Team McClure triumphant in Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge.  It was a fantastic and fitting end to an intense seven days of hard racing as sisters, Caroline Ashby and Grace McClure, Team Cadbury, cross the finish line, tired yet triumphant. The only 2 girl team in the event, they finished in a very credible time of 35:43:32.

On Day 2, the pair of super-mums surprised all when they arrived into transition in 5th place. After finishing in 17th place the day before, they impressed all and showed that this team was a force to be reckoned with!

Here is Liner’s review of the challenge:

Well, I am back on the farm and trying to bring my feet back to the ground after such an amazing adventure challenge!!! Wow, what an experience. It was strange that when you were pushing yourself to your absolute limits, you did not want to be there, but now that it is over, I just want to go back and do it all again!!

The mountains we climbed seemed endless but the views on the summit were spectacular. The trekking was definitely my favourite leg; it is great that finally all the running I have been doing over the past 10 years has finally had a purpose. The mountain biking certainly threw some challenges at us. When we turned off the bitumen and into the mountain bike leg on Sunday, I thought there was no way I was going on that track! I obviously had no idea what I had got myself into but as long as the bikes in front of me were going on it, so too was I! The bikes we were given to ride were amazing and made riding the impossible become possible.

Kayaking was the biggest challenge for us as being the only girls team we lacked the muscle power the male competitors had; however I think I can say with confidence that we were improving. The days were long and exhausting; the food, hospitality and volunteers were fantastic and the people we met along the way will be friends for life.

So thank you to the whole Mark Webber team for giving me the opportunity to compete in an adventure of a lifetime that is focused around such a wonderful cause.

Gracie – leader of the pack. Day 1.

Gracie pulls her body weight uphill during the Launceston Gorge-Tyrolean rope leg on Day 3

The summit of Cradle Mountain.

Gracie & Liner take a break with Toll Group’s Michael Klim & Tory Trewhitt.

Liner stretching while Tory Trewhitt enjoys the view.

Oh my, Liner! What strong arms you have!

And all those years of running pays off…