Endurancelife Coast to Coast
A Dash Across Devon
Barry Matthews (endurancelife) / 01.10.2004
The race took place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September. Day One involved a 2.5 mile coastal path run, a 65 mile mountain bike ride followed by a 7 mile run. Day Two involved a 13 mile cycle, 9 mile kayak and 17 mile coastal path run to the finish line. The course on both days was undulating and spectacular, with competitors experiencing the breath taking sea views of both the North and South Devon coastal path as well as the vast, barren wilderness of Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks.
The day before the race the majority of the field made their way to the finish line at Prawle Point to register and leave their cars. They were then transported along with their mountain bikes and kit, to the pre-race camp On Dartmoor where they were fed and watered and camped in one of endurancelife’s Outwell Base Tents.
Early on Saturday morning competitors were transported across Devon to Lynmouth , the most Northerly point of the county. After a safety briefing and final kit check, the race began with a short run from the lighthouse at Foreland Point to the waiting mountain bikes and the start of a gruelling 65 miles. For many this was to be the hardest bike ride of their lives.
The race favourites – BQA Champion Graham Walton, Adventure Racer Ski Sharp, Ultra Iron Man Jason Sawyer and endurance athlete Mark Green quickly took an early lead. The Exmoor mists quickly descended and soon visibility was extremely limited. Each of the regular checkpoints was a welcome sight for the athletes as they braved the elements and the severe inclines of the course. At transition zone two the leading athletes changed quickly and sprinted off for the final 7 mile run into camp.
Mark Green won the race into camp and was leader after day one, followed closely by Ski Sharp and Graham Walton. However the race was only half complete and there was a tough day ahead on Sunday. There were some courageous performances on day one with The Eastwood Eagles – David Cleaver and Kimberley Carey coming in at 11:30 at night after just under 12 hours – to rapturous applause from the waiting crowd.
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