2009 Results & Teams

Mountain Designs Bibbulmun Team Challenge - Final Results Announced!

Congratulations to the WARA Control Freaks!

On Tuesday 10th November the West Australian Rogaine Association 'Control Freaks' were awarded with the title of Challenge Champions 2009!

 As winners of the Challenge they were awarded with:

• their name inscribed on the perpetual Team Challenge Champions trophy
• a Bibbulmun Trophy each
• a hand-crafted Bibbulmun walking stick each
• $100 voucher from Mountain Designs
• a Mountain Designs Tellus back pack each thanks to Mountain Designs
• a Bibbulmun Track cap each thanks to Best on Ground
• a Bibbulmun Track water bottle & car sticker each
• an X-mug each thanks to Sea to Summit
• a 2-day B&B accomm package for 2 people each

Runners up were OAM-Group. They were only behind by 275 points! They were awared with:

• a Wilderness Equipment Flash Back day pack each thanks to Sea to Summit
• $100 voucher from Mountain Designs
• a Bibbulmun Track cap each thanks to Best on Ground
• a Bibbulmun Track water bottle & car sticker each
• an X Mug each thanks to Sea to Summit
• a Stretch pillow each thanks to Mountain Designs

In third place were the 'Woggles', the team from the Dept of Environment and Conservation. They received:

• a Drylite towel each thanks to Sea to Summit
• $100 voucher from Mountain Designs
• a Bibbulmun Track cap each thanks to Best on Ground
• a Bibbulmun Track T-shirt each
• a Bibbulmun Track water bottle, magnet & car sticker each
• an Alphalite cutlery set each thanks to Sea to summit

In fourth place overall were the team from Sea to Summit.  They received:

• $100 voucher from Mountain Designs
• a Bibbulmun Track T-shirt each voucher
• a Bibbulmun Track cap each thanks to Best on Ground
• a Bibbulmun Track water bottle, magnet & car sticker each
• an Alphalite cutlery set each thank to Sea to summit (they loved that prize!!)
• a Micro towel each thanks to Mountain Designs

The Spirit of the Bibbulmun – The Jim Freeman Award

This award is given each year to the team that not only cares for the environment but has a mutual respect and care for each other and other teams. During the course of the Challenge, all teams are watched very carefully and this award is given irrespective of scores and team performance in activities. We are proud to announce that this year’s Spirit of the Bibbulmun Award was given to Women Overboard - from NSW, pictured right. Well done! As they could not be present at the Awards Night, Steve accepted the award on their behalf. They responded via email by saying:

"What is special about the Bibbulmun Track Challenge is that whilst it is about the challenge itself, it is also about laughing as much as possible, using our ingenuity and initiative whenever you can, eating gourmet food, breaking the odd rule, carrying as much as you can shove in your packs, having solar showers with the 10L you carry in your pack (NOT!) and did we say we tried to be resourceful? It's also about learing about the WA bush... WE LOVED IT!.... WE ARE COMING BACK!
Love Annie, Shaz, Justine and Ally."

We would like to that all our volunteers for their fantastic support during the 2009 Challenge. As a thank you, they each received a Black Diamond Head Lamp thanks to Mountain Designs.

Many thanks to those who also helped out at the Awards Night. Your help and comittment is greatly appreciated.

Thanks also to the Red Cross WA for the use of “Resus Annie” during the Challenge.

Special thanks must go to Diamond sponsor and major event sponsor, Mountain Designs, without whose ongoing generous support, the Bibbulmun Team Challenge would not be as successful as it is.

Thanks also to Gold sponsor Sea to Summit. 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 2010 Challenge open in late November 2009.  

Winner's score board:

 Score board of remaining teams:

First Heat Results

Congratulations to Sea to Summit for winning the first heat for 2009! NAB took the lead early on the first day but then trailed behind Sea to Summit by only 25 points! Newmont and Pitcher Partners were vying for third place with only 40 points between them by the end of the heat. The margins were tight over the four days, but in the end Sea to Summit flew to the peak with NAB in second place followed by Newmont and Pitcher Partners who fell into fourth place only because of a lack of TLC toward their fifth 'member' who was sadly lost on the first day.

Fresh on day one, Pitcher Partners gave their all in trying to get untangled from the web of life. Their efforts only affected by the sheer weight of their packs not assisted with a glass jar of coffee and a 375g tub of butter!

Newmont kept their spirits high and always managed to entertain us with their debonair and amusing style.

The weather was quite warm on the first two days but come the morning of day three, teams found themselves in the cool of the clouds. Packing up on Mt Wells surrounded wildflowers and mist.

No matter what the challenge NAB rose to it with the most optimism. So confident were they, that they put on the blind folds to complete and win this activity.

Sea to Summit knew that they had to bond to get the job done. Although they lost someone to the raging river (there has been a lot of rain recently!), they continued to complete the task. There was no way they were going to let their presence be unknown it was very noisy as meal times!

In the end though we all got the Dwellingup pub and everyone (almost everyone) was happy about that. Matt (far left) preferred to be back on the slope of Mt Wells.

Here is the story according to Newmont (Gold team):

It was the best of times of it was the worst of times
What a surprise that rhymes!
We saw the Blues with their kits
And the Greens shone through despite their ticks

The Reds that said they were the best
Performed quite well under duress
But Gold was the place to be
If you had some fun like me!

