The Votwo Dirty Double Adventure Race
Dirt, Hail and Obstacles
Ben Mason (Votwo) / 21.03.2007
The inaugural votwo.co.uk ‘Dirty Double’ adventure race took place on Sunday 18th March at Inside Park in Blandford, Dorset. Nearly 100 competitors braved the wrath of their Mums by turning up late and muddy to family lunches to celebrate Mothering Sunday after having attended the race. Organiser Ben Mason promised that next year such as clash would be avoided (he will be moving Mothers Day to a more convenient date). The race format was loosely based on a run, bike, run around the varied farm and woodland terrain that made Inside Park a top national series mountain bike venue in the 1990s. It also incorporated an assault course of nets, balance beam, tunnels and ‘The Jungle section’ that were part of each lap of the run course. Luckily no athletes were savaged by the numerous wild beasts that lurk in the Blandford jungle although with the 3 person team ruling one or two athletes complained of being mauled by their team mates if they weren’t quite fit enough to keep pace all of the way round.
With the race getting underway with a swift 5km trail run, punctuated by a couple of forays into the assault course, team ‘Feat UK’ lead by Nick Crosby put themselves firmly into the lead. They went out onto the bike section well clear of second placed ‘Off Camber cycles’ and a host of other teams who exited the transition area in close attendance. In the ladies event many teams were in contention at this point including ‘KPR all stars’ and ‘Destination Mars’.
Coming into transition after the 20km bike section Feat UK held onto their lead although bike specialists Off Camber had reduced it to under 1min leaving everything to play for on the final run section. Whilst this was going on team ‘Dirty Badgers’ were seen fixing what seemed like their 17th puncture but carried on, undeterred by their misfortune (or lack of bike preparation).
As the crowds waited patiently at the final assault course they were rewarded by seeing Feat UK coming in first to tackle the race’s final obstacle ‘The Wall.’ This 12ft high wooded barrier was all that stood between them and victory. Sure enough they were all over it like a rash and within seconds had crossed the line. See All Event Posts
