ACE Races XXX Challenge
A XXX of a Race!
Rob / 19.09.2003
For many it was the first time they’d attempted anything so demanding, but with a mix of ACE regulars and new names on the 36 strong team list there was no shortage of racers ready to have a go. They arrived at Caldon’s campsite in Glen Trool in the midst of the Galloway Forest, a former KIMM venue, but one which has not been used for an adventure race before. It’s a long drive (from almost everywhere!), but a superb setting and it’s a shame the campsite is now disused.
For this weekend at least it was back in action, in a big way, as support vehicles and teams turned up late into the night and set up camp on the overgrown grass. It was a camp they expected to move, as the plan was to shift to ACE Bases 2 and 3 later in the race, but this turned out to be one of Phil’s mind games. When they did eventually get details of the locations ACE Bases 2 and 3 were in the same place as ACE Base 1. Those support crews who dismantled their camp should have listened to Phil when he advised leaving it until later!
There was some late season team shuffling going on before the start as well, affecting some of the top teams, and those looking for BARC points in the last qualifier before the final. Norman Dunroy joined Thomas Cook to replace Nick Drew, then his regular team, The North Face, had Dan Dollimore drop out. They found Tim Fairbrother as a late, late replacement, but were still short of a support crew the night before the race. Fortunately, they found someone to help.
Saab Salomon GB has Adam Haynes as a replacement for Ben Bardsley. (Adam was in the squad last year). Sean Fishpool was joining Team Bristol and all of the missing racers were ill, as was Sonya Clarke of SleepMonsters.com, who turned up to race anyway as she could not find a replacement. Two teams started unranked with only 3 racers (Tiso and Rockhoppers), and another half a dozen entered, but were unable to get a team and didn't start. At this stage of the season it seems just getting a team to the start is a major achievement!
The start almost took everyone by surprise as they gathered near the banners Phil suddenly shouted, “Go!� And they went. Starting with a trail run along the Southern Upland Way and then a bike ride to reach the ropes stage. The original plan was for this to be a canoe down the river Cree, but with insufficient water in the river that had been called off.
SleepMonsters
