Great race competition draws community involvement

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September 23, 2008

By Andrea Hirsch The Hendricks County Flyer Tue Sep 23, 2008, 09:16 AM EDT

While the title of “the greatest spectacle in racing” has already been assigned to another area event, the inaugural Race Across Hendricks County brought out some heavy competition.

The event, held Saturday, was loosely based on of the television show “The Amazing Race.”

Fifteen two-person teams had to travel to five locations throughout the county to complete a series of challenges. The teams began at McCloud Nature Park in North Salem, then went to Ellis Park in Danville, Williams Park in Brownsburg, Washington Township Community Park in Avon, and ended the race at the Plainfield Aquatic Center.

Each event was timed, based on the completion of designated activities such as obstacle courses, nature-based challenges, and treasure hunts. Once all participants had completed selected activities at their given location, they headed to the next destination to take on new challenges.

Sisters Penny Smith and Robin Sullivan made up one of the teams in the competition. They said their other two sisters and their husbands also participated because they wanted to do something as a family.

“We always watch ‘The Amazing Race’ and thought it would be fun to be in it,” Sullivan said.

Hendricks County residents Tasha and Lucas Bush were on a team together and said they were having a blast.

“Some of these events are harder than they look,” Lucas said.

The top three teams were awarded cash prizes of $250 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. Each of the contestants received a T-shirt, lunch, and other give-a-ways.

Jim and Missy Wright, playing under the team name of The Wright Stuff, took first place with a combined time of 1:33:24.

Coming in second were Susan and Nathan Francis and taking third were Leah Endress and David Mohler.

The last place team had a time of 3:10:03, so the entire race was very close.

Kristen Machan, director of the Avon-Washington Township Parks and Recreation, said the race was a great way to involve many of the parks in the county.

“It’s so exciting because this was truly a county-wide event and all parks in Hendricks County were represented,” she said. “It is the first time we have had this type of community-wide event.”

Bill Roche, director of the Hendricks County Parks and Recreation, said he enjoyed working with the other parks in the county and watching the teams participate in the challenges.

“Everyone in the county came together,” he said. “A lot of people have never done something like this non-traditional event and when you get that many people out, it’s very encouraging.”

Machan said she was happy with the turnout and is hoping to make the race an annual event. Preliminary plans call for next year’s race to be on July 18.

SIDEBAR:

Team rankings

1. Jim and Missy Wright

2. Susan and Nathan Francis

3. Leah Endress and David Mohler

4. Reyner team

5. Tracy and Stephen Moore

6. Joe Steward and Matt Steward

7. Lori Stroup and Cara Wilson

8. Toni and Brian Hewson

9. Dave and Caroline Koutz

10. Terry and Tiffany Ballard

11. Tasha and Lucas Bush

12. Robin Sullivan and Penny Smith

13. Bonnie Morrow and Erin Singler

14. Mandi and Mike Hitch

andrea.hirsch@flyergroup.com

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