A mystery adventure race that annually transforms Lake Te Koo Utu in Cambridge into a haven for mums, dads and children attracted 473 participants this year.
The sun sets on Lake Te Koo Utu and the teams keep coming in from the X-Race event. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The XRace, held on a humid Friday afternoon last week, took competitors an average of one hour, seven minutes 17 seconds to complete.
The Korakonui duo of daughter Gemma and father Grant Honeyfield blitzed the field, completing the 10 mystery challenges in just 43 minutes and 18 seconds.
Grant and Gemma Honeyfield of Korakonui, the overall winner of XRACE Cambridge. Photo: Supplied.
The New Zealand Home Loans-sponsored event which started in 2013, was created by Shane Hooks of Auckland. It went through many name changes before XRace was finalised.
This mystery adventure race pairs parents with children aged 6-14 to race together, locate and complete mystery challenges, and compete against the clock and other family teams. The challenges range from physical (like tug-of-war) to mental (like memory challenges) to knowledge-based (like music challenges), and they change from year to year and course to course.
Marcus Gower of Kihikihi with Jacob Bull, 8, of Te Awamutu Primary School. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
No two XRaces are the same. Events are held in Whangārei, Devonport, Tauranga, Taupō, Napier, Hutt City, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Hamilton, and Auckland.
Medals this year in Cambridge were presented by New Zealand representatives Zack Rumble (rowing), Bennett Greenough (BMX), Danielle Aitchison (Paralympian sprinter) and Becky Leigh (rowing).
Naomi and Alex Simmonds, centre, after completing the X race with their medals presented by New Zealand representatives, from left Zack Rumble (rowing), Bennett Greenough (BMX), Danielle Aitchison (Parlympian sprinter), Becky Leigh (rowing). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Results:
Overall winners: daughter and father – Gemma and Grant Honeyfield (Korakonui), son and father – Harris and Adam O’Leary (Cambridge), daughter and mother – Jamie and Caitlyn Phillips (Hamilton).
Age Divisions
Junior (under 7) girls Zoe Gerritsen 1h4s, boys Marlow McDonald 56m44s, 8 year old girls Leina Kaelin 1h2m57s, boys Sam Panting 57m19s, 9 year old girls Chloe Blackstock 55m, boys Cian Moore 46m42s, 10 year old girls Charlotte Tate 50m21s, boys Harris O’Leary 43m25s, 11 year old girls Sophie Hickey 54m14s, boys Connor Moore 46m39s, senior girls Gemma Honeyfield 43m19s, boys Alex Simmonds 48m56s.
Six year olds at play – from left, front: Remy McKinnon (Leamington), Elsie Boyte (Cambridge East); back: May McKinnon (Leamington) and Eve Spence (Cambridge East). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Joel and Kyo, 7, Roil of Te Awamutu during the stick game. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Adam and Harris O’Leary of Cambridge who won the father and son team are presented with their medals by New Zealand representatives, from left Zack Rumble (rowing), Bennett Greenough (BMX), Danielle Aitchison (Parlympian sprinter). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The Hall of Famers – those who have done more than five X-Races – wear their special shirts before the start at Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Wave 59 make their start in the X-Race at Lake Te Koo Utu in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The children easily beat the adults in the tug of war. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
A different form of bullrush where the children advanced on the adults who had to use swimming pool noodles to stop them. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The sun sets on Lake Te Koo Utu and the teams keep coming in from the X-Race event. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The sun sets on Lake Te Koo Utu and the teams keep coming in from the X-Race event. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The sun sets on Lake Te Koo Utu and the teams keep coming in from the X-Race event. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
