Mountain Hardwear Open5 Adventure Race Series #1
A Cold and Competitive Start to the Year
Anna Gracie (Photos by James Kirby) / 24.01.2007
“What a beautiful day for a race!� was the comment made halfway up the M1 to Hebden Bridge early on Sunday morning. The sun was shining through the clouds and it appeared that even the rain had decided to hold off. Appearances can be misleading ...Driving into the village of Hebden Bridge you couldn’t help but notice the steep hills towering all around, covered in a maze of intertwining bridleways and paths. Arriving at the community centre the heavens opened, not just with rain but hail and lots of it. The snow didn’t come until a little later – the day was going to be interesting for those taking to the hills in the first Mountain Hardwear Open5 and UK adventure Race of 2007.
Inside the community hall (Race HQ) the usual mix of excitement and trepidation was in the air. Competitors pored over maps, others running to anyone in a marshal vest asking the essential questions on mandatory kit and to glean any little bits of inside information on the location of check points.
The most wonderful element of the Open Adventure races is the real mix of talent. On the one hand you have teams turning up with sponsored kit and top of the range bikes that are out to win. On the other you have teams who just love the outdoors and being covered in mud!
Whatever category the teams fell into they could be assured of a good day out at the hands of local boys Jonathan Emberton and Phil Scarf, the course designers. The two, who have raced with Team CompassPoint for the last three years, wanted to give something back to Open Adventure and planned a course with a few twists and turns.See All Event Posts
