Multisports: Robin in wonderland

Robert Judkins gets the one-day event under way. Photo / Getty Images

Robin Judkins is away with the fairies. Literally. The zany, some might say insane, boss of the Speight's Coast to Coast has just finished writing a book.

"It is a fantasy novel set in the 21st century as Alice in Wonderland meets The Wind in the Willows," says Judkins with some pride as he sat watching competitors on the 33km mountain run section of this year's two-day race. "In it I have included eight songs."

He is also about to publish a second collection of poetry, but Judkins' artistic talents don't end there.

Imagine this: dressed only in his underpants and clutching a brush, the 60-year-old Judkins can spend up to a day-and-a-half in front of his easel painting. He churns them out.

"I had an exhibition last year when I had 44 paintings [for sale]. I sold 32. I have completed another 42 since then. I tend to be a bit prolific," he says proudly.

But it is as the race director of the Coast to Coast that Judkins is best known. It's no longer, though, his major focus.

"I have got a fresh interest. For the past six years I have been running the blue duck programme here in the park. When it started, we had only three of these highly-endangered birds. We now have more than 60.

"In the time we have been bringing the race through the run section, we have seen a huge increase in birdlife."

On the night before the first of this year's 750 competitors hit out, Judkins had four of "my guys" up in the mountainous terrain monitoring 250 traps they had laid.

Their reward: stoat, mice, rats and even possums. It's this accent on the environment that saw the Department of Conservation last week grant Judkins another 20-year concession to bring the race through Goat Pass.

The race has come a long way since Judkins and 11 mates set out on a first attempt in June, 1982.

"Only two of us finished. It took me 22-and-a-half hours. I walked out at Klondyke Corner at the end of the first day after 12 hours. I was a kayak instructor at the time so the paddle on the Waimak [river] was no problem but the bike to the finish was. I hadn't been on a bike for 12 years."

The first race, also over two days, was won by Englishman Joe Sherriff in 14h 11m 42s.

Since then Judkins has found other interests - motor-racing (he competed in four NZ Grand Prix) and ski-racing - but he is always drawn back to "his" race.

There is a certain irony in having the race sponsored by a brewery. As an alcoholic, he swore off the stuff in 1979.

"The Coast to Coast also cost me my marriage. That's my biggest regret."

But not one he dwells on too long. With 900 entries, and 750 starters, who all pay $935 to propel themselves from one side of the South Island to the other, Judkins does very well.

"It has allowed me to have an amazing life," he says with a big grin.

No one would question that.