Questars Trio Race - Cannock Chase
Quest on the Chase
David Hunt (Questars) / 14.09.2010
At the pre race briefing teams were welcomed and advised that, to match the two C’s of Cannock Chase, all four of the 4 C’s of classic adventure racing had been arranged for them today. That’s great Countryside to explore on foot, bike and kayak, a lot of Choice with more optional Checkpoints to visit than ever before, a real Challenge to decide on route choices and contend with the contours and wet conditions of the trails and fourthly the all important Camaraderie of adventure racing. All teams were encouraged to cheer each other on as they meet or pass each other on the trails.
There were also more points on offer than usual and only one dummy checkpoint. It’s location was only revealed as teams picked up the all important Checkpoint Values & Descriptions Card as they started, at staggered intervals. Clouds miraculously parted and the sun came out just as the first teams set forth. After recent heavy rains weather conditions were near perfect on the day with just one brief but heavy squall just after lunchtime.
In order to give teams the opportunity to trail run over some of the best areas of the Chase a remote transition point was established, where teams left their bikes and explored the open Chase on foot. With the heather in full flower and the sun out the heathland areas of Brocton Field and the Sherbrook Valley were at their best as teams criss-crossed the myriad paths and tracks in search of blue checkpoints. A number of teams were navigationally challenged here or about. The Checkpoint Values and Descriptions cards were closely scrutinised as to the precise location of the checkpoints. Many were located by silver birch trees with split trunks or on hawthorn trees with their red berries.
Masters Solo Mens class winner Simon Proud had an excellent run, visiting all but one of the Trail Run blue checkpoints. Another Simon, Simon Liebling, went one better and amazingly managed to visit all 15 blue checkpoints in around 3 hours.
Due to the remote run and kayak transitions points (TPs) there were, unusually for Questars, three chances to pick up the red (mountain biking) checkpoints – as teams made their way to both the remote transition point and the kayak transion. This format and the splendid mountain biking terrain encouraged many teams to major on the biking stage of the event. Indeed five teams visited 20 of the 21 biking checkpoints – a remarkable feat. Given the huge choice of optional checkpoints and plethora of route choices none of these teams followed the same route or sequence.
The kayaking stage of the event was on a section of the nearby Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal. Here too was the sole dummy checkpoint. The furthest green checkpoint, number 42, did not exist to the relief of many teams who then resolved to try and visit all the other 5 green checkpoints. No less than seventeen teams managed to achieve this target.
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