Open Adventure - Open5 Series
Snowdrifts in Swaledale
James Thurlow - Open Adventure / 28.03.2005
Sunday 13th March - The first ever Open Adventure event! The format for the first Open5 race was a mountain biking and running score event over 5hrs, with the split between the two disciplines left up to the competitors, an extra challenge on top of the navigation.The drive to the Swaledale valley on the clear crisp morning was to provide the initial challenge with a number of the passes blocked by snow – the start times had to be extended to accommodate Pete Robinson’s nightmare drive!
Eighty competitors made it through to the start line, which was on the village green in Reeth. The majority of whom were completely new to the sport, eager to find out what it was all about.
With competitors able to run or cycle first it was a surprise to see a 50/50 split from the start, but as the day unfolded it was clear choosing to run first, then gain as many MTB controls as possible was the winning tactic.
The run stage proved to be the most exhilarating with competitors returning to the transition with smiles and buzzing from the views off the top of Fremington edge. In the Spring sunshine at Reeth it was hard to believe some of the run controls were perched on walls almost buried below 4 foot snow drifts!
The transition provided excellent lunch time entertainment for the event staff. The Morcombe and Wise behaviour of Mick Kenyon and Mark Chryssanthou was a sight to behold. Poor Mick was suffering from an ear infection so was deaf in one ear and Mark was completely pre-occupied with jelly babies – so it was slightly inevitable that Mark set off on the MTB with the wrong partner. Much to the amusement of the locals, many of those returning from the MTB and then heading straight out on the run were doing the funky chicken as their legs ceased to provide an efficient means of travel.
Cycling proved a little more challenging with what were supposedly fast tracks across Harkerside and Merrick Moor reduced to either a hike-a-bike or a lottery on ice. For those willing to play the lottery it was possible to cycle at a speed that kept the bike above the crust of the snow but occasionally the crust would break causing the front wheel to sink 6� and catapult the perplexed rider.See All Event Posts
