Adventure race reaches its last peak

A race which has sent people on adventures through some of Hawke's Bay's most "hard to get" locations will hold its final event nearly a decade since it started.

The final 2012 Snow Wilkins Hawke's Bay Adventure Race will be held on March 31 - nine years after the first race in 2003.

The event, initiated by course director Tim Wilkins, has been held on challenging land and waterways such as the Kaweka Ranges, Cape Kidnappers and Tutira.

The first ever race attracted 27 two- and four-person teams and it is now capped at 100 teams and more than 350 entrants.

"We have all shapes and sizes participating and its great to see competitors cross the finish line with a smile on their face," Mr Wilkins said. "We have a good mix of activities from kayaking, abseiling and mountain biking though to caving, blind four wheel driving and clay bird shooting."

Mr Wilkins remained tight-lipped on where the 2012 race would be held.

The course is normally revealed to entrants on the eve of the start.

"We always have people trying to guess where it is but they never know until we give them the maps at the pre-race briefing," he said.

The event had also been successful is raising $20,000 which was ploughed back into schools and kindergartens.

Entry forms are available at www.hbar6.co.nz