Open5 Series Finale at Grizedale

News Release / 06.04.2011

The final race the Mountain Hardwear Open5 Adventure Race series commenced in the early hours of Sunday morning at Grizedale in the Lake District. Over 300 outdoor athletes showed up eager to explore the tracks and trails by foot and bike in this beautiful area. As it was the last event in the series, every ounce of energy was exerted as this could be the decider between winning the series and coming second.

The weather was fine and dry for the final event of the series and conditions for the bike section looked good with fast forest tracks and some rocky technical sections of bridleway. Some of the running controls in the woodland area were described as a little softer underfoot!

The biking tracks and trails in this area are legendary, with some amazing views across the fells from the top of the forest. One competitor commented “how fantastic it was to compete in an event which involved so little cycling on a road”.

Bikes were exchanged for running shoes or vice a versa on completion of the first discipline. The run was just as challenging and race planner Anthony Cooper had managed to place the controls in what can only be described as some challenging and interesting locations.

The event ran very smoothly with great weather, a spectacular venue, amazing scenery and great tracks and trails. With so many possible route choices on offer and a mass of tracks, trails and bridleways competitors were challenged to find the optimal route. Nobody actually cleared the course but they came very close.

Event planner and adventure racer Anthony Cooper said; “I was privileged to be able to plan an event in Grizedale, it offers a wealth of options with great technical descents and climbs, fast forest roads and manmade single tracks for the bike, not to mention the maze of paths for running“

James Thurlow, Director Open Adventure commented "What a great end to a very competitive series, with the smallest of margins separating the winners – thanks to Mountain Hardwear for their support over the last year and to Grizedale for hosting a great event”

Male Pairs Winner Andy Wrigley from team Keswick Mountain Bikes says “We have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the Open 5 series, the event location’s, organisation and planning have been top class throughout. With the league positions not being decided right till the end the pressure was never off which made for some very tense and exciting racing in the final Grizedale event.”

The Yan in Grizedale forest is the ideal location for this style of event. Special thanks must go to the staff at the Grizedale Visitors Centre and to the Yan for hosting the event and for providing great food for the competitors.