Helly Hansen Adventure Race Series 2
Cannock Calling
Rob Howard / 26.09.2007
Every available parking space was used as 157 teams of 3 arrived to register, unpack their bikes and prepare for the race ahead. Many were new to adventure racing, attracted by the 3 to 5 hour format of running and biking, easy paddling, fun challenges and marked courses. However, Race Organiser Paul Magner did warn everyone to be on the look out for the signs and tape at frequent intervals as some had been moved or hidden by unhelpful members of the public. The advice was; �if you don’t see any marker tape for a kilometre or two … don’t keep going. Go back and check you’ve not taken a wrong turn!�
Everyone nearly took a wrong turn at the start as Paul lined them up under the Helly Hansen start banner facing the wrong way! There was some shuffling around to get everyone facing the right way, then the race was off, starting with a short 2km run to spread out the field before they collected their bikes from transition by the start area.
Along with the many novice teams there was also a strong elite entry, and these teams quickly took the lead. Favourites were Votwo SBR, who had won the first race of the year by a 16 minute margin, and once again they set a blazing pace, taking a clear lead on the first run, short as it was. Chasing them were Aberdeen Asset Management, Pukka Parts, Helly Hansen UK and SleepMonsters and it was quickly apparent the race field would spread out by some distance.
The race format was based around getting teams to the Trent Canal at Little Hayward which was the northern most point on the route, and the only available water for the kayaking challenge. To get there teams crossed Brindley Heath, followed a cycling route to a second transition where they dropped their bikes and ran on to the canal checkpoint. The run was then reversed and a shorter ride led them back to the finish area, where a series of challenges lay between them and the finish line.
SleepMonsters
