The Journey
JOURNEY TO THE LOST BATTLEFIELD OF KOKODA, June 2010.
A 1200KM MOUNTAIN BIKE, SEA KAYAK AND TREKKING ADVENTURE EPIC.
On 7June 2010 John Jacoby, Brian Freeman, David Moffatt and Chris Bradford embarked on an epic 1200km Journey on Mountain Bikes; in Sea Kayaks and On-foot in support of “THE LOST BATTLEFIELD TRUST”.
The Mountain Bike Route began at Cape Tribulation and followed the Bloomfield Track, the Peninsula Development Road and the Old Telegraph Track, approximately 880km, on unmade roads and tracks, to the “TIP” of Cape York.
The Sea Kayak began from the “TIP” of Cape York and across Torres Strait for approximately 220km seeking landfall in Papua New Guinea near Daru Island, the Fly River Delta.
The final leg was a Speed Trek across the Kokoda Trail. This trek began at The Memorial at Owers Corner and concluded approximately 96km later at the Memorial in Kokoda Village.
The Adventure was self-funded by the participants, however, they greatly appreciated the support of 2XU and Salomon for their apparel.
The team is not aware that this combination of activities has ever been completed as a single event.
Their goal was to complete the entire distance in the shortest practical time, with due regard for safety and the conditions.
They expect to be “in motion” for up to 12 hours per day.
The progress was followed via maps, BLOG, videos and Twitter feeds at:
THE PARTICIPANTS
JOHN JACOBY

John is the founder and principal shareholder in Rapid Assent a leading Adventure Event Company based in Jan Juc, Victoria.
- 4 times World Marathon Kayaking Champion 1985, 86, 87 & 88
- 3 times World Multisport Champion (New Zealand Coast to Coast) 1988, 89 & 93
- 6 times Australian Kayaking Champion 10k to 42k between 1985 & 1993
- 5 times Winner JLL/JLW Challenge Mt. Buller to Melbourne 1994, 95, 96, 98 & 2001 (undefeated & race record holder)
- 2 times Winner JLL/JLW Challenge Katoomba to Sydney 1999 & 2000 5 times Winner Mars Challenge Ballarat to Barwon Heads 2001, 02, 03, 04 & 05 (undefeated & race record holder)
- 2 times Winner Tasmania 3 Peaks Race (Ocean Sailing & mountain running) '94 & '95
- 2 times Australian Rogaining Champion 1998 and 2001
- 1st place Eco Challenge, Maine, USA 1995
- 1st place Raid Gauloises - Krygyzstan 2003
- 1st place Mild Seven Outdoor Quest (4 day multisport race) Lijiang, China 2001
- 1st place Expedition British Virgin Islands Adventure Race 2001
- 1st place Extreme Adventure Hidalgo - Mexico 2005
- 1st place Mountain Designs Geoquest, NSW Australia, 2007
- 1st place Elf Authentique Adventure race Brazil 2000
- 1st place Western Isles Challenge, Scotland 1999
- 1st place Thredbo Enduro 1993
- 1st place Cradle to Coast multisport race (Tasmania) 1994
- 1st place Australian Winter Classic Multisport race Omeo, Australia 2000
- 5th place Eco Challenge British Columbia 1996
- 2nd place Eco Challenge Cairns 1997
- 2nd place Eco Challenge Morocco 1998
- 3rd place Eco Challenge Borneo 2000
- 3rd place Eco Challenge Fiji 2002
- 3rd place Raid the North Extreme, Yukon, Canada 2002
- 4th place Raid Gauloises, Vietnam 2002
- 4th place Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, China 2000
- 4th place Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, Sabah 2003
- 3rd place Primal Quest, Colorado 2002
- 4th place Primal Quest, Lake Tahoe 2003
- 3rd place Discovery Channel Southern Traverse 2000
- 3rd place Discovery Channel World Championship Adventure Race, Switzerland 2001
- 2nd place Torquay Ironman Triathlon 9hr 23 min
- 2nd place The Endurance Race - Mt. Cook to Christchurch N.Z. 2003
- 6th place World Rogaining Championships, New Zealand 2000
- Gold Coast Marathon PB 2hr 34 min
- Kayaked across Bass Strait 1997 and 2007 (east route)
- Kayaked across Bass Strait 2004 (west route)
- Kayaked west coast Tasmania Strahan to Southport 1999
- Circumnavigated Stewart Island (NZ) in sea kayak 2004
- Cycled around Tasmania (unassisted) aged 13 for 3 weeks, 1978
Awards
- 1987 - Presented with "Keys to City of Melbourne"
(Only 6th athlete to be accorded this honour)
- 1986 & '88 The Governors Amateur Sportsman of the Year Award
- 1988 - Finalist - Young Australian of the Year
- 1988 - Runner up "The Age" Sports star of the Year Award
DAVID MOFFATT

