Last weekend, our very own Allan Scott team geared up for the Kathmandu Coast to Coast multisport event. This year, the team consisted of three athletes competing in the Open category in the two-day race. Let us introduce Team Allan Scott Family Winemakers: 15-year-old Harry Stocker, his mum and our very own Sara Stocker, and Paul Bourgeois, our winemaker and COO!
After a few tough weeks recovering from his broken ankle, the reason he couldn’t take part in the Godzone Adventure Race at the end of last year, Paul was ready to take on a new challenge. His 10th Coast to Coast started with a 2.2km run. This was his prime moment, as he is the kayaker in the three-person team and day one didn’t involve any river adventures. That meant he could give it everything. And it showed, as he passed the baton to Sara after just 11 minutes.
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Thanks to Paul’s speed, Sara had a great start and found herself riding in a strong group of cyclists. She powered through 55km in 1 hour and 42 minutes. As her legs spun beneath her and the stunning South Island scenery flew past, one thought kept repeating inside her head: “I need to get to my son. I need to get to Harry.” Harry was patiently waiting for his mum to give him the signal, and off he went. Thirty-one kilometres through waterfalls, rivers, bush and the breathtaking beauty of the South Island. This marked his Coast to Coast debut, something that had almost been written in the stars since he watched his mum race when he was just eight months old. His training paid off, completing the 31km in 4 hours and 6 minutes. Together, this brought their total time for day one to just under six hours.
Their support crew consisted of Catherine, Sara’s loving mum, and Lisa, Paul’s incredibly supportive wife. They transported the team and their gear from start to start, all while bringing the best vibes to keep everyone going. After a successful first day and a good night’s sleep, Catherine and Lisa dropped the team off at Klondyke Corner for day two. The day kicked off with Sara’s 15km ride, racing through it in 28 minutes before tagging Harry, who then made his way to Paul, running over Mt White Bridge.
Finally, it was Paul’s time on the water. He kayaked for 4 hours and 24 minutes down the Waimakariri River. With water splashing alongside his boat, our winemaker finished as the first kayaker in the Open category. An incredible achievement we’re immensely proud of! While volunteers helped Paul out of his kayak, Sara was already back on the pedals, giving it everything she had for the final 70 kilometres. She beat her own personal records during this race, all while wearing her trademark, her massive smile! A few kilometres before the finish line, Sara hopped off the bike and ran across the sand toward the finish. Harry and Paul joined her for the final stretch, and together they crossed the line. They were exhausted, but incredibly happy.
What a race. The team placed 3rd out of 22 in their category and, with a 13:01:06 gun time, finished 41st out of 138 teams overall. We couldn’t be prouder of the effort they’ve put into this race. A massive thank you to their support crew and to the Coast to Coast organization for organising another incredible event.
View their full results here!
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