Rivalry lighting up Coast to Coast corporate challenge

Regional sporting trust rivalry lighting up Kathmandu Coast to Coast corporate challenge

16 October 2018

The challenge of “walking the talk” by competing as a team in February’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast issued over a month ago by Sport Canterbury has been taken on by the country’s southernmost regional sports trust.

Sport Canterbury CEO Julyan Falloon challenged local councils and regional sporting organisations to enter a corporate team in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast in a bid to foster local and regional rivalry and the call was heard loud and clear in the offices of Sport Southland.

“We were really excited to be challenged by the team at Sport Canterbury to do the Kathmandu Coast to Coast,” Sport Southland chief executive Brendon McDermott said.

“We were keen to take on the corporate challenge and there’s a bit of good banter happening about the office and between the two organisations and we’ve got massive support from our wider colleagues, friends and the team at Sport Southland, so I look forward to the best sports trust winning in February.”

Sport Canterbury CEO Julyan Falloon said his team were “excited and committed” to the challenge of the event and taking on their southern sporting trust colleagues. “It’s already made a huge impact around the office,” he said.

“We work really closely with our friends at Sport Southland on a number of fronts, so were thrilled they took up the challenge and it’s only going to motivate us even more with the training and preparation over the next three to four months.”

Falloon said that as the Regional Sports Trust for the Canterbury West Coast region, everything the organisation did has a focus on getting and keeping people engaged with sport and physical activity, so getting involved in such an iconic event as the Kathmandu Coast to Coast was a chance to remind organisations across the region what a great impact being active has on mental as well as physical wellbeing.

“Entering a team also inspires much wider support,” he said. “It isn’t only about us as the ones competing, but the team element also pulls in work colleagues, friends and family who get engaged and involved in the lead up and event as well.”

The Corporate Challenge Event sees a three person team competing in the two day event splitting up the cycling, running and kayaking. At least two members of the team must be full time employees of the company leaving room for one ring in if required.

“We see the event as a great team-building exercise and example of encouraging staff to set goals around their own sport, recreation and wellbeing,” Falloon said.

As far as predicating which Sports Trust would cross the finish line first Falloon was quick to point out he thought he’d get the better of McDermott over the 30.5 kilometre mountain run giving him the ability to build a winning lead heading into the kayak and final bike legs.

“Well, we’ll see about that on the day won’t we,” McDermott quipped.

video clip with the two organisations CEO’s Brendon McDermott and Julyan Falloon

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