Lanehead Buff Challenge 08
Youth Adventure Race is a Big Success
Neil Atkinson / 15.05.2008
Night orienteering, trekking, a 5 mile paddle on Coniston Water, swimming in open water, mountain biking, a 140ft abseil, tunnel exploration, zip wire, team score orienteering and a kayak relay race. These were the challenges for the teams of the Lanehead Buff Challenge Youth Adventure Race.After my return last year from the ARWC I was so inspired to put something back into the sport, I have organised and run an Adventure Race for the under 16’s, which I believe is the first one in England. I wanted the journey aspect to it, I wanted it challenging mentally and physically! I think I managed it!
On meeting with the teams on Friday evening I showed them a DVD of the ARWC, and told them that this is what they would be doing! After locking the door so they could not escape, I explained the course to them in sizable chunks ... so as not to scare them.
After giving out goodie bags they seemed more open to the idea of an adventure race. The first activity was night orienteering, a quick hour of blowing off the cobwebs worked very well and the team from Acklam Grange showed their skills were well ahead of the competition.
Saturday morning came and the tension was high, the race briefing went well and they were all ready for the start. The whistle went and they were of on their first ever Adventure race.
Teams had to navigate through Grizedale Forest collecting 5 different markers (totalling about 5 miles). Team Ormesby were in the lead at Transition 1 and were quickly turned round and set on theor way paddling up the length of Coniston Water on sit-on-tops.
Acklam Grange were only a minute behind them and were putting up a really great fight! St Hild’s were next to appear in the transition only 15 minute behind the leaders. This team had a clear vision in mind and it was not to blow up! ‘Stay Consistent’ was their aim and it was working. Unity City Academy teams were working together on this stage and trotted in with a beaming smile over all their faces. Unfortunately Redcar Community College had got lost on the way and turned up over an hour behind the leaders, so when they finally got into the kayaks they were looking mean!See All Event Posts
