The SILVA Stingers team of Rob Preston (OA High Performance Manager, NCN) and Richard Mountstephens (BFN) have finished 3^rd in the 2008 KEEN Alps to Ocean Adventure Race. Starting the race in great fashion, they won the Prologue around Falls Creek in 2hrs48mins.

The 2^nd stage took competitors from Falls Creek, over Mt Bogong (Victoria’s highest peak) and down to Mount Beauty by mountain bike. The SILVA Stingers were 3^rd on this stage in 9hrs28mins, finishing behind Adventuresportnz, and OrionHealth Mixed.

This set the standard for the rest  of the race with the ultralong 3^rd stage also being won by AdventuresportNZ, OrionHealth Mixed 2^nd, and SILVA Stingers 3^rd.

This 28hr stage from Falls Creek to Omeo included a crux paddle down the very rocky Mitta Mitta river, and a 10-15hr trek with extremely tough navigation.

The final stage saw competitors start with Orienteering around Buchan caves with a bit of interesting caving thrown in. Then a 50km mtb ride followed by a 20km kayak to finish at Lakes Entrance. Though the race was promoted as being downhill all the way (Alps to Ocean) it was certainly a tough course with few team finishing the whole race.

The overall were:

1^st– AdventuresportNZ which consisted of NZ Orienteer and World AR and Rogaining Champion Chris Forne, and Gordon Walker
2^nd– OrionHealth.com Mixed- Stu Lynch (NZ MTBO representative) and Anna Berthleson
3^rd– SILVA Stingers

Other Australian Orienteers competing were:

10^th place John Toomey and Jen Graham-Taylor (John and Jen) from WA
12^th place Danielle Winslow (4TC/elsidee.com)
15^th place Cath Copeland and Thor Egerton (Sut Map)