The 2007 Adventure Race World Championship
Wet Wolf Trax
Rob Howard / 30.05.2007
On Wednesday the majority of the teams were passing through T5 at Laggan Wolf Trax mountain biking centre, where the transition was set up in the car park. They were glad to arrive, as in the persistent rain and low cloud the crossing of the Monadliath hills had become increasingly difficult, so much so some later teams were turned back by rivers they were unable to cross. (We’ve no confirmation who is affected by this yet.)A few of the teams took advantage of bothies to take shelter and rest (there are several in the area), including Aberdeen Asset Management who slept for a while. “We’ve had lots of sleep,� said Nick Gracie, “but I’m still groggy at the moment.�
He was sat in the café at Wolf Trax – which was naturally a magnet for the teams who could get out of the rain for a while and buy something hot to eat. (haggis and mozzarella pannini is popular). Tom Gibbs of Aberdeen said the team were a bit deflated. “We’re not in the position we wanted to be,� he said, adding, “we were going OK until Helen hurt herself at the waterfall jump.� Soon after Helen Jackson walked in and said; “Anyone want to see my bum! Everyone else has!�
She had hit a rock under the water at the jump and badly jarred her backside, and there was concern at the time that she was more seriously hurt. The team spent 7 hours there while the medics checked her over and she continued on the ride without sitting in the saddle (and would have to do the same at Wolf Trax). Although still in a lot of pain she is toughing it out and was still smiling and chirpy. “I know when to take the pain killers now,� she said.
Her team mate Warren Bates came in with a bag and asked her to sort it out, but it wasn’t hers ... or anyone else’s on the team. There was some confusion for a while before they figured out it belonged to Mitsubishi Quasar Lontra who has shared the mountain hut with them earlier.See All Event Posts
