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Choices and Challenges on the Welsh Border

Rob Howard / 01.07.2009

When they entered, all the pairs taking part in the Open12 knew, was that it was ‘Out West’ and was round two of the New Balance Endurance Series. With such a wealth of west coast options to choose from few, if any, would have guessed the venue would be in the Welsh border country near Mold. When the venue was announced the guest planner, Tim Higginbottom, who lives locally, was quizzed by some asking how this could be so as the terrain was not steep or wild enough for adventure racing. Tim knew better and along with the regular Open Adventure team delivered a race that tested everyone to their limits.

The pre-race information told racers to prepare for a prologue, which turned out to be a time trail, (or rather time-trials, if you were quick enough), around the’ blue run’ at the Llandegla Forest mountain centre. This was an excellent venue, where the staff were 100% behind the race, staying late, producing great food and putting up with all the demands of a race during a busy Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. (To find out more visit www.coedllandegla.com).

The top 30 timed teams got to race a second time, with the chance to score higher points, and after this the top 10 had a final run off for the highest points, with a mass start. It may have looked like an all-out sprint to start proceedings, but there was strategy too – and it would be one of the key skills throughout the weekend. Some of those who got through to the second run asked if they could just take the lowest points and not ride again but Race Director James Thurlow was having none of it, telling them if they didn’t go they would get no points at all! And those who made the top 10 had completed over an hour of flat out racing before they’d even begun the 12 hour race. Thurlow explained, “It’s a cunning plan to knacker the elite teams!�

Top scorers were Patrick Meldrum and Matthew Zalewski, and the only mixed pair in the top scorers were Helen Jackson & Paul Vousden, though the series leaders, Julia Baron and Dave Spence, missed out on a final qualification by just one second. For those who had bike problems the centres mechanics were on hand afterwards to fix whatever needed fixing, but unfortunately for Ryan Richards they could do nothing for his front shocks. He kept going for the 12 hour race – but it was a spine jarring ride!.

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