2008 Heat Progress & Results

Mountain Designs Bibbulmun Team Challenge Final Results Announced!

Thanks also to GOLD sponsor Sea to Summit, new sponsors to the Foundation and the Team Challenge. Sea to Summit has sponsored many of the prizes given to participants and also assisted with the hire equipment used by participants on the Team Challenge.

Finally, thank you to all the organisations and individuals that participated in this year's Challenge. It is champions like you who help the Bibbulmun Track Foundation keep the spirit of the Bibbulmun Track alive! We hope to see you in teams again next year. Registrations for the 2009 Challenge open in late November 2008.

Team Scores

First Heat Results

Congratulations to Newmont for winning the first heat for 2008! WestOne Women took the lead early on the first day. NAB came up from behind to secure first place by day two. Aged Care had their time in front also. The margins were very tight though with sometimes only 35 points between teams. Alliances were formed and trading took place, but in the end Newmont flew to the top with NAB in second place followed by WestOne Women and Aged Care.

Teams took a little while to get to know each other, but being tethered together got them going. Having only one all girl team (WestOne Women) meant the blokes had an easier time learning their names first.

Teams had to get to know themselves quite well also. Being blindfolded meant they had to use senses other than sight to work together. Aged Care and WestOne Women were ready to take the challenge!

Some challenges meant that different teams had to work together. Here Newmont and WestOne Women got together to work out their strengths and weaknesses to challenge the combine the NAB and Aged Care team.

One thing we stress to participants is to keep the weight of the pack down. However some people, like Ross from NAB, insist on carrying extra weight. What's that on the sleeping bag? Looks like he had a visit from an emu!

The weather held out for us this time around.  It was a little warm on Thursday and Friday and the flies were starting to get in our way. But the rain came on Saturday night when we were ready for bed and cleared before dawn.

Participants did get the chance to do some walking without their packs, though they probably were on a mission of some kind!

There were great views to be had from the top of Boonering Hill. West-Won Women take the time to breathe it all in.

Saturday night and the fire works started. Charmaine shows us how to use the resin from the Balga.

And then there was time to sing and celebrate!

And finally, with expiring breath, the teams went right out of their comfort zones on hands and knees to go for gold.

Here is the story of the fours days according to NAB:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Our day began with Jim's vocal chimes, awoken from sleeping in tents in lines.
Where were the hot baked beans from Heinz? Not long after did we start our climbs.
To reach the top where our team binds, with a song that had five lines.

Our lunch was something our teeth grinds, wearily we continued where the Track winds.
Until we finished at a campsite near mines, more quizzes, puzzles, activites and fines.
We can't wait to finish with beer on our minds, hope we beat those boys from the mines.
All our friends in the best of times, and still our friends in the worst of times.

NAB

Well done to first four teams - you were brave to go up first.  Everyone worked well together and showed a great sense of camaraderie from early Thursday morning to Sunday afternoon.

Second Heat Results

Congratulations to Geraldton Grammar School (otherwise known as Team Lewis) for winning the second Heat.  West 4K (WestOne) were always on their back getting very close, but Geraldton kept pulling away, leaving West 4K in second place. The BankWest Banjos made it their mission for the entire heat to keep third place away from the Pandemics (Dept of Health and Aging).

Geraldton Grammar did well even though they got themselves tied up in several knots from the word go!

The BankWest Banjos were happy to be tied up with knots and even happier not to be able get out of them at all.  This was the start of some real (and sometimes scary) team bonding for this four!

Teams combined to work together. Sometimes they worked together very well, other times they didn't know what they were doing and had to stand back and take stock. Most of the time they just took each other's ropes.

All four teams were very eager. There was some time to sit around and talk. But most of the time it was just because they were between challenges.

The Pandemics pooled their resources together to try and climb the score board ladder.

The weather was much cooler this time around. Overcast days afforded easier walking through Wandoo forest and even some dancing on rocky peaks.

Setting up tents was something all teams became experienced with. In fact they had no choice. Some found it a challenge - especially when they weren't looking at what they were doing.

The BankWest Banjos were sometimes very good at having a mouth full. So much so that words could not come out and their mouths were glued shut - coagulated actually.

There was also time for relaxing - even intra-team foot massages here and there. Friday night at Mt Wells ended up being a late one. I am sure we went to bed after 8.30pm!

Geraldton Grammar had some great gourmet meals. Pity they didn't bring their utensils.  Meals were often quite crunchy after being mixed with a bark spoon.

And here we are - a good indication of the level of bonding that the BankWest Banjos experienced.

But clearly all the teams bonded well. This was taken on the way to Perth - an emergency stop where all teams combined to help fight the drought!

