Sweatshop Trailplus Adventure Race Series

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Yomping at Yateley

Lyn Cooper. Photos Irving Bartlett. / 05.10.2004

A record-breaking total of 110 teams turned up at Gibraltar Barracks, near Camberley in Surrey, for the second event of the Sweatshop- TrailPlus Series.

Following a race briefing the teams got underway just after 10.00 am in overcast and cool conditions. There were one or two showers during the first part of the race and, as ever, this was not to be the only occasion when the teams got wet. But the sun was soon shining literally and metaphorically on “Thames Turbo 1� as they set a fast pace on the opening run to collect their buoyancy aids.

Next up was the “Ski Challenge� and with some teams putting on their buoyancy aids as they attempted to hold on to each other, all that could be heard was the regimental calls of the teams – left, right, left, right as they made there way to the transition point to head off on their mountain bikes.

A 24km route involved two laps of a challenging and scenic route involving both speedy sections and single track. Some teams kept their buoyancy aids on for this section – were they contemplating the need for some additional padding! Thames Turbo 1 were extending a lead that they were never to give up.

Viewing some of the bikes upon return to transition it appeared that the course might have taken its toll – a broken derealier amongst a few of the injuries! The 10km run took the teams en route to Hawley Lake where the teams had a short swim to get their inflatable kayaks! As usual these proved a great challenge and for most the ‘straight line’ of the ski challenge became a distant directional memory.See All Event Posts