Questars Winter Series Race 1 - Berkshire Downs
Questars Winter Series Begins in the Berkshire Downs
Rob Howard / 22.11.2024
The second Questars Winter Series got off to flying start in the Berkshire Downs, with the biggest ever winter series entry, fine weather and a course taking in parts of the Ridgeway National Trail.
The race was based at the Downland Sports Centre in Compton and the car park was packed as 180 racers arrived for a day of adventure racing.
In the winter series there is the choice of the full 5 hour run/bike course, a 3 hour ‘taster’ course or 2 hour run or bike only options. (There’s no kayaking in the winter races.) All are score orienteering based, so navigation and strategy are key and racers can pick their own course, going for points or pleasure!
The overcast and mild day was as good as, or better than, some of the weather at the summer races! This first race in the series had an autumnal feel with wooded parts of the course showing off bronze and gold foliage at its best, and racers running and riding through a carpet of leaves.
The course didn’t have a lot of woodland however, and was mostly rolling downs, much of it used for horse gallops and with a liberal scattering of ancient sites and monuments.
The ground was surprisingly dry too and this allowed for some fast competition and high points scores. (Race Director Joe Selby did seem just a little bit grumpy about the combination of less elevation than usual and dry ground!)
As usual, the majority chose to run first and the checkpoints to the north of Compton, scattered either side of the Ridgeway were busy with racers going in every direction! Seven teams managed to clear the run course and scoop all of the run points, with Campbell Walsh fastest in 2.02.53.
Therewere bike checkpoints mixed in with the run points on this course, plus a more scattered and distant spread of bike CP’s to the south of the venue. CP23 was one location the bikes (and riders) did get very muddy, while CP13 was unlucky for some – those who couldn’t find it! It was set in Down Wood and those riding in from the nearby woodland edge had a much easier time locating it.
By now racers are very familiar with the idea of bonus points for retuning early, introduced at the first winter race last year. Most teams did come back early and a few cut it fine, with Team Frozen Desert Gophers nearest to perfect timing, coming in 4 seconds early.
At the other end of the scale Mark Biegel scored a magnificent 110 penalty points by finishing 55 minutes late in the three-hour taster event. He should probably have done the full course!
The winners of the female category in the Taster race were Team Stok Kangri (Danielle Cook &Gemma Tinsdale) and they were returning to Questars racing after a 6-year break, and now with 2 children each. They scored 331 points, and the highest score on the taster class was 416 by Ross Remnant.
Campbell Walsh, last year’s winter series champion, was the highest scorer on the day. He crossed the line believing he’d cleared the course and returned early enough to get maximum bonus points and the best possible score! He said, “It was dry and fast, with not much elevation”, and told Joe Selby not to be annoyed he’d got the maximum score. Joe replied, “I am!”
When his SI card was read the tables were turned, Walsh had missed a bike checkpoint and the maximum score eluded him, but he was still the clear winner with 775 points. Summer Series winner Carl Silver took second (760) and Gary Davies was 3rd (755).
The finish line is always a mix of emotions: joy, relief, exhaustion and sometimes frustration. Regular racer, Jeremy Waite crossed the line and said, “God, I hate you all”, but he had a smile on his face. He added, “I missed one of the last checkpoints and I live just 3 miles away, plus my kids go to this school!”
Team ‘Wheely Tired’ was a female team of 4 and were greeted by an excited group of children who rushed to join in the finish line hugs and celebrations. A weary Dawn Tennant said, “It was just the best time!”
Another female team was called, “Escaping the kids” and they finished just a few points behind team “10 years and counting”. This was Harry and Annie Griffin who were racing as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations.
Once all of the racers were back the prize giving was held, new Questars winter hats were given out, and at the end of a great day of adventure racing Joe Selby promised more and steeper hills for the next race at Dursley in the Cotswolds on December 7th.
For more details of Questars races and the full results visit www.questars.co.uk
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