Open Adventure - Open5 Series (Broughton-in-Furness)

---

Thrills and Spills

James Thurlow (Open Adventure) / 16.05.2006

The weather report in the week preceding the third Open5 of 2006 was beginning to show party political tendencies as it switched from sunny spells to rain every other day. The result was an overcast morning that developed in to rain and damp competitors in the afternoon. It did little to mar the smiles as people rattled through the finish line.

For this Sunday morning in May 170 competitors found their way to Broughton in Furness at the southern end of the Lake District near the end of the Duddon valley. The event centre was the local primary school, which provided the location for registration and the chance to examine the maps for the day. Nervous competitors were faced with miniaturised toilets with 5ft partitions, just the right height to feel very vulnerable.

The walls of the school hall were adorned with the local childrens schoolwork and maps of Blawith common for the running and the Duddon valley for the MTBing. The usual helpful comments from the organiser annotated the maps such “beware dogs ... big ones ... usually on a chain attached to tree� as well some advice on permissive rights of way.

As competitors schemed their plan of attack to we run or cycle first, Debbie Smith from Team accelerate was pacing the car park like an expectant parent. Gill Watson her team mate was late, they had a 6km cycle to the start and it was passed 10.00am (last start 10.30) – and then in the distance we heard the drone of a VW caravanette, 20mins later Gill pulled in to the car park F’n and blindn’ about a Nissan Micra. A quick transition and they were off.See All Event Posts