French Toast at the XX

Rob / 20.01.2004

The top UK teams, and one of the world’s best known squads will be in competition in the Lake District at the second Winter XX over the weekend of February 7/8th.

The North Face Spie, dubbed ‘The Terminators’ by Ian Adamson for their relentless pace, are travelling over from France to spend a night on the Lakeland fells. They will be up against teams with expert local knowledge, like Keith Byrne’s The North Face squad, joined for the first time by Andy Gorman, and Saab Salomon, who have Nicky Davies back in action again.

Other teams out for victory in the first BARC series race of 2004 will be Aberdeen Assett Management, fielding the team who did so well at Southern Traverse at the end of last season, and Sealskinz/HighFive, the winners of the first XX. Ifor Powell’s navigation will make them a force to be reckoned with again, in what is likely to be a very tactical race.

The venue has not been announced yet, but the race will be held somewhere in The Lake District, on the same format as last time. So, it will be a 20 hour race, mostly in the dark, with plenty of checkpoint choices. Race Director Phil Humphreys has adjusted his timings after the first race proved just how hard it was to keep up the pace in the dark and cold, and it might be Spie’s expedition racing experience will make up for the local knowledge their opposition have. They won’t get many views of the Lakes though!

Sponsor's The North Face will once again be providing free breakfasts to all the marshal’s and competitors at the finish. “Having arranged for Spie The North Face to come over for the race it will be nice to show the French that the Brits are a hospitable bunch when it comes to Adventure Racing.,” he said, “I have spoken to Wilf’s and sadly croissants are not on the menu. Good old sausage and bacon sandwiches will have to do!”

“I think it's exciting to have the season kicking off so early and I hope that plenty of teams see it as an opportunity to test how they have wintered and get their first serious race under their belt for 2004. With four races counting for the BARC series then some teams may do better earlier in the season when others are still finding their feet.”

There are already 21 teams entered, and several more expected, so it’s going to be a highly competitive race, especially as all finishers will win BARC points. The higher places get the most points, with 20 going to the winners, but Spie may have an influence on that.

We’ll have to wait and see if the top UK teams will make toast of Spie, or if the French elite squad be the toast of the XX.