Thanks to Steve and volunteers
It didn't all end in tears
We'll be back to try again
And next time will acquire fame!

Second Heat Results

Congratulations to OAM-Group for winning the second heat.  They never failed to get our attention for some marvellous performances. Though the golden boys took the lead early on, they were very closely followed by the Geraldton Grammar girls in blue.  High Calibre and WestOne were constantly fighting over third place but a few pencils were lost meaning that High Calibre came in third beating WestOne by only 40 points.

It looked like rain early on Thursday morning, but it soon cleared making way for some very warm weather indeed!  WestOne saw the impending heat wave and decided to perform a rain dance. Alas, it didn't work.

High Calibre pressed on despite the high temps and kept themselves cool as cucumbers whilst they pretended to cross a raging river. were they seeing a mirage?

Cool breezes on rocky domes were more than welcome - especially when we didn't have to carry our packs!

Some teams were very impressed with what they could create with their hands and wished that they could carry on for most of the night.   How did these guys manage to keep their name tags on their shirts for four days??

Others were just to scared to watch what was going on. Nonetheless, they were certainly told by their team mates what the ball was doing when it was in play!

There were plenty of ups and downs and then of course there were the hills. there was even some time to relax and enjoy lunch. But when all was said and done, all teams put in a fabulous effort especially considering we had the hottest day ever for a Team Challenge.

Here is the story according to WestOne:

It was the best of times it was the worst of times,
Despite the blisters on our feet,
A dickee knee or three,
Or collecting types of faece.

Whether trying to put the Trangia out,
Or staying warm when you're bivvying out,
And marching all day on not much sleep,
Or tent mates snoring, they're going cheap.

It was the best of times when you camp at the end of your walk
Ex-army guys, Gero girls, High Calibre crew
Giving support or sharing their port.

Challenges fun on the edge of a knife
Sunset view from a tower
When you take up a hike on the Bibbulmun Track
Then you truly value each hour.

So we thank you Jim, Tony and Steve,
For four days in the bush that we'd never believe,
Thanks for the experience, it was a lot if fuss,
But now please tell us - where is the bus?

Third Heat Results

Congratulations to the Woggles (DEC) for winning the third heat. They immediately took the lead on day one, but the Power Factors (Western Power) were determined to show them that it wasn't going to be an easy battle - that is until their team found themselves without an all important black square!

Then it was up to Women Overboard to step in take over second place - but they were a little busy excluding one team member from the "circle of relief" all because of a lousy square.

The Gumnuts (Shire of Kalamunda) showed their resolve by using their secret weapon when things were grim. When all was almost said and done on the first day, the Gumnuts brought our their spondonical and they came through to finish the day with a blast.

The Woggles kept the lead most of the time but Women Overboard were determined to keep second place by keeping their enemies (Power Factors) very close - so close that there were brief encounters and overt expressions of affection. DEC didn't want to be left behind in the affection stakes. Not to be fooled by a meek and mild appearance, the weapon they called 'A Man Da', blew the Gumnuts (or at least one of the Gumnuts) off their branch by day three.

By the final day it seemed that the Woggles were about to weaken. But alas they held on to victory, followed by the Power Factors, Women Overboard and then the Gumnuts.

Here is the story according to Women Overboard:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

The ticks on the Track gave us grief
Shervin's undies were quite brief
Dog pins and bones
Gave Shaz the groans
But great times were had - thanks chief!

Camping for the girls is a snack
Food was abound from their pack
The walk was a breeze
They now know Wandoo trees
Climbing Mt wells however made them hack

All the games that we played were great
Champion, the greens, that's their fate
We'd like to thank you all
We'll come if you call
WA served up on a plate!

Women Overboard (NSW)

Fourth Heat Results

Congratulations to the WARA Control Freaks for winning the last heat for 2009. From early on the team in green took the lead. Whelans were determined to steal the lead from them and constantly gave their utmost. The Life Members and the Leftovers were hot on their tale on day one. As the days progressed, the scores between teams grew with Whelans taking second place, the Life Members taking third, followed by the Leftovers. 

The Life Members were always looking on the bright side of the challenges, even when they were tangled up. After all, they had their secret weapon at dinner time - the 'duck' table setting!

The Leftovers were also having a ball, seen here enjoying dinner on the first night at White Horse Hills campsite. Where food was concerned they excelled, winning Mars Bars for building the tallest tower and Tim Tams for determination under the strain and imminent danger of the Quad-pod of Death.

Whelans showed their skill at taking the stock market by storm and crossing the raging river with no fatalities and in a timely fashion.  They were hungry for more wins by the last day and saw red as they created a one-eyed monster to  race to the finish line near the Dwellingup pub.

Alas the WARA Control Freaks did indeed control the leader board. Though not without the occasional mishap they had the utmost faith in themselves and in their team members.

Here is the story according to the Leftovers:

It was the best of times it was the worst of times
And at times we nearly lost our minds
But the mind stayed nimble as the legs grew weary
And the weather toggled between gorgeous and dreary

The blue team (the Leftovers) put in our best
But from day one we lagged behind the rest
We battled on through thick and thin
And had a ball at everything

We won at golf but not much else
but learned a lot about our self
At the end of the day its all fun and games
And from the green team, the cute one was James.

The Challenge Champions for 2009 will be announced at the Awards Night on Tuesday and full results posted here on Wednesday 11th Nov. Watch this space!