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Great location. Great event. Great tracks. Great racing. Finished 4th in category yet again..... just great....

A fun but sad weekend in Bundanoon for the 13th and final edition of the Highland Fling. Did the full camp out in the paddock thing. Registered and got my string to tie on the number and a couple of free CO2 cartridges (small). Ate food to support the local primary school. Woke early, so I was already in the dunny queue when the piper hit the paddock. Queued for coffee with my own cup in compliance with the Fling's waste minimisation approach. Breakfasted, prepped the bike, watched the Full Flingers take off and then kitted up and headed out for a short warm up before the Half Fling.

https://www.change.org/p/council-northernbeaches...

There aren't many write-ups for this year, and as I enjoy them I'll throw one up myself..

THE GOAL

The last Kowalski race leaves a lasting memory of being one of the toughest 50km I've done but something that I will miss dearly.
This is my 4th Kowalski race and 3rd half kowalski, probably my favorite marathon event out of all the races that I've done.

After having to cancel a long road trip to WA to do the Cape to Cape (going via Alice Springs, the Pilbara and the Coral Coast), I decided to revisit the Wollombi Wild Ride after a few year's absence. Signed up for the Long version (58km).

Many will have seen a recent announcement that the Highland Fling maybe following the demise of so many other races with even the Mont and the Kowalski coming to an end this year. I'd be interested in what people think as to why these things are happening. Is it:
1. These races are run for profit and not volunteers and therefore are prone to declines in sponsorship?
2. That people are changing habits and want to do more downhill when these races are marathon by nature?
3. That we're not promoting the sport enough?
4. That the races were just not that enjoyable?

Beautiful day for this one. Interesting start in age group waves meant that for the first part at least, I had an idea where I was in my category. Position varied from 4th onto the dirt up to 2nd then drifting to fifth as the uphills slowed me down, then back up to 4th at the finish. Lost time when the front der wouldn't change down on BMX hill and with an ill-advised and unsuccessful overtaking manoeuvre in the run down from the helipad. Finished 81st out of 250 odd overall and 4th out of 20 in over 60's.

Found a front wheel at the Manly dam Hydro on Wednesday night pm me if it's yours.

Having competed in 12 of the 13 runnings of this event since its inception in 2005 it is always a highlight for me. That first year was by far the toughest with 3 big climbs starting with Jacks Track then climb up 8 Mile Track (the descent the 68km riders do now) then the climb up Blue Hill (the descent the 100km riders do now).