ACE’s High

Rob / 20.09.2002

Phil Humphreys is a man of his word, everyone knows that – especially if they were at the final ACE Race of the year, based near Pooley Bridge on the edge of Ullswater in the Northern Lake District.

“One of the hardest events so far …. “.
“The mountain biking will be technical ….�
“The night navigation will be the hardest ever …. “

Sadly that last statement was all too true, but no one could say they were not warned it was going to be a tough weekend. For a start the terrain was more mountainous than before – a very long way in every respect from running round the confines of Cannock Chase or riding the never ending forest trails of Kielder. This was mountain country, big hills and wide open spaces, and on Saturday it was at it’s best.

After a misty, autumnal start on a camp site bursting at the seams with 385 competitors (the most ever) the sun burnt off the clouds for a scorching September day. Setting off up the hills around Boredale and Martindale for the X-Country Challenge the bracken was soaking wet and the air full of rising vapour, but once a bit of altitude was gained the view back down into valleys full of cloud was stunning. Those who took the time to turn round and enjoy the view while they caught their breath during the steep, hands-on-knees, climb, were well rewarded.

It was a good idea to go to the Activator too (the only compulsory control without which none of the others are valid). With only a few of his 150 minutes left Phil Lawson had realised he’d not been there and was setting off up a huge climb, but in the end he realised it wasn’t worth it – he’d not get back before his start time for the mountain biking. Lots of effort and no points from the X-Country stage for him!

It was a different story for the series leader in the solos, Marc Laithwaite, who cleared the whole course in a staggering 2 hours 5 minutes. He was contesting the series prize of a Ford Ranger 4x4 for a year with Tom Gibbs, and had made the best possible start, though Gibbs wasn’t far behind. All the classes looked very competitive, and several pairs cleared the course, including Helene Diamantides and Jon Whitaker, but Helene is still recovering from a major achilles injury and they retired after this first stage. In the male pairs only ‘Ski’ Sharp and Ranulph Fiennes got all the controls – and when the oldest competitor does that it doesn’t leave everyone else with many excuses! (Fiennes is 58.)

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