The Rat is Back
Rob Howard / 16.01.2005
Feed by the initial enthusiasm for urban racing in the UK, the Rat Race Volvo Urban Adventure returns for 2005, and like all successful rats it’s been breeding. Last year there was just one ... now there are 3 ... and they are bigger!After last year’s successful and spectacular launch, the race heads back to Edinburgh over the weekend of July 16/17th. The format will be similar to last time (why change when it was such a hit?) with mixed teams of 3 taking on an 80km course, split into a 4 hour opener on Saturday, and an 8 hour urban adventure on Sunday. (The 4 hours is maximum ... and the 8 hours is minimum. You’ve been warned!)
‘Secret Disciplines’ will be mixed in with running, biking, canoeing, ropes and navigation on a Gary Tompsett course around the city streets, parks, suburbs, coast and hills. But this time there are 3 categories, as along with the main class there will be Elite and Rookie options. (This Rat speaks American.) And there is room for many more teams too, up to 250 teams in the main class, 20 Elite and 100 rookie teams. The entry fee is £80, £25 for rookies, and a new online entry system will be available soon.
But before Edinburgh comes a new venue ... Bristol, which is home to some of the UK’s top racers, and a perfect location for urban racing. With the Avon Gorge, the downs, it’s many parks and magnificent cityscape, it’s an urban adventure playground waiting to be explored.
The Course Planner is Pete James of Team Saab Salomon, who lives in Bristol and has been itching to organise a race there for years. The format will be the same as the Edinburgh event, and the race will take place over the weekend of June 11/12th.
