The First Ever 12 hour Adventure race in the South of England!

Rob Howard / 12.02.2008

"Have you ever wanted to test your fitness boundaries at a longer event but were put off by the amount of preparation, all the extra kit and that long haul north? Well now is your chance, at the DARE - a 12 hr Endurance event in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset on 3rd May."

That's the challenge thrown down by the Dynamic Adventure Racing team at the launch of their new race – DARE (Dynamic Adventure Racing Epic). The race will replace the regulalr DAR Endurance race on the first May Bank Holiday weekend but the Challenge race will go ahead as normal.

The format will be 3 disciplines over 4 stages (MTB, Sea kayak, Run, Night MTB). Each stage will be time bound and each pair will be allocated a kayak slot at some point during the 12 hrs with the kayak stage broken up by a foot stage - so thought must be given to footware for this stage.

The race is open to pairs only and limited to a maximum of 40 pairs. Race Director Simon Thomas explained that the area is sensitive as Poole Harbour has large areas of nature reserve and most of the islands are privately owned, hence the limitation on numbers for what is an experimental event.

The event base will be located in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck with campsite facilities nearby. It's a bank holiday weekend, so a great opportunity to spend time relaxing after the event and seeing more of this beautiful area at a more leisurley pace. Family and friends will find plenty to do if they come along.

About the Isle of Purbeck

The Isle of Purbeck isn't really an 'Isle' at all, it is a landmass of around 60 sq miles which is almost completely surrounded by coastline and includes rolling chalky ridges which run down to Old Harry, standing proudly in the sea. It is the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, England's first World Heritage Site and the home of Corfe Castle, nestled in the centre of the Purbeck Hills, one of England's most formidable castles.

The Isle of Purbeck is full of great places to explore and is renowned for its diverse wildlife including rare birds and sea life with dolphins regularly being spotted along the coastline from Studland to Lulworth Cove. The area is also famous for its great beaches especially Studland beach with its miles of golden sands and clear blue waters.

Poole Harbour to the north lays claim to the title of the second largest natural harbour in the world. Recently featured in a documentary on TV presented by Piers Morgan, Sandbanks at the entrance to Poole harbour is a millionaires playground with some of the most expensive real estate in the world.

Entries

The entry fee for DARE is £60 per person if you get your entry in before March 30th, or £70 after this and online entry and more details are on the DAR www.dynamicadventureracing.co.uk.