Peak Performances at Haglofs Open5 Finale

Dave Johnson (Open Adventure) / 04.04.2012

After some hectic re-arranging of the event venue from Ilam to Alstonefield due to forecast problems with parking, around 250 competitors made their way to the picturesque village in the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park. The parish council worked really hard to accommodate us and ensure that competitors were welcome in the village.

When controls went out in the days prior to the event temperatures were soaring as they were in most parts of the country. Come the event day it was a clear and sunny day with a slightly chilly wind. [Ed - At the time of writing Alstonefield is currently under 12 inches of snow!] But with near perfect conditions it would be a great finale to the serie,s which has run on the first Sunday of each month (except January) since October last year. This event would decide the series results too for some categories.

Competitors arrived early on Sunday morning and were directed to the recreation field in the village where the main focus of the day would be. This would also be the location for the transition, which was the closest competitors have been to their cars all series! Also present was a catering van serving welcome butties and cups of tea and later in the day an ice cream van appeared too.  A 99 with sprinkles on a sunny spring day is surely one of the best ways to celebrate the end of a Haglofs Open5 series.

Alstonefield sits on top of a hill at around 280m above sea level. This would mean that there would be tough climbs to finish the event. Anyone not leaving enough time for the final climbs would certainly feel the pain on tired legs. The area is generally rolling hills, but some valleys such as Dovedale have very steep sides. Competitors would have to choose on more than one occasion whether to access controls by climbing over hills or travelling the flatter and longer routes around the valleys.

Most of the run controls were located south of the village towards Ilam. Mainly on public footpaths, accessible from quiet lanes. Some were placed off the public footpaths in the spectacular Dovedale valley. The National Trust gave special permission for this and anyone venturing along to these controls had a real treat and must have found it difficult to focus on the map with such beautiful scenery around. CP23 could be found between the massive Dove Holes caves and anyone venturing to CP32, high above the valley would have had a fine view looking north to Ilam Rock and Pickering Tor and looking south to the Twelve Apostles and Lovers Leap. There was even one control at a pond in the grounds of the grand Ilam Hall. 

See All Stories On This Race