Irish duo Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens won the open mixed classification of the TransRockies Challenge today, ending the gruelling seven stage off-road race a considerable 2 hours 30 minutes and 23 seconds clear of their closest rivals Blair Saunders and Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll Up The Rim).
Saunders and Fedyna won the final stage, with Seymour and Owens (Team Podge and Rodge) finishing second. The Irish duo�s performance was such that their overall time placed them sixth in the open men classification, underling the quality of their ride.
Seymour and Owens were amongst 80 Irish athletes passed up for funding by the Irish Sports Council this year. Their participation in the unique off-road race cost approximately 5,000 euro and was only made possible through the support of K Capital Source/Mark Kenny, Red Bull and Outsider magazine.
Next up for the two is the marathon world championships next weekend.
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TransRockies Challenge, Canada (NE):
Stage 7, Rafter Six Resort - Canmore, 47km / 600m climbing:
Open mixed:
1, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll Up The Rim) 2 hours 23 mins 54.6 secs
2, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge Rodge) at 18 mins 28.4 secs
3, Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion/Adidas) at 22 mins 19 secs
Open Men:
1, Andreas Hestler/Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mountain Business) 2 hours 12 mins 40 secs
2, Troy Misseghers/Neil Grover (Race Face Mountain Men) at 31 secs
3, Urs Senn/Daniel Senn (Sennebuebe / Lungenliga) at 7 mins 21 secs
4, Mike Cabigon/Ryan McGimpsey (Pedalhead Bicycle Works) at 10 mins 44 secs
5, Jon Nutbrown/Kelly Servinski (The Bike Shop) at 10 mins 50 secs
6, Jason Sandquist/Normon Thibault (Frontrunners) at 11 mins 34 secs
Final overall:
Open mixed:
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens, 32 hours 45 mins 7 secs
2, Saunders/Fedyna, at 2 hours 30 mins 23 secs
3, Kobin/Warkentin, at 2 hours 33 mins 14 secs
Open Men:
1, Andreas Hestler/Marty Lazarski, 29 hours 8 secs
2, Misseghers/Grover, at 35 mins 29 secs
3, Senn/Senn, at 2 hours 50 mins 10 secs
4, Nutbrown/Servinski, at 3 hours 7 mins 6 secs
5, Cabigon/McGimpsey, at 3 hours 36 mins 58 secs
6, Erik Crowe/James Crowe (Crowe Race Face) at 3 hours 49 mins 11 secs
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IRISH DUO WIN STAGE 5, MOVE FURTHER AHEAD
Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens are, barring mechanical problems, illness or injury, almost certain to win the Mixed Open category at the TransRockies Challenge in Canada later today. The Irish duo finished 36 minutes and 51 seconds ahead of Louise Kobin and Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion/Adidas) on yesterday�s sixth stage, a 79.5 kilometre race from Bragg Creeek to Rafter Six Resort. Third placed duo Margie Smith and Steve Johnson (Wilson Mountain Sports) were 54 minutes and 21 seconds back.
The result sees the Team Podge and Rodge riders go into the last stage a full 2 hours 29 minutes and 2 seconds clear of Kobin and Warkentin. Previous main rivals, Blair Saunders and Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The), went the wrong way on stage six and finished over two hours down. They slip to third overall and have lost all chance of winning.
The TransRockies Challenge concludes with a 50 kilometre race to Canmore.
