ACE Races 1-Day Team Adventure Series

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Fun in the Forest

Rob / 18.05.2003

There is plenty of variety in Adventure Racing. Our last race report was from the first round of the X-adventure Raid World Tour where world class teams covered a vast area of the Scottish Highlands. The first ACE Races 1 Day Team Adventure was the opposite end of the scale but probably more fun for the teams of three who took part.

The competition area for this race was in the enclosed confines of the Pippingford Estate in Ashdown Forest, Surry, which is a perfect setting for a one-day race. It’s an area of rolling hills, heath and forest, which is used as an army training ground and has plenty of opportunities for “special challenges�, usually involving ropes over the many small pools, lakes and streams. It was a popular venue last year and there were many familiar faces back again for another go.

The weather was worse this time though. When the cloud level on the way was at the height of the bridges over the M25 you knew it wasn’t likely to be too good. It was raining hard until just before the race briefing, but then eased off for almost all of the race, before the heavens opened again. It could have been worse, and as Phil Humphreys said in his pre-race notes, “You’re going to get wet anyway!�

He was in good form in the race briefing, and is now well-practised at playing the crowd.

“You may see people with guns, but I’m told they are not loaded.�

“Last time we had 2 injuries requiring hospital treatment … but don’t worry!�

“However, their team mates left them and carried on! Which we don’t want happening again.�

“Very few teams finished last time …. but we’ve got less challenges this year to make it easier … “

The format was much like last time, with a (shorter) trail run first, including one challenge, then a switch to bikes to get to the remaining checkpoints and challenges. Some of these were the same as last year, but there were some new ones too.

A Fast Start

The contenders for top places sprinted away at the front of the mass start, while those at the back set off at a leisurely stroll. It was far from a stroll at the front though, where one of the marshals, Ryan Richards, had the job of leading them out to the map issue. After a while he gave up holding the leaders back and just gasped; “Follow the river, you’ll find it!�See All Event Posts