Haglofs Open5 Adventure Race
A Winters (Racing) Tale
News Release / 07.01.2014
The first Haglöfs Open5 adventure race of 2014 definitely had a winter feel. Based in and around Hamsterley Forest, in the North Pennines, it started cold & dry & stayed that way, with enough wind to feel very cold, but no rain (until the marshals were clearing the controls, anyway).
Competitors registered in the village of Hamsterley, and set off with their running & bike kit to the start/transition/finish which was in the forest itself. It was a day where waterproofs were mandatory kit & one competitor suggested a duvet jacket was also essential. The first challenge was to negotiate the tarmac descent to the transition - unsalted roads made it a cautious ride.
The mountain bike controls were mainly spread around the forest, on forest roads, which were not always as smooth as might be expected, and on the red and black singletrack. A number of competitors made the resolution to return to the area again - this forest is an undiscovered gem, even to those who don't live far away.
Running controls took racers up onto the moorland of Hamsterley Common & Pikeston Fell, in one of those areas where rights of way & tracks on the ground are distant relations. Controls sited in the forest gave a little respite from the windchill.
Judging by the appearance of those returning, it was a race where cold & mud were unavoidable, but there were definitely happy faces beneath the grimaces & shivers. And after a short sharp uphill ride from the finish, they were soon happily refueling back at the event base, and awaiting the presentation and prize giving for the top three in each category, thanks to Haglöfs.
Results:
1st Rosemary Byde/Lucy Harris 442
2nd Sue Booth/Louise Hanley 395
3rd Andrea Davison/Anna Morgan 370
1st Heather Burrows 435
2nd Gemma Ashwell 388
3rd Fiona Poulter 345
1st Chris Hope/Chris Steele (Keswick Bikes / Adidas) 575
2nd Jonathan Ellis/Chris Morgan Top Bananas
3rd Kent Barker/Tim Lampert Salisbury Road & Mountain 475
1st John Houlihan BMBO 50+
2nd Al Powell alpine-guides.com 40+ 540
3rd Alan Hartley 40+
1st Ian Furlong/Renee Saxton adidas TERREX 530
2nd Tom Gibbs/Astrid Gibbs
3rd Barbara Lonsdale/James Williams For Goodness Shakes 480
The next event is in the North Downs, on the 2nd of February.
More information on www.openadventure.com
Keep up to date on twitter @openadventure & facebook.com/openadventure
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