Ford Ranger Adventure Series

Puzzled near Peterborough

Rob / 16.05.2002

You’re told you are going to get wet, the race is sponsored by a company called ‘Ford’ and the finish is by a river called the ‘Little Ouse’ ... So, why were there such surprised, even horrified, faces when teams were told the final challenge was to wade the river! Maybe they were tired, maybe they were confused, and maybe they had good reason to be both.

This was first of the new Ford Ranger Adventure Series, one day events which are all within 2 hours of London and are designed to attract newcomers to the adventure racing. And this first race did just that. About 70% of the 200+ competitors were new to AR, out for a day of fun and games, to see what it was all about, and if was for them.

Phil (my lips are sealed) Humphreys hadn’t given any details away, and even as he stood in the drizzle giving his race briefing he still wasn’t. He’d already said competitors should bring a towel and expect to get wet, and that a puncture repair kit was VERY important. Now he added the fact there would be 8 challenges before, during and after the trail run and mtb ride, but only when they got the race map, part way into the run, would teams know any of the route. The challenges they would find out about when they arrived at them.

What he didn’t mention was just how vertically challenged the Snow and Rock van had been on the way to the race. It had been stuck fast, under a nearby railway for an hour, while the line was closed and fire brigade pulled it out, minus some of the roof! Fortunately, the driver wasn’t hurt, only the van and his ego were battered.

Everyone gathered together at 10am for a mass start and a mystery tour that began by following little ACE hand icons hung in the trees to mark out a 3 mile run. The idea was the leaders would have to slow a bit to check for them. (There were 47 of them!) Then came the map issue and another seven miles through the forest looking for 8 control points. These were at track junctions so compass work wasn’t required, just a bit of care and basic map reading.