Pennypinchers AR TeamSome history of The Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team
The team started in 2007 when three of the members James,Chris and newbee Jeff hatched the dream of doing the Bull Of Africa 2008.
Chris put together a proposal which James took into Pennypinchers Plettenberg Bay owner and fellow paddler Sean Gannon. Sean liked the proposal and backed the team in its dream even though the race was 10 months away. The hunt was then on to find a fourth member of the team which due to adventure racing rules needed to be a female. It is really difficult to find someone to share the dream of spending 6 days together,hiking,biking,kayaking,climbing,abseiling and navigating around Africa, wearing the same clothes and hardly sleeping. It was only late in June 2008 that Jo Mackenzie put up her hand as the fourth member of our team. During this time the team involved itself in various outdoor activities including the Cape Epic, The Garmin Wartrail, The Knysna Oyster Festival events and then training. Outdoor gear is expensive but a vital part of the sport and fellow adventure racer and owner of Earth Scout in Knysna Belen Sanchez came to the party and along with Hele Hansen became our gear sponsor providing us with the best outdoor gear available.
The Bull was amazing with the team finishing in 1oth place out of the 43 international teams that started. Since then the Team has continued its good work with good results in the Eden Duo 2008 and the Cape Odyssey Trail Run. 2009 saw Jeff take part in the Cape Epic again, James had a great trip to the Swazi Extreme where with Team Aish.com he won the sport event. August 2009 saw the team with a new girl Amanda Williamson take on the Hessequa Adventure Race and finish as the third official team. Here we were added another product sponsor to our team sheet with Island Tribe providing us with great sun protection and Blue Steel Sports providing the best anti-chafe money can buy.
The team is now in the full throes of training for the Merrel Eden Duo. The race sees all the current members taking part in the race. We will have teams in the mixed,ladies and school relays.
Watch this space for the build up.
No comments:
Post a Comment