshaw said endurance sport was a “resilience classroom” for him.

“I love the physical challenge of seeing what my body can do. And Peaks certainly stretched that over nine-plus hours,” he said.

During the Peaks event, he was inspired by the warfighting directive of the 1st (Australian) Division Commander and Regimental Sergeant Major, which states: “We need tough, and physically, spiritually and mentally resilient solders to meet the demands of war.”

“Events like Peaks inevitably also challenge my mental resilience,” Chaplain Cronshaw said. 

He said matters of the spirit related not just to faith and beliefs but also everyday life, and especially sport.

“The event was also a spiritual exercise,” Chaplain Cronshaw said.

“I reminded myself to exude gratitude for beautiful scenery, for mates along the journey and for the exhilarating challenge of the day.

“I set an intention to persevere in the struggle and be encouraging to those I drafted with. Cycling is like faith or spirituality – in part, it’s an individual effort but it’s a lot easier in company with others.”

He said a highlight for many involved in all ADF Sports was the camaraderie that stretched across ranks and services.

ADF Cycling supports entry into races around Australia and hosts a National Cycling Carnival. For more information email australiandefence.forcecycling@defence.gov.au