DAR Challenge - Dorset Hills

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Dashing Round Dorset

Mike Stead / 03.04.2009

Some days just couldn't possibly be better. Everything just clicks into place, you feel great, and achieve something quite unexpected. This Sunday was one of those days.

The event was the second in the Dynamic Adventure Race Challenge series, held in the achingly picturesque village of Sydling St Nicholas (hereafter SSN) deep in the Dorset Hills. The nearest landmark is the giant man at Cerne Abbas in the next valley, memorable to me from childhood in New Zealand as an often-featured shot in Arthur C. Clark's Mysterious World. Some say he represents a fertility symbol. Others, Oliver Cromwell. Me, I reckon he's a lost multisport-fetish competitor who was caught out at night without enough kit (actually, with no kit at all). He is brandishing a floor pump, and recently the hidden outline of a bedraggled, unreadable OS map was discovered draped over one arm. Despite these hardships he's obviously enjoying himself.

Once again my organisation was left too late, requiring fretting and list-making late into Saturday night. As parking was at a premium I decided to base myself in the hall instead of the car boot, so well-organised boxes were the order of the day. One for the run, one for the MTB ride, and one for 'other stuff'. As the only item requiring preparation on the day is two pasta meals in thermoses (Thermii?), there's no reason all this gear couldn't be organised and packed days before. This is my quest. Maybe for the 2010 series I'll have it sorted.

The morning could not have been better for a drive into the West Country. Turning off the road to hell (the A303) is always a welcome change, and the road leading down to SSN was a stunner. The view over the valley set high expectations for a day's racing. On arrival Simon was out directing traffic to the wee side lanes, there being no parking at the hall. The first thing you notice is the utter silence - the nearest A-road is miles away over a ridge. Into the hall and the same professional setup greeted competitors - maps, numbers, clip and route cards all laid out. Disappointingly for the organisers only a fraction of previous entrants chose to attend the event - 15 teams, down from 43 at the New Forest race in January. Speculation as to why ranged from going the extra distance west to a major 10k road running race nearby. That the weather couldn't have been more perfect compared to the New Forest deluge only further confounded the logic of low numbers. Regardless we all appreciate the DAR crew's enthusiasm and dedication.See All Event Posts