ACE Race
Blood, Sweat and Gears
Rob / 10.08.2004
The venue was a new one, Newlands valley in the Northern Lake District, on the West side of Derwent Water and not far from Keswick. The long grass in the field was drenched with dew on Friday night, but there would be plenty of time to dry out on a weekend when heat stroke and dehydration were a worry. The surrounding views of Cat Bells, Causey Pike and the Derwent fells, and the nearby Newlands Beck to cool off in made it a superb ACE Base.
With steep terrain and lots of ascent guaranteed the courses were always going to be tough and Phil Humphreys made the point (twice) in his briefing that route choice and careful planning would be critical. In the heat rehydration would be crucial too, and so would pacing to last the weekend, a point brought home quickly on the first climb onto the Derwent Fells!
There were 3 possible routes up onto the fells so the field was quickly divided, and those who took the central option up Rowling End onto Causey Pike and across Scar Crags were soon labouring on very steep ground, and in places using their hands to scramble up the rocks. It was a hard start to the 3 hour X-country stage, but once the height was gained the surrounding panoramic views were amazing and many competitors stopped to catch their breath at the top of Causey Pike, looked up and just said, “Wow!�
Then they had to find the checkpoint, which wasn’t as easy as it seems as the summit had 4 small knolls each with a cairn. Most of the teams who came back down via this route overran the checkpoint heading for the true summit, and had to double back to find it. Those who contoured up from the checkpoint on the Long Comb had an easier time, and the sections of ridge running on such a clear morning were one of the highlights of the weekend.
Blistering Birkinshaw
It was all downhill back to base, but not everyone had the energy left to race back in, and there were a few high penalty scores, the first of many over the weekend! Much to the annoyance of Phil Humphreys the course was cleared, with 3 minutes to spare, by Steve Birkinshaw. The former solo series winner says he does not race well in the heat. Imagine what he’d have done if it had been cool!
SleepMonsters