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4th TransRockies Challenge, Canada (NE)
Day 6, Bragg Creek - Rafter Six Resort: 79.5km / 2100m climbing
Selected results:
Open Mixed
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) 79.5 kilometres in 5 hours 8 mins 4 secs
2, Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion/Adidas) at 36 mins 51 secs
3, Margie Smith/Steve Johnson (Wilson Mountain Sports) at 54 mins 21 secs
Other:
8, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) at 2 hours 4 mins 33 secs
Open Men:
1, Andreas Hestler/Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mountain Business) 79.5 kilometres in 4 hours 24 mins 32 secs
2, Troy Misseghers/Neil Grover (Race Face Mountain Men) at 14 mins 44 secs
3, Urs Senn/Daniel Senn (Sennebuebe / Lungenliga) at 21 mins 25 secs
Overall after six stages:
Open Mixed:
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens, 30 hours 2 mins 44 secs
2, Kobin/Warkentin, at 2 hours 29 mins 24 secs
3, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) at 2 hours 48 mins 52 secs
Open Men:
1, Andreas Hestler/Marty Lazarski, 26 hours 47 mins 29 secs
2, Misseghers/Grover, at 34 mins 58 secs
3, Senn/Senn, at 2 hours 42 mins 48 secs
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12/8/05 IRISH DUO WIN STAGE 5, MOVE FURTHER AHEAD
Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens fortified their overall lead in the open mixed category of the TransRockies Challenge in Canada today, winning the fifth stage to Bragg Creek. The Team Podge and Rodge duo finished the 108 kilometre leg 12 minutes and 42.1 seconds clear of closest rivals Blair Saunders and Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll Up The Rim), making it increasingly likely they will hold on overall until the end of Sunday�s concluding stage.
Seymour and Owens are now 44 minutes and 18 seconds clear of Saunders and Fedyna, with Louise Kobin and Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion/Adidas) 1 hour 52 minutes and 33 seconds behind.
The off-road race continues tomorrow with a race from Bragg Creek to Rafter Six Resort.
TransRockies Challenge, Canada:
Stage 5, Sandy McNabb - Bragg Creek:
Open mixed category:
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) 108 kilometres in 6 hours 5 mins 45.6 secs
2, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll Up The Rim) at 12 mins 42.1 secs
3, Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion/Adidas) at 17 mins 46.7 secs
Overall:
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens, 24 hours 54 mins 39 secs
2, Saunders/Fedyna, at 44 mins 18 secs
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11/8/05 VICTORY FOR SEYMOUR AND OWENS
Irish MTB champions Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens had an excellent performance on the fourth stage of the mountainbike TransRockies Challenge in Canada, finishing 37 minutes and 5 seconds ahead of their main rivals in the Open Mixed category, Blair Saunders and Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The), yesterday.
The Irish duo, racing as Team Podge and Rodge, had won the first stage but then were beaten for two days running by the Adidas pairing. Saunders and Fedyna took over at the top of the general classification after stage three, but a great ride yesterday saw the Irish duo return to the top.
The 61.5 kilometre stage was run off in brutal weather conditions, with freezing rain and thick mud on the singletrack trails making the going very difficult. However, this clearly suited the Irish duo better than most, with Seymour and Owens dominating the Open Mixed category and retaking the lead by a margin of 31 minutes and 37 seconds.
The TransRockies Challenge requires each team of two to stay together throughout the stages, with the stronger rider doing what he can to motivate and provide draft to his partner. Team Podge and Rodge�s fine showing yesterday was one of the quickest of the day, with Seymour and Owens faster than all bar four of the 70 Open Male teams.
The race continues today with what is seen as the the queen stage of the TransRockies Challenge, a 108 kilometre slog from Sandy McNabb to Bragg Creek. The riders will face over 2300 metres of climbing, including 50 km of singletrack and an ascent to over 2100 metres on Powderface Ridge. There is a possibility that they will be racing through snow at the top of the mountain.
4th TransRockies Challenge, Canada (NE)
Day 4, Etherington - Sandy McNabb, 61.5km / 1595m climbing:
Selected results:
Open Mixed
1 Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) 4 hours 48 mins 25 secs
2 Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) at 37 mins 5 secs
3 Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion / Adidas) at 53 mins 41 secs
Open Men:
1, Andreas Hestler/Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mountain Business) 4 hours 26 mins 56 secs
2, Troy Misseghers/Neil Grover (Race Face Mountain Men) at 29 secs
3, Marco Pohlond/Paolo Cesa Scotiaba Montoya (LA RUTA C.R.) at 18 mins 42 secs
4, Urs Senn/Daniel Senn (Sennebuebe / Lungenliga) at 20 mins 12 secs
5, Jon Nutbrown/Kelly Servinski (The Bike Shop) at 28 mins 44 secs
General classification after stage 4:
Open Mixed:
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens, 18 hours 48 mins 54 secs
2, Saunders/Fedyna, at 31 mins 37 secs
3, Kobin/Warkentin, at 1 hour 34 mins 47 secs
Open Men:
1, Andreas Hestler/Marty Lazarski, 16 hours 54 mins 37 secs
2, Misseghers/Grover, at 16 mins 2 secs
3, Senn/Senn, at 1 hour 34 mins 40 secs
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10/8/05 SEYMOUR AND OWENS SLIP TO SECOND
Team Podge and Rodge duo Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens finished second in the mixed category of yesterday�s third stage of the TransRockies Challenge in Canada, losing their overall lead. The Irish riders finished 9 minutes and 30 seconds behind Blair Saunders and Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up) at the end of the 135 kilometre stage, slipping to second in the general classification.
