Locals lead way as MOMAR wraps up
Jeremy Grasby of Cumberland finished first overall at Saturday’s MOMAR event. Photo by Tony Austin
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Comox Valley competitors stood tall on the podium Saturday at the conclusion of the Coast Mountain Sports Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race.
MOMAR celebrated the end of their 10th season on Sept. 26 in Cumberland with ideal fall conditions, a record turnout, a seamless race, and two local racers taking top individual honours.
Jeremy Grasby of Cumberland finished first overall with a time of 4:28:30 and Genevieve Burdett of Courtenay was the first solo female racer to cross the finish line at 5:26:19. This was Grasby’s second overall title.
“It was one of the closest and most exciting finishes with the top four teams all within two-and-a-half minutes of each other,” said race director Bryan Tasaka. “When they went into the final orienteering stage, it was anyone’s guess who would come out first.”
Team Frontrunners, Norman Thibault of Nanaimo and Graham Cocksedge of Powell River, came in second overall and was the first team of two. Bart Jarmula of Revelstoke, the 2009 MOMAR Squamish champ, was third overall, followed by John Markez of Vancouver.
Both the 30km Sport Course and 50km Enduro Course were oversold, with a combined total of 360 racers at the start line. Race stages included kayaking on Comox Lake and mountain biking, trekking, and orienteering on the Cumberland trails. Participants came from all across Canada and the USA, and as far away as Ireland and Australia.
Following the awards ceremony at Mount Washington, Tasaka announced that participants and volunteers helped to raise $3,200 this year for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that helps grant wishes to kids with terminal illnesses. To date, the MOMAR has raised over $12,000 for the cause.
Funds were also raised for the Cumberland Community Forest Society through Dave Norona’s Iditasport Impossible movie screenings prior to the race. A total of $1,134 was raised, including a $300 donation from MOMAR.
Tasaka said plans are already in the works for the 2010 season with races planned in Squamish on May 22 and Cumberland on Sept. 25.
More information on racing, volunteering, MOMAR training clinics and their official charity is available at www.mindovermountain.com/momar or by calling 1-866-912-3331.
v2
