Sun, sweat and sand - the Croc Trophy

Crossing the Isabella Creek

The infamous Croc Trophy Mountain Bike Ride finished its 10 days of gruelling competition in Hope Vale and Cooktown on Thursday 27th October. Slated as the Hardest, Longest and most Adventurous Mountain Bike race in the World, it is organised by Austrian, Gerhard and his team. The Croc trophy has been competing in the Far North for 17 years but this was the first year they finished in Cooktown, having ridden across much of Cook Shire's rugged landscape.

After months of glorious sunshine, the Far North suddenly dumped a record breaking amount of rain over a week - just as the Croc Trophy riders were ready to leave Cairns. The first three days of the competition were muddy and difficult, resulting in swift changes to the route. Luckily the rain stopped and as the riders headed into Cook Shire the freshly washed countryside glistened green and the dust wasn't as bad as it could have been.

The country from Laura to Kalpower to Munberra and into Hope Vale is stunning and remote - these are traditional lands belonging to local Aboriginal Traditional owners and they use them for personal fishing and pig hunting mainly. There are a few shacks but certainly no amenities - just beautiful raw Australian bush.  Bush fires can rage at this time of year as the traditional burns take place before the wet to allow for timely germination of the plants and the riders kept a watch out as smoke rose to the north of their route.

Talking to some of the teams from Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand, I was intrigued by the fact that they had seen very little of the wildlife during their ride. No snakes or crocs - just a few bewildered cattle watching as they sped past. The support team numbered several 4wd's and many trucks that drove ahead each day to set up camp for the exhausted riders.  Water was important to carry as most of the rivers out here are home to both saltwater and freshwater crocs.

When the riders finally arrived in Hope Vale on the morning of the 27th October they were met by a glistening swimming pool which was a welcome site at the end of more than 1200 kms of mud and dust.

And you know the funny thing was that the 'Croc Trophy' awarded, was actually a wooden boomerang with an engraved plaque glued onto it. I would have thought that after all those miles and all that hardship, something with a bit more bite could have been handed out!

Winner - Jeroen Boelen, Nederlands