Haglöfs Open5 Adventure Race Series - Quantocks
Sunshine and Smiles in Somerset
Dave Johnson (Open Adventure) / 14.01.2012
Competitors were greeted at the superb facilities at Crowcombe Village Hall. A bike servicing facility was provided by Six Cycles of Taunton and bike hire was courtesy of Discover Moor. One competitor who took advantage of the service facility managed to lock his keys in his car which resulted in a slightly sheepish call to his wife to dash there with spare keys before he could make his way to the start! Fortunately she lived quite locally or this could have been a long and expensive rescue!
After registering and receiving the event map competitors soon found that the initial challenge was getting to the remote transition. The Start/Transition/Finish was located at Crowcombe Combe Gate which was a 2km cycle 200m up a 1-in-4 hill from the village hall! Driving to transition wasn't an option (notices were posted at registration), but this didn't stop one competitor trying it though. He was politely requested by event staff to return to Crowcombe village in his car and cycle back to transition. He took this in good spirit and sure enough returned shortly afterwards on his bike!
For a new Open5 area there was a good turn out and many first-timers were joined by more experienced entrants such as former world adventure racing champions, Nick Gracie and Nicola Macleod of Team adidas TERREX and Stuart Lynch. This is what makes the atmosphere and experience at Haglofs Open5's so inclusive and exciting. Open Adventure also got the thumbs up from Paul Camp (Holnicote National Trust estate ranger) who paid us a visit on his mountain bike. He took a tour around the area with an event map and control list and commented how well organised the event was and how friendly all the staff and competitors were.
The Quantock Hills were England’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty being designated in 1956 and consists of large amounts of heathland, oak woodlands, ancient parklands and agricultural land. This area is ideal for an Open5 as it's Combes fall away steeply from the main hill ridge and plateau, providing a great challenge for runners and bikers navigating their way to controls in the 5 hours allowed. Guest planner Andy Wilson (FGS), planned a superb variety of controls around the hills and also down the many Combes. The event area was nicely contained within the A39 and A358 meaning that competitors did not have to cross or travel on any A roads. It is always nice to have an event area which uses only quiet lanes and bridleways for mountain biking.
Run controls were all situated north of transition around the more open hills as far as East Quantoxhead. There was a good mix of controls both on foopaths and on open ground which needed fine navigation skills to locate. Bike controls were spread along the entire length of the Quantocks and went as far south as West Bagborough. The bridleways of the northern (and drier) section provided a complete contrast to the southern (and wetter and muddier) woodland trails. Competitors noted a distinct difference in speed between the bridleways of the northern and southern sections. Bikers and runners heading north were treated later in the day to stunning views out over the Bristol Channel once the early morning mist had cleared.
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