Relaxed and Ready for Action (Saturday 28th)

Rob / 28.09.2002

Sitting out in the sun among the sand dunes is not the usual pre-race routine, but preparations for BARC 2002 are about as relaxed and informal as it’s possible to get. The start venue is Black Rock Sands camp site which is on a coastal cul-de-sac, tucked under low cliffs beside the sea and the weather couldn’t be better. The 2 teams from the South West Adventure Racing Team (SWART) were sat out in deck chairs having a leisurely lunch between climbing and kayak testing, and last minute bike adjustments were tested on the country roads nearby.

Most teams had set up camp, some more elaborately than others (SWART have a caravan and were watching the Ryder Cup!), and one or two, like Thomas Cook, had taken the softer and safer option of nearby B&B’s. No doubt they were assuming the weather wouldn’t be this good at the end of September, especially on a Brian Elliot organised race! (Past Adrenalin Rushes have rarely seen the sun.) With plenty of volunteers on hand and the testing just a hundred metres away on the beach or rock outcrops the atmosphere was relaxed. Teams have their support crews to help as well.

Of the expected teams only Avalon Adventures failed to arrive, ringing up to say they couldn’t get a support crew, but had they come there were plenty of marshals who would have supported them. So, 15 teams will line up for the start in the morning. Several teams have had to get last minute replacements, including some of the favourites. The North Face pulled in Howard Lowe to replace Paul McCarty, who is still suffering illness after drinking bad water at a race last April. Team Lythgoe also had a last minute panic, finding Neil Atkinson to replace Keith Brown a couple of days before the race.

He jumped at the chance to compete with such a strong team, but said, “It is a bit daunting - their reputation goes before them if you know what I mean! Still, it’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m determined not to let them down.� Like Howard he has been a top competitor at the 2 day ACE Race series, but neither has done a multi-day race before.

Their team mates were being cautious about predicting who would do well in the race. Jim Davies of Lythgoe felt Team Wales would be hard to beat. “They are a strong team on home ground so I think they must be favourites,� he said. Noel Hanna of TNF had different ideas. “It has to be between Lythgoe and Salomon X-a, they’re the quickest.� Of course, both were playing down their own chances – no one wants to be favourite!

Some other teams have no aspirations to win, they just want to move up to multi-day racing, get round and have fun. David Burkett St. Laurent of The Polar Travel Company is a relative novice to adventure racing, as are all his team. “We’ve done a couple of ACE races and one-day races this year and loved them and we’ve got more competitive as the year has gone on. We’ve got the bug!� The ACE Races team too are just wanting to put on a good performance. “As we’re at the top of an alphabetical list we’re top of the leaderboard right now,� said ACE Races organiser Phil Humphreys. “I don’t think it will last long though!�

There have been relatively few last minute problems, apart from Katherine Hay-Heddle, captain of ‘Bare Naked Racers’ turning up with German Measles. “I may be spotty but I’m not infectious� she said. “I’ll be fine.�

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