They start today�s 61 kilometre, singletrack-dominated stage to Sandy McNabb 5 minutes and 28 seconds behind the new leaders.
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4th TransRockies Challenge, Canada (NE)
Day 3, Elkford - Etherington, 135km/2,100m climbing:
Open Mixed
1 Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) 5 hours 27 mins 7 secs
2 Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) at 9 mins 30 secs
3 Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion / Adidas) at 15 mins 29 secs
Overall after three stages:
Open Mixed:
1, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) 13 hours 55 mins 1 sec
2, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) at 5 mins 28 secs
3, Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion / Adidas) at 46 mins 34 secs
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9/8/05 SEYMOUR AND OWENS HOLD ON
Irish moutainbike champions Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens preserved their overall lead in the mixed category of the TransRockies Challenge in Canada yesterday. The duo won the first stage on Sunday and then finished as runner-ups to Blair Saunders and Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up) on the 123 kilometre leg to Elkford. The latter pairing pulled away from the others on the last climb and finished 6 minutes and 12 seconds clear of the Irish riders.
Seymour and Owens carry a four minute and two second lead into the third stage of the race.
TransRockies Challenge, Canada (NE)
Day 2, Sparwood - Elkford, 123km, 2070m climbing
Selected results:
Open Mixed:
1, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) 5 hours 28 mins 47 secs
2, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) at 6 mins 12 secs
3, Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion / Adidas) at 20 mins 40 secs
Overall after 2 stages:
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) 8 hours 23 mins 52 secs
2, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) at 4 mins 2 secs
3, Louise Kobin/Eric Warkentin (Team X-Fusion / Adidas) at 35 mins 8 secs
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8/8/05 SEYMOUR AND OWENS GOING WELL IN CANADA
Irish MTB duo Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens got off to an excellent start on day one of the TransRockies Challenge in Canada yesterday, winning the open mixed category on the first stage of the race. Competing under the title of team Podge and Rodge, the two covered the distance in a time of 2 hours 48 minutes 52 seconds, a full 9 minutes and 33 seconds of their nearest competitors. The time was also good enough for seventh overall on the day.
The TransRockies Challenge is run off as a team event with both riders needing to complete the course together. In all, over 150 teams of two are taking part in the seven day event.
The next stage looks to be quite a bit tougher, being 115 kilometres in length and featuring 1800 metres of vertical.
4th TransRockies Challenge, Canada (NE)
Day 1 - August 7, Fernie - Sparwood, 50km / 1303m climbing:
Selected results:
Open Men
1, Andreas Hestler/Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mountain Business) 50 kilometres in 2 hours 22 mins 7 secs
2, Troy Misseghers/Neil Grover (Race Face Mountain Men) at 9 mins 17 secs
3, Marco Pohlond/Paolo Cesa Scotiaba Montoya (LA RUTA C.R.) at 14 mins 15 secs
Open Mixed:
1, Robin Seymour/Tarja Owens (Podge and Rodge) 50 kilometres in 2 hours 48 mins 52 secs
2, Samantha Phillips/Tom Zidek (The Bike Shop / Bike Caf�) at 9 mins 33 secs
3, Blair Saunders/Marg Fedyna (Team Adidas Roll-Up-The) at 10 mins 15 secs