Questars Trio Race - Wiltshire Downs
Daniel Carrivick (Questars) / 21.07.2011
The weather forecast for Saturday had been pretty grim all week. Everyone secretly hoped that the forecasters had got it wrong again. But for once they were right and a deep low pressure system brought wind and rain together with unseasonably cool temperatures for the time of year. We shouldn’t have been surprised; it was British summertime after all!
On arrival teams deposited their bikes in the transition area before taking shelter in the large sports hall that was the event base. Inside, hot drinks and breakfast baps were available for those who needed warming up or just fancied some pre-race sustenance. Bergmonch brought along their new product (an integrated system of rucksack and scooter for hiking uphill and wheeling downhill) for people to try out. And MuleBar kindly provided energy bars and gels for during the race.
Teams collected their race packs half an hour before the race briefing and immediately began to study the waterproof map which was pre marked with the location of all the checkpoints. The trail run and mountain biking checkpoints had been carefully positioned so teams could create loops to suit their ability.
Maps were scrutinised as teams came up with a strategy, planned their routes and determined the best way to go round these loops. A few checkpoints were dummies and these were revealed at the start which resulted in some routes having to be modified.
The start was in the centre of the Vale of Pewsey; an area of low lying ground separating the chalk hills of the Marlborough Downs to the north from Salisbury Plain to the south. The course area extended northwards over the chalks downs taking in Milk Hill one of the highest points in Wiltshire at 295m above sea level.
It was great to see everyone smiling as they set off from under the big yellow start arch, despite the persistent rain and gusty wind. Some teams kayaked first while the others chose either to run or bike first.
The trail run checkpoints were spread over a large area so visiting them all was always going to be tough. Only five teams managed this feat with Matt Zalewski from Hillingdon Athletics Club doing so in a faster time than anyone else.
Some teams ran out along the canal towpath to the most distant checkpoints first before heading up onto the hills and making their way back along the ridge line. Other teams preferred to get the hills out the way first and save the flat run by the canal for the latter part of the trail run.
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