Dynamic Adventure
Stinging Nettles and Sunshine!
Jonathan Mayne (Dynamic Adventure) / 09.07.2003
As the competitors arrived the sun burnt off the low cloud. Registration was relaxed as teams, pairs and solos marked up their maps for the first stage – a two hour run. At the race briefing Simon Thomas warned the competitors that many of the footpaths had not been walked for several years, meaning that they were covered (head high is some places) in stinging nettles and brambles! Much of the original course had to be changed due to the pain inflicted on Jonathan Maynes’ legs and arms when he double checked the course the previous week!! Help and advice was available to new competitors who took advantage of the expertise offered on marking up the map, route choice and how to avoid the infamous stinging nettles!
The checkpoints were evenly spread between the shade of West Woods and the open ridge overlooking the Vale of Pewsey. The forest offered the beginners a chance to test their navigation and relocation skills as a few of the major paths did not exist on the map and many of the paths on the map were no longer in existence! The big pointers were spread out along the ridge, challenging the more experienced competitors to take the risk and get back within the time limit.
About half the competitors headed straight off for the big pointers on the ridge, hoping to pick up the smaller points in the forest on their way back to base. Many of the beginners entered the forest and some were literally spat out the other side disorientated and frustrated that a number of the checkpoints had eluded them. However, the majority gathered a handful of controls and were pleased with their performance. Impressively, male pair, Bruce Girdlestone and Jonathan Ross of team 67 successfully cleared the 17km course along with team 64 who incurred a 9 minute penalty when they were late back. Team 91 proved that dog is fitter than man, when their collie arrived at the finish line 2 minutes ahead of the rest of the team!
Tucking into their sandwiches and energy bars and re-hydrating with High 5 sports drink everybody refuelled on the grass surrounding the village hall whilst marking up their maps for the 3 hour mountain bike stage. The checkpoints were scattered once again along the ridge above the famous chalk White Horse, with plenty of fast downhill’s followed by the long quad busting, calf aching climbs back up.
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