Dynamic Adventure Racing Plus
Dynamic Racing Keeps off the Winter Chills
Nicky Thomas - Dynamic Adventure Racing / 07.02.2006
The snow that started falling on Friday night thankfully didn’t settle and the competitors turned up to a crisp, clear and cold morning at West Dean Village hall in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside. The small number that decided to stay tucked up in their warm beds missed out on a fun packed day.There was the usual mix of extremely experienced racers and those coming through from the standard event. It wasn’t long before all the competitors were plotting their maps and deciding whether to bike or run first. For the first time, Dynamic Adventure Racing had included a mandatory bike stage to test the racers’ single-track ability.
With the introduction of Sport Ident, the racers set off into the plains of Salisbury looking to collect as many checkpoints as possible in the 8-hour time window. Those heading off on their bikes took the race director’s advice and completed the mandatory bike stage first. This led to the first ‘I’ve got wet feet’ squeal from the supposedly hardened intermediate and experienced racers! A few managed to clear the single track without putting a foot down, whilst others chose the more gentle approach, to walk the challenging drop offs.
As the sun began to melt the ice, the first set of competitors started returning to the hall, Tom Gibbs, Astrid Wheatcroft and Howard Lowe returning from clearing the run in less than 3 and a half hours, with Anthony Emmet clearing the bike course in the same time.
The Cotswold team returned to the hall, one struggling with sickness and hence retired, whilst others returned, relaxed and spent slightly longer than planned in transition enjoying one of Flossie’s famous cakes and cuppas! It was not long before the hall was once again quiet as dusk fell and the darkness crept in. The only interruption of the day was when the emergency phone number was called. See All Event Posts
