Lythgoes are Champions

Rob / 02.10.2002

Having lead for almost all the way Team Lythgoes ran through the Queen’s Gate and up the steps normally reserved for royalty into Caernarfon Castle to become the first ever British Adventure Racing Champions.

Jim and Nicky Davies, Morgan Donnelly and Neil Atkinson were still carrying their paddles from the final kayak stage, and were greeted with applause from race officials and their supporters as they ran across the line. Race Director Brian Elliot presented their medals and gave the winners’ cut glass trophy to team captain Morgan Donnelly who was grinning broadly. After 4 days of racing they were happy to relax and drink the champagne and beer offered, and talk to their friends and supporters, before the round of winner’s photos and T.V. interviews.

Had they not escaped being trapped on a tide bar a few hours earlier it could have been a different result and Team Wales being interviewed instead. Lythgoe had a comfortable lead when crossing the Lavan sand before entering the Menai Straits but the tide was rapidly going out and in a few minutes large expanses of open sea became open ground! Lythgoe knew they had to go around but misjudged it, and had to run and pull the kayaks to find enough water. “It was touch and go,� said Nicky Davies, “we could have lost a lot of time if we’d had to carry the kayaks far.�

Their troubles were not over. All was going well as they passed into the Straits and under the Menai Bridge, but then the weather and the tide turned, and the tide in those waters is very fast. With a head wind as well there were times they were going nowhere and the getting to the finish, which had seemed so near, was now a hard struggle. They kept working to find a way close inshore and eventually came ashore below the castle walls to finish, a couple of hours later than expected, at 14.56.

Running up the steps to emerge in castle courtyard and see the finish banners ahead was an emotional moment. “I just felt elation,� said Morgan Donnelly, “and I was glad it was all over. We’ve been a good team and I think the secret is we try to enjoy ourselves all the time – even at low periods we’re positive.� Both Jim and Nicky Davies had a lot of praise for the course. “There was a lot of variety and it was fast and furious racing, much more so than the longer expedition races. I liked the format too and the weather helped no end,� said Jim Davies. Then he added, “It feels good to be here – it’s that winning feeling.�

“To be British Champions feels pretty good,� said Nicky. “It’s been a fantastic mixture of all the qualifying races and a better balanced course than most races I’ve done this year. All the race organisers have put a lot of effort into the series and this is a great finish to it all.� Neil Atkinson, who only came into the team to race 4 days before the start and had never completed a multi-day event before was full of praise for his team mates. “They’ve stood by me all the way and helped me through. The last night run on the mountains was my low point and I felt very ill and weak, but couldn’t show it as we were with other teams. Nicky knew though and kept feeding me chocolate and jelly babies and encouraging me, they’ve all looked after me so well – I couldn’t ask any more of them. Being British Champions hasn’t really sunk in yet, but the best thing I’ll take away from this race is 3 new friends.

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