Here is the story of the Heat according to West 4K.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
19 people, 1 team, 1 Track, 4 days, we did it!
Big hills, bigger hearts..... but Lewis farts!

Fixomul is my friend, it helped us to the bitter end.
Steve was our guide, he took it out of our hide, he even made me cry!
We thought it was just a walk, but we learnt how to talk (and scream)!

Even though we were affected by James, in the end it was just fun and games!
The volunteers made the challenges so real, OMG we learnt a deal.
The challenge has ended, the blisters have not mended.

Steve you were great, Tony and Bruce were our mates.
And to the other three teams, Thanks for all your support!

Well done to all the teams.

Next up are another team from the Dept of Health and Aging, one from Western Power and two teams from the NAB. We have a break this week and the fourth heat starts at 6am on Thursday 30th October.

Third Heat Results

Congratulations to Western Power for winning the third heat!

It began with little difference between the teams. OATSIH (Dept of Health and Ageing) were only a smidgen behind and kept Western Power on their toes. PS146 (NAB 2) remained on their trail also and had almost caught them. NAB (3) tried their best to unsettle the other teams using ‘out of the square’ techniques such as using their whistle to hold the others back. In the end Western Power enhanced their lead, OATSIH were next, trailed by PS146 and NAB in fourth place.

The third heat was the coolest ever for the end of October. The cooler weather meant that going up the hills was made a little easier (I’m sure everyone found that!! J). So far the first heat has been the hottest and given the weather forecast for the last heat, this may not change.

The interaction began early on day one. Everyone was keen to see exactly who they were up against.

It was clear that some had some very sneaky intentions..... and people thought Steve had an evil laugh!

NAB were great at the gourmet events... if not a little unorthodox in their cooking equipment.

The tower at Mt wells provides great views and sunsets. Some teams enjoy a bit of time out and relax.

OATSIH (Dept of Health and Aging) supported each other very well. There was clearly some behind the scenes work though. Where's Barbara?

Everyone pitched in around camp with house-keeping. Renata did the hunting and gethering, and the rest of the team prepared the dinner.  Hmmm... was roo poo the best they could do? 

Ben from NAB remarked after the heat:

I've just removed the final tick, burned the remnants of what used to be my clothes, and now quietly reflect on the glory of our fourth place. Thanks to all for your company on the trail, it was great fun, especially the sports! And Green team, I hope that whenever you hear a whistle, you will think fondly of the Blues!

Here is the story of the heat according to PS146

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times 
We started early with packs on our backs
To take up the challenge of the Bib Track

Fun and games, hills and dales we met along the way
Snakes and spiders and tics, thankfully all stayed away
We smell a bit, we hurt a lot but now we are content
For the four days are behind us now, but were never better spent!

The final heat starts this Thursday (6th November) where the PSN Water, Power Factors (Western Power), Dept of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and AngloGold Ashanti come head to head. Will AngloGold Ashanti retain their title of Challenge Champions from 2007?

Fourth Heat Results

Congratulations to the team from the Dept of Environment and Conservation (DEC) for winning the last heat for 2008. From early on DEC took a strong lead with the Power Factors, AngloGold and PSN Water trying desperately to take the lead from them.

The defending champions, AngloGold Ashanti, got themselves in knots but were able to keep chase for first place. By the end of the heat they achieved second place.

The Power Factors (Western Power [2]) finished in third place but only just - the margin between second and third was 65 points!

PSN Water came in at fourth place but kept the other teams on their toes - even when blindfolded!

There was plenty of fun to be had even in times when people weren't at their best and needed a bit of TLC.

Russell was keen to show how much he enjoyed his pre-dinner snack at Mt Wells which left Kathryn in stitches and unable to finish her snack!

AngloGold were very good at showing us their song and dance routine direct from London's West End. They performed it all the way to Dwellingup.

Although DEC were on the ball, they were a little slow in finding their way along the Track (or their rope) - the blindfolds probably didn't help.

Participants became very proficient in setting up their tents each day... yet another skill learnt on the challenge!

Of course there is always plenty of team bonding.

Here is the story according to AngloGold Ashanti:

It was the best of times
Maps, maps, where are the maps? Knots, knots, we’re tied in knots
I know this one, but I forget-me-knots

Walk, walk up the hill, at the top we all feel ill.
Tents to set up, but I can’t see, I’m mute, I’ll mime – a calamity!

Walk, walk, and quartz to collect, a huge big hill, and song to perfect.
Among us the grim reaper did weave, Death he’d give us when his card he’d leave.

From roo poo and resin we made, a quartz knife with the sharpest blade.
In ropes and plastic we placed our faith, in order to rescue a very good mate.

A super bunch we’ve all been together, through rain and shine and all kinds of weather.
And now we sit at this pub, off home soon for a jolly good scrub.