Adventure Racers Pass the Tests

Rob / 11.09.2003

The first weekend in September may not have had any major races in the UK, but that was perhaps just as well, as two selection weekends were taking place, for the next series of ‘Tough Enough for the SAS’ and for the Fulda Arctic Team Challenge. There were lots of regular adventure racers at both, and judging by the results a few of them may be off to prove they are ‘Tough Enough’ or racing in the Arctic.

The fastest time and many of the top places at the SAS testing were by AR regulars and no less than 6 of the 8 selected for the next stage of the Fulda Challenge are members of SleepMonsters.com!

The BBC’s SAS selection was the same as in previous years, a yomp up and down Pen-y-Fan in the Brecons with a 40lb pack, being sworn at and made to do a few press ups by Eddie Stone, and a quick TV interview afterwards. There were different trialists on Saturday and Sunday, with those from all walks of life taking part. A couple of GB Triathletes were there, a TV fitness instructor (who didn’t finish), a powerboat racer, mountaineers and hill runners …. and the adventure racers.

On Saturday Steve Birkinshaw of Team Saab Salomon set the fastest time of 2 hours 35 minutes (taking the organisers by surprise a bit), and on Sunday 5 of the top 10 were adventure racers. (Mark Chryssanthou was 3rd & Nick Gracie 5th.) Johnathan Mayne and Eddie Winslow were in the top 10 too, but were not too impressed with the planning when the grid reference they were given for a checkpoint was way out. (The whole route was marshalled anyway.) The planned navigation test didn’t happen either.

“It was a test that favoured those used to hills”, said Mayne, “if you were not used to tramping up and down hills, like the triathlete’s, it was tough and a bit unfair. I was surprised by how hard it was carrying the weight too, it really took it out of your legs and I got blisters, which I never normally do.”

Now all those who took part have to wait to here if they are selected – and given they were asked at the end how they’d feel about going to Namibia they may have guessed where they could be going! (They were also told there will be selection for SAS – Ice in January if they don’t get in this time.)