Open Adventure - Open24 (Yorkshire Dales)
‘24’
Rob Howard / 03.08.2006
As competitors gathered at Addingham Memorial Hall for the race briefing for the second edition of Open24 they were keen to hear what James Thurlow had lined up for the UK version of ‘24’, the action drama in which they were all about to star.Looking a little haggard, Thurlow admitted the logistics to prepare the race had been “hellish� as he’d spent the week trying to save the race when most of the surrounding moors were closed to public access due to a high fire risk. (A major blaze was still smouldering on Ilkley Moor at the time and it subsequently burnt for 5 days consuming 500 acres.)
“There is to be absolutely no smoking on the course,� he said, “no glass bottles and no stoves used.�
The Directors Cut
“I did have a special contour map of the Simon’s Seat area above Bolton Abbey prepared,� he added, showing a copy of it. “The idea was to have different controls for male, mixed and female pairs and no control descriptions, but I’m afraid that is now cancelled and we have an alternate route along the river Wharfe.�
Ironically the forecast was for the long drought to break during the race but any rain would come too late to affect the route. “Once the race is underway there will no changes�, he replied in response to a question. “It’s like a runaway train once it’s started!�
Then he asked a question of his own. “Does anyone have an idea where the paddling on the final stage is?� (The control points had been pre-released on Anquet mapping software.) When no one came up with an answer he sprung his surprise. “We’ve arranged a dam release on the Washburn and you’ll be making a white water descent in Sevys!� There was round of cheering and applause. “And you’ll be going solo, not in pairs.� Some worried looks around the hall now ... this was an unexpected twist in the script.
The Plot
The full course booklet was not given out until later, after bikes and gear boxes had been handed in. It revealed the following:
Stage 1; Run/trek from the start at Bolton Abbey up the river Wharfe (8 CP’s)
Stage 2; Mtb in Wharfedale (20 CP’s) and a tandem abseil off Kilnsey Crag
Stage 3: Run/trek in upper Wharfedale (15 CP’s) including a Gill Scramble
Stage 4; Mtb on Carlton/Masham Moors (15 CP’s) and finishing with a 300m Cave exploration
Stage 5: Mtb in Nidderdale (13 CP’s) and a gorge exploration
Stage 6; Whitewater kayaking and 12km run to finish across Blubberhouses moor.
The format was described by Pete James as ‘Endurance Score’ and allowed teams an open choice of checkpoints on all stages with each of the special activities (described as ‘Trouser Fillers’) very heavily weighted with high scores.
In another twist the checkpoints were weighted to give the highest points to those on the more direct routes between transitions and the outlying checkpoints had lesser values. (To make it harder for the elite teams to open up a big points margin.)See All Event Posts
