Marc’s Quest Max
Rob / 11.03.2003
At the second QuestARS of the year, held in the Forest of Dean last Sunday (March 9th), they were not quite ready for a rampaging Marc Laithwaite, who cleared every control on every stage of the race! It’s the first time anyone has come close to achieving that, and no one was even close to him as he scored over 1000 Questars points.The race started at the Five Acres Leisure Centre, Coleford and once again Quest’s luck held and it was a clear sunny day despite a miserable forecast of rain. In the days leading up to the race however, most of the country had seen very heavy rain and for the canoeing stage the River Wye was fast flowing, especially at the rapids section
This may have helped Laithwaite as only those teams who were confident in the conditions were allowed on the water (to the relief of many) and there were no check points to collect, the paddlers just had to get from A to B to receive their Questars. Laithwaite did this in double quick time but 2 teams took a quick dip! Rescued swiftly they were soaked and a bit chilly, but one of them valiantly carried on to the end gaining the maximum points for the stage.
Quite a few teams reached all the running checkpoints to score 410 Questars but on the mountain biking it was only Laithwaite who cleared them all. (Team Platypus were closest to him with 425 out of a possible 450 points.) His final tally of 1010 Questars was the highest ever and Race Director Martin Ward just said; “He was in a class of his own!†However, he did reveal they pulled out one running CP at the last minute which was on top of a steep, slippery hill, and Laithwaite admitted he couldn’t have got it without incurring penalties.
If they spread the checkpoints out more next time you know who to blame!
Results
Overall & Men\'s Solo - Marc Laithwaite - 1010 Questars
Men\'s - Warren Ashley Bates - 880 Questars
Ladies\' - Sacha Course Ltd - 590 Questars
Veterans - The Hillbillies - 720 Questars
Mixed - Penyfan Challengers - 905 Questars
Novices - David Hesketh - 615 Questars
