Dynamic Adventure
Pick n’ Mix Racing and Training
Rob / 30.03.2003
The second Dynamic Adventure event of the year, held in the New Forest, was a bit like one of those sweet shop counters where you choose from a selection of tasty treats and decide which to drop into your bag. There was a gobstopper of a morning run and afternoon ride for everyone, the dark chocolate delights of night navigation for those who dared, then an early morning refresher of an orienteering run, followed by a fizzy high ropes course, climbing and abseiling training. All the big kids who’d come out to play with their toys were thoroughly spoiled by the courses and the weather, which was better at the end of March than on many a summer’s days. There was a bit of overnight rain on Friday to patter onto the flysheets of those camped out at the Avon Tyrrell outdoor centre near Burley, but none during the weekend which was dry, warm and sunny, showing the forest and heath land at it’s best.
Dynamic Adventure races are perfect for beginners and there were some rather nervous looking ‘first years’ there, perhaps made more apprehensive but the presence of few ‘head prefects’. A couple of Adrenalin Rush teams were racing to sharpen their team work and take part in the ropes course especially arranged for Sunday. Pete James was racing with Jue Panter, and Gill Watson was a late entry. Simon Thomas introduced them at the briefing, but the new kids probably only recognised Gill from the TV.
Jacqui Faithfull was new to it all and prior to the start was discussing ‘Tough Enough for the SAS’ with her team. She was a bit stunned to find the winner was racing against them and said (jokingly): “I’m going home now!� Her team (No. 62) had only come across the Dynamic Adventure website just over 3 weeks ago and decided to get out of the office and have a go, despite never having heard of Adventure Racing, and not being quite sure what it was. They were up against 2 other news teams, both from Nottingham University Mountaineering Club (known as the Pineapple Munro Society!) and Alistair Mackay echoed their comment; “We’ve no idea what to expect.� The club also had 2 pairs entered so were out in force.
Fortunately there was plenty of help on hand. The atmosphere is purposefully low-key and the staff and any other experienced races around were happy to offer advice on marking up the map (which some had never done before), route planning and equipment. The courses were set by Simon Thomas, who lives nearby, and allowed plenty of choice. There were enough controls to stretch the experienced racers and he allowed the newcomers options closer to HQ where each stage ended. All the Saturday stages were on a score orienteering basis with no mandatory controls, so teams could visit as many checkpoints as they wished. Some went for just one, others for them all.See All Event Posts
