Around 2000 people are expected to converge on Lower Portland for the first ever international Obstacle Course Racing World Championships next year.
Destination NSW have officially partnered with Australian owned company, True Grit, to launch the event, which will be held in June 2018.
The World Class course will span over ten kilometres of Australian terrain, with participants putting their mind and bodies to the ultimate test, completing 30 obstacles each lap, over 24 gruelling hours.
“After running successful True Grit events across the country, for five consecutive years now, and seeing more than 50,000 people run our courses, we’re excited to embark on international expansion, to invite overseas athletes to experience Obstacle Course Racing in true Australian style,” True Grit Managing Director, Adam McNamee said.
“The mixture of various terrain and vegetation at Lower Portland, with grasslands, woodlands, swamps and granite and sandstone escarpments makes it a great location for the event,” he said.
NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the inaugural 24 hour race was an exciting addition to the State’s sporting calendar.
“The NSW Government is committed to growing the NSW economy by building on its world class events calendar and securing events such as this will ensure we remain the number one State for tourism and major events in Australia,” Mr Marshall said.
“True Grit and the World 24 hour Obstacle Course Racing Championship are expected to attract more than 2000 visitors to Lower Portland, injecting more than $1.8 million into the local visitor economy.”
McNamee and his business partner who have both served in the Australian Defence Force, deploying to areas of high conflict including Afghanistan, Iraq and Timor-Leste, have brought their seasoned military background to the table to design the mentally trialling endurance course.
The company have held similar domestic events, including the annual Australian 24hr Enduro in partnership with OCR Australia.
“We’ve had participants travel from the US, Canada and the UK to not only participate, but take out titles in our 24 Hour Enduro events, so we’re excited to now officially open up the concept to the world, and encourage a heavy international market to truly experience Australia, particularly New South Wales’ spectacular natural terrain.”
McNamee encouraged people from the Hawkesbury to try their hand at the event.
“Give it a go. Obstacle course challenges are about getting out with your friends and doing something that is challenging and takes you out of your comfort zone.”
