Polaris Challenge

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Perspiring in the Peak

Rob Howard / 12.07.2005

This year’s summer Polaris was a real scorcher. It was hot, hot, hot ... too hot! Some teams were navigating to reach villages for water and ice cream, rather than trying find checkpoints! Shady checkpoints were crowded with resting teams and the finish marshals were in place early for those who came back before their time was up, deciding enough was enough.

There was the usual summer Polaris mix of close competition and entertainment too, and with most of the field camped out at the Thornbridge Outdoor Centre near Ashford in the Water it was a chance to enjoy a rare summer heatwave when the racing was over.

The summer Polaris is different to the Spring and Autumn events, as it has a fixed camp. There is no requirement to carry camping kit and food, and it’s a more sociable race with a bar and band in the race marquee. There was some pre-race entertainment too with Jez Avery putting on a stunt riding and jumping show on Friday evening, to the amusement and astonishment of those who watched. The volunteers may not have enjoyed it quite so much ... some almost spilled their beers!

Come Saturday morning it was time to get competitive ... or at least go for a ride, and there were a good mixture of experienced and novice racers in a wide range of classes. In the Parent & Offspring class teenagers were competing and in the Vets category some over 60’s were racing.

Up Jacob’s Ladder

Teams already had the checkpoints on their maps and after the start were given the points values that would determine their race strategy. There was a cluster of CP’s to the south, but the big points were further north, on checkpoints set either side of Ladybower reservoir and to the west of Kinder Scout on the High Peak.

With a 7 hour time limit on Saturday it was possible for most teams to reach them, but only if they were strong willed enough to pass many of the lower points scores on the way!See All Event Posts