Less? The autumnal adventure race was just six hours in duration, with a 14km trek and 25km mountain bike stage (both could be further shortened if you missed some of the optional checkpoints). More? The race attracted no fewer than 58 two- and four-person teams. Many were AR newbies.

Judging by some of the conversations at the finish, the event went down an absolute treat. People were enthused, and rapt. Forget the typical stretching limits of endurance and team harmony: the only late night any of these guys had was at the pub.

The six hour race was innovative in other ways. Things kicked off with a running and kayaking Rogaine on the edge of stunning Lake Tarawera, near Kawerau. Then one of the trek’s checkpoints offered a time bonus for jumping off a six metre high cliff into the cold Tarawera River. There were more time bonuses up for grabs for shooting targets on a rifle range, paddling a plastic sit-on down a grade 3 rapid, and riding round a BMX track.

In all, there were a couple of dozen checkpoints to find, some easy and some really pretty tricky (they were hidden under bridges, up trees, down banks, even under water).

“Neil [Jones] spent days marking out the course,” said race co-director Mike Van der Boom, explaining the fresh thinking. Jones won the Speight’s Coast to Coast longest day in 1996 and has done dozens of adventure races around the globe, so fair to say, he has a bit of experience of what works in an adventure race.

“We wanted to make sure the race was really interesting and fun the whole way,” Van der Boom said.

Another twist was that teams could all race unsupported (as they could in the accompanying Whakatane Great Outdoors 24hr race). Competitors dropped their bikes and gear off at a transition station at Tarawera Falls, drove to the start at Lake Tarawera - and trekked their way back. After hopping on their bikes, they rode down forestry roads to the finish at Kawerau hot pools. As Van der Boom said: “being able to race without a crew got a big tick of approval.”

The six-hour was won by Nga Rakau, led by South African Sakie Meyer, who put in a near-seamless demonstration of navigation to win in 5hrs 10min.

Meanwhile, the accompanying Whakatane Great Outdoors 24 hour race was as challenging as ever. World champions Orion Health showed their class in winning in 19hrs 15min (before credits and penalties were tallied), reclaiming the title they lost in 2008 with a lead of two hours. Most of the teams took around the full 24 hours.

The leading teams were close during the opening kayak stage to Hot Water Beach on Lake Tarawera. From there, they headed to the edge of Lake Rotomohana, site of the Pink and White Terraces. Then it was back to the Tarawera Outlet for a surprise 30 minute Rogaine, a trek to the Tarawera River, and a 60 km mountain bike through the Tarawera Forest.

After that warm-up, the race got tough. The overnight trek from Tui Glenn on the outskirts of Kawerau back to the Tarawera Outlet took Orion almost nine hours - and many much longer.

Second to finish were Vamos en Bici, including last year’s Whakatane race winners Shane Armstrong and Sophie Hart, plus Nic Ross and Angus Jennings from Christchurch. Third overall, and winning two-man team, were Shameless, another five minutes back.

Results: www.whakatane.com