70 teams vie for $100,000 SPARC Hillary Exp. Fund

19 November 2002

70 teams vie for $100,000 SPARC Hillary Expedition fund

Applications for the $100,000 SPARC Hillary Expedition have closed, with over 70 teams putting forward proposals for consideration.

The Expedition organiser, SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand), is stunned with the quality of the proposals which cover almost every imaginable corner of the globe.

SPARC Chief Executive Nick Hill said he was delighted and amazed with the number, quality and diversity of applications. "These include kayak expeditions up the Nile, tandem biking to Calcutta, travelling under water from Papua New Guinea to the sub-Antarctic, traversing untamed mountain ranges in Alaska, and mountain-biking deepest darkest Mongolia to name a few."

Almost every imaginable mode of transport is on offer, from dog sled and camel, to kayak, mountain bike, yacht and surfboard.

Nick Hill said not all the expedition applications are offshore. "We've got one team of scientists who want to continue exploring remote parts of Fiordland, and other groups who plan to undertake a range of challenges making the most of the great New Zealand landscape. One team even want to explore underground New Zealand with a caving expedition!

"While there are a few 'household name' explorers among the applications, we're heartened that there are many more extraordinary kiwis that aren't well known, plus there are teams put together by what I'd call virtually professional adventurers, and outdoor guides. Short listing is going to be a nightmare, but it's a great problem to have."

Shortlisting will take place over the next four to five weeks with the winners being announced in late February.

For more information on the SPARC Hillary Expedition, check out www.sparc.org.nz.

ENDS

Check out the Home of NZ Sport Online - http://www.sparc.org.nz

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