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Weaselling in the Peak District

Stuart Hale / 22.04.2008

OK, if you never been ‘Weaselling’ before then this event proved to be your chance. Carsington Water was the event HQ and if you headed out on the run to the orienteering section, then Harboro Rocks was your destination. Never been? Well that was the case with the vast majority of the competitors.

The ‘O’ Section involved a short and sharp climb to access the area. The first section was straightforward enough and provided fast running between the check points before a sprint along the High Peak Trail to Harboro Rocks. A double tier of cliffs provided the organisers a great opportunity to test navigation skills and also to hide away a few of the controls in a couple of tight squeezes. This required the opportunity for competitors to ‘Weasel’ their way between rocks, whilst clambering over boulders and through the overhanging undergrowth to reach checkpoints.

That’s assuming you found the right tier of rocks below the summit. The cave provided more fun as competitors looked for the entry point which dependant upon your angle of approach, was hidden from view.

Harboro Rocks, for the experienced was interesting, straightforward and good practise for getting those ‘lines of attack’ just right and for the less experienced a whole heap of fun and a challenge.

Exiting the ‘O’ section was relatively straightforward and speed was definitely of the essence in reaching the next set of checkpoints to the south west of Carsington Water. The running was quick and the potential score a healthy contribution to the final totals. Those that spent too long on the bikes paid the price ...

For the first time the event including a short kayak section. Competitors were given a choice of boats from Canadians to single and double sit on tops. According to the Marshalls at the start of the kayak stage one couple managed to tip their Canadian over just as they were leaving the shallows and ended up waist deep in chilly water. It was a straight out and back paddle collecting points from buoys along the way. The waves were interesting for those sitting at the front of the sit-on-tops as they paddled out into a head on wind. The quickest paddlers cleared this section in little more than 30 minutes which considering the cold conditions was probably more than enough for some.

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