Independent Networks Adrenalin Rush
A Brilliant Feeling
Rob / 28.05.2003
The North Face have been leading almost all the way on this extraordinary race but until the moment they crossed the line they were not going to let themselves believe they were going to win. But now they have. At 00.50 a.m on Thursday morning Nicola MacLeod, Ski Sharp, Keith Byrne and Chris McSweeny crossed the finish line of the 2003 Independent Networks Adrenalin Rush. Grinning broadly Keith Byrne said, “This is an absolutely brilliant feeling. I saw Ski cross the winning at Stirling 2 years ago and got an idea of what it must be like, but now I know for real and it’s fantastic. It’s very emotional. There wasn’t a lot of planning went into this, Ski came in at the last moment, Chris was injured before the race, and I’d never raced with Nic before but it’s like a people lottery. I love racing with new people and this time we got the winning lottery ticket.�
Ski Sharp, clutching a hot whisky toddy thrust into his hand by Brian Elliot, had been suffering towards the end of the race. I got badly dehydrated and it was only this afternoon I came right again. It was a very up and down course, you knew if Brian could find a way to send you up a big hill and down again he would. We set the altimeter at the start and think it was 11,375m of climbing! I know only Nicky and Jim Davies have won this race twice, but it’s not really hit me yet – it will later.� Ski has only been back from duty in Iraq less than 2 weeks, and has won 2 races now.
Chris McSweeny was making a comeback too. “After leading all the way I thought crossing the line might be an anti-climax, but when you see the lights and hear the cheers and know you’ve really won it’s not. It’s still hard to believe we’ve won it, especially as 6 weeks ago I had a bike crash and had 40 stitches in my face. I’ve not been able to train so I guess experience counts for a lot. This is my 3rd Adrenalin Rush. It would have been more comfortable if I’d been able to train though!�
Nicola MacLeod was wearing a daisy chain garland put around her neck by her boyfriend Dan Dollimore, who pulled out of the team through injury days before the start She was full of praise for the course. “It was an awesome course, everyone found it incredible. You end up in some amazing places, at all times of day and they are places you would never go otherwise. And you are always together, all the time. Knowing Brian we weren’t surprised by anything, even carrying a bike up a slippery dam wall, but perhaps some of the visiting teams were surprised by that! Whatever is on the course you just have to get on with it.� Then she thought of all the other racers still out on the course and said, “I want to hear about the rest of the race.� See All Event Posts
