ACE Race

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The Xtra Dimension

Rob Howard / 08.10.2004

Of all the races this year, this one had the most riding on it – the British Championships title and rankings, the final ACE Race of the year, and the ACE Race Series titles in all classes. The venue in Galloway Forest was a long way from any nearby town, the terrain there is infamous for it’s bogs, tussocks and forest ‘fights’, and the forecast was wet and stormy. The 2004 ACE Races finale had enough Xtra challenges for everyone.

They were not all chasing titles or points of course, there were quite a few who had picked this tough race as their first. It was an opportunity for those who live in Scotland to compete in an ACE Race without too much travelling, (something those who endured the M6 knew all about!)

“We did the Rat Race and entered this one as our first weekend race as it’s in Scotland� said Will Holland of Team Fluffy. They would be easily recognisable by the bright pink fluffy fur they carried throughout the race! Another newcomer was Shona Robertson, who had seen one of Gary Tompsett’s talks at Tisos. “I’m entered as a solo as none of my mates were interested,� she said, “but I think it might be more fun in a team. There is so much to think about it’s hard on your own.�

The logistics of an ACE Race can be a bit daunting, and for those in the Xtra preparing for each new stage would be critical. They completed the same 3 hour X-country stage as all the competitors to start the weekend, then took in a ropes stage before the Mtb stage in the afternoon. (A canyoning section was cancelled as the water was too cold.)

There was also an abseil included in the night navigation, which was followed by a technical 30km night bike ride into the early hours of the morning. There was little chance to sleep after that as on Sunday the Xtra teams had to start early to fit both the Trail Run and Endurance cycle stages into the day, rather than choose one or the other as everyone else did.

Mountain Goats

Everyone started with the X-Country, remembering Phil’s briefing that short cuts in Galloway are not recommended as they headed up and up through the forest to the open fells. There were two obvious routes up, some turned left and some right at the exit to the campsite, and Traverse and SleepMonsters, the two teams competing for the ACE Races series title went opposite ways.See All Event Posts