NORTH BEACH resident Tia Calvo, the first Australian to compete in the world’s only international all women extreme 4×4 off-roading challenge, finished sixth after a cracked windscreen ended the chance to compete in three crucial stages.
Shemud is held in the Malaysian jungle in the region of Negeri Sembilan, with competitors in teams of two (driver and navigator) tackling a series of short technical stages to prove their skills in navigation, driving, winching and the ability to complete challenging courses quickly.
Calvo competed alongside Malaysian driver Azrimah Binti Kasim.
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READ NOWThis year’s event featured eight teams from a range of countries including Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and returning reigning champions Italy.
“The cracked windscreen meant we couldn’t compete in three crucial stages while we waited for repairs, which greatly affected our points,” Calvo said.
“We ended up coming sixth, but we were first runner-up for our class which was 3000CC and under; last year’s winners Italy took home the title again.
“While this was a very trialling challenge, I learnt an incredible amount about both off-roading and my own strength, and I met interesting women from all over the world.
“I highly recommend this event for anyone looking for adventure and something new.”
Shemud showcases the skills of female drivers in challenging off-road terrain in addition to encouraging new women into the sport.