SELECTED CHARITY ADVENTURES:
- 2009 Iditarod Trail Alaska. (Book of Light Project)
- 2008 Shanghai to Beijing, China Road-bike ride. (Melbourne Hope School, Tianjin City)
- 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2003 Mark Webber “Pure Tasmania” Challenge; (Brainwave; Canteen; Tasmanian Devil; Lukemia Foundation)
- 2007 Sea Kayak across Bass Strait. (Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation)
- 2000 Melbourne to Sydney Olympic Bike Ride. (Open Family)
- 4 Times Giant Steps multi-day Bike Ride. (Giant Steps)
- 5 Times Murray to Moyne – 510 KM road-bike marathon, in 24 hours.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
- Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non - Profit Studies, Director
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, Director & Finance Committee Chair
- St Michael’s Grammar School, Melbourne – Director
- Giant Steps Foundation - Director
- Amy Gillett Foundation – Ambassador
- “Book of Light” Bushfire Recovery Project
- “Melbourne Hope School”, Tianjin City, China.
- Co - Chair, ADC “Future” Summit, 2007, 2009.
- Co - Chair, ADC “Philanthropy” Summit – 2009.
- Mark Webber Challenge – “Unofficial” Patron!
DAVID MOFFATT, PROFESSIONAL LIFE:
- 2003 – 2009: Group Managing Director – Telstra Consumer.
- 2001 – 2003: Chief Financial Officer – Telstra Corporation Limited.
- 2001 – 2009: Director - FOXTEL Limited.
- 2001 - 2003: Chairman - CSL (Hong Kong) Limited.
- 2001 - 2003: Director - REACH Limited.
- 1998 – 2001: Chief Executive Officer, GE Australia and New Zealand.
- 1996 – 2001: Chief Executive Officer – GE Capital Australia and New Zealand.
- 1991 – 1994: Vice President and Business Development manager GE Capital.
- 1989 – 1991: Chief Financial Officer – Palmer Tube Mills Limited
- 1987 – 1989: Co-Founder and Principal – Inter-financial Limited.
- 1985 – 1987: Manager, Corporate Finance, Bain and Company.
- 1981 – 1985: Assistant Vice President, Citibank N.A.
- 1980 – 1981: Management trainee, Boral Limited.
BRIAN FREEMAN

Brian Freeman served with the Australian Regular Army for over 20 years. Serving with the Australian Army Commandos he was deployed on the first aircraft into East Timor in 1999 as part of the INTERFET Multinational Force where his role was Operations Officer to General Peter Cosgrove. A founding partner and CEO of Brisbane based adventure company Executive Excellence, in 2006 Brian established Adventure35 - an exclusive member only adventure group with clients such as John Singleton, Lachlan Murdoch, Jamie Packer and Gerry Harvey.
Over the past 7 years Brian has personally lead over 1,000 people on adventure programs which have taken him around the globe. He has lead over 28 Kokoda expeditions with clients such as sporting greats Mal Meninga, Vicki Wilson, Chris Handy and Allan Border; politicians Mal Brough, Joe Hockey and Kevin Rudd; the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn Football Clubs; and David Koch and the Seven Sunrise Team.
In 2003, as part of a team of four, Brian set the world record for the fastest over and back crossing of the Kokoda Trail. In 2004, for his 40th birthday, Brian set the world record for the fastest individual and unsupported crossing of the Kokoda Trail in 24 hours and 59 minutes.
CHRIS BRADFORD

Chris is the National Sales Manager for 2XU, one of Australia’s fastest growing sports performance apparel brands.
Chris was a Professional Cyclist from 2000-2005 in France, Belgium & Asia. Chris has competed successfully in many professional road races including Tour Sunraysia, Herald Sun Tour and represented Australia at the Tour of Quing Hi Lake. Chris now enjoys Triathlon and Mountain Biking just for fun.
Some results:
- 1st Place 2010 BRW Triathlon 2010
- 2nd Place St Kilda Gatorade Triathlon Series 2010 (35-39)
- 2nd Place Portarlington Gatorade Triathlon 2010 (35-39)
- 1st Place St Kilda Gatorade Triathlon 2010 (35-39)
- 32nd World Triathlon Championships 2010 (punctured)
- 1st Place Gold Coast Half Ironman 2010 (35-39)
- 2nd Place Australian Sprint Championship 2010 (35-39)
- 1st Place XO Size Triathlon Brighton 2010 (35-39)
- 1st Place Lang Lang Victorian Duathlon Series 2009
- 4th Place Mark Webber Challenge 2008
- 5th Place Mark Webber Challenge 2007
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of Indonesia 2005
- 1st Place Plouay Race France 2004
- Leader Newspaper Sports star of the year 2004
- Australian National road team member 2004
- 1st Place Tattersall’s Road Race Ararat 2004
- 2nd Place Tattersall’s Road Race Warragul 2004
- Represented Australia in Tour of Japan 2004
- Australian Oceania Road Champion 2003
- Hawaii Ironman World Championships finisher 2000
- Switzerland Ironman finisher 2000
- Australian Triathlon Champion 20/24 1996