Open 12 - Wensleydale North Yorkshire - An Account by Alex Pilkington

Wensleydale paid host to this years Open 12 event, based from the idyllic dales village of West Burton where nothing much happens. It is however famed for its village green & coyts ground together with a fiercely competitive local team, so when the Open Adventure team arrived it added a whole bunch more of competitive teams! The weather for the weekend was to be sunny and hot all the way! The format of the event was kept in suspense until the briefings, all we knew was that it was going to involve an overnight camp somewhere, getting wet (possibly more than once!) and either a climb or abseil.

We split into pairs for this event, so I partnered Karen and Paul and Mick went together. This was my first taste of a ‘proper’ adventure race, even though I do most of the sports in their own right I was really looking forward to this, despite it being just over in the next dale to where I live.

The event on day 1 was 7 hours and it kicked off with a run stage, which was located on the beautiful Wild Boar Fell, the team decided to operate as a foursome in preparation for the Terrex, because we had not competed together as group before it would be good practice. We where well matched and completed the run stage in efficient style in about 2:20hr collecting all bar two check-points. This led us into the first special stage – Hell Gill… with water levels low, the gill was all but a trickle, and this is Yorkshires answer to the Verdon! We dispatched this little teaser in a little over 20 minutes, collecting two 50 pointers, this brought us into the transition ready for the cycle. The nav options on the cycle where numerous, but we knew that a couple of checkpoints would have to be dropped. We worked out a good circuit that took us to all the big hitters, taking in some of North Yorkshires best trails, with views to admire [if only we had the time!] After a short but heavy shower we soon found that we had only 5 to get, with 2 1/2 hours to spare it did seem possible, but like all things done against the clock - time speeds up! and we knew we had to leave 30min for the final special stage, so this meant dropping a couple which as it happened where well out of reach. The finale to the day was the dive down to the bottom of Hardraw Force, 10ft under we had to dib the last checkpoint, this was refreshing and was a great way to clean the muck and sweat off. The day ended as good as it started, with a picturesque camp in the wooded glade below the force. We had our day 2 briefing as well, where I was sickened to be told that a 600m open water swim had to be done! This was my worst nightmare - swimming is not my thing! This was now on my mind...




Day 2 - we where greeted with a 100ft abseil, despite a long queue we eventually got our turn, it was a tandem abseil and was all very safe! After an hour and half of waiting we whizzed down the rope, unhooked ourselves and launched into a 16k run, collecting a bunch of checkpoints along the way which meander west then east then up and over to Semer Water. The day was hot and as the run progressed the water started to become appealing, 2 hours later we where on the shore, I had worked out the swimming rucksac would be good (it had air in it). I paddle as far as I could, but the inevitable came and I had to leave the comfy mud bottom and swim, I did crawl, breast-stroke and some in-between stroke that I invented, it suit and it worked! and yes I was passed by a few people, but my goal was just getting across the comfort of the land! It only took 20min, so I was pleased, something I would never have chosen to do! Getting back on the bike felt great, the route home was straightforward, although one checkpoint was just beyond us. We crossed the finish in good style, with both teams finishing 5th in their respective category. This was a credible result despite Karen still having 'BG' in her legs and Paul coughing and wheezing all the way round. As usual the event was superbly organised with full credit to all those helping!

Alex Pilkington

LAMM start

With a leisurely 8:50 start time, we crawl out of the Haglofs camper van. We are on the score class. 7 hours of control hunting to come. Good luck to all!
Sent from my blackberry.

Karen's Bob Graham Round

We didn't make it - boo - but we both have a storey to tell!!!
Prep - we thought we were prepared - we had rece'd alot and helped on other attempts and been given out good luck cakes (thank you Karen Davison and Janet McIver)







Leg One - well before that - there was sooo much traffic on M6 we (me Alex and Paul) thought we were gonna have to change the start time. Luckily it all went smoothly and we picked Britta (Fellrunner and run247.com editor) and Ben (brittas boyfriend and superhuman runner) up at Dunmail and got to Keswick with 30 mins to spare - time for a few nervous toilet visits and a few photos and we were off. I was on such a high - everyone had said that by the time you get to Moot Hall for the start you should be bursting to run - I was - and the others had to keep reigning me in - i was far too enthusiastic but Britta kept me in check. Hillary bloor met us in the car park at the start of Skiddaw for a big cheer and a hug then Paul was further up the hill and we made good time up Skiddaw, the air was still warm and it was fantastic running with people carrying your stuff, feeding you every half hour and watering you every 15 mins. Ben opened gates and mended trekking poles and ran ahead to check things out - Support is great - i love it!!! We got to Threlkeld about 10 mins up and found our next crew plus a load of Macc Harriers waiting for some Stockport Runners. Paul Farmer (Alex's fiance) was there with our kit and food, yummy pasta and a cuppa coffee for me followed with some of Janets special coffee and choc and rum cake.

Leg 2 - Alex Pilkington and Paul Baker then joined us, Alex is part of my Adventure Racing Team (Team Haglofs)but we had never raced or run together before - i was keen to make a good impression as we were to be doing a four day event in August. Paul was a friend of Alex's who'd done a few rece's with her last year. Alex P knew the leg well and we had pulled him in on this leg late on thursday evening when we found out our navigator for leg 2 couldn't make it! Alex was gonna start at Dunmail with us. So thank you Alex for a rather late change of plan and for such a supperb piece of navigating us round the Dodds and onwards. We both still felt great and made good time on all our hills keeping to schedule. But just after Helvellyn I started slowing and feeling a bit yuk and not eating much, well i could put the food in my mouth but it sort of stayed there - i couldn't chew or swallow and by Fairfield i was in a right state - I hate Fairfield - it was sooo hard getting up that. Britta coaxed me up Seat Sandal and i felt a bit better going down to Dunmail. More food - i was fine - eating more pasta and changing some clothing, more coffee and some people to join us. Britta and Ben went home from here - thank you both for such wonderfull support.
Leg 3 - Paul Vousden and Mick Kenyon (both Team Haglof's) and Swatts (Stephen Watts - fellow Macc Harrier) joined us here and we plodded up Steel Fell. I gradually got slower as we made a descision to go up High raise before sergeant man and came off it wrong and started to slow down (well i did - but Alex was storming along and encouraging me), I kept telling Alex to start running her own BG and not keep waiting for me - we had enough support. By Rossett Pile she did just that as Stu Walker turned up with more water for us - we had a kit, water and food shuffle and I carried on with Alex P, Mick and Stu while Paul and Swatts ran on with Alex (who just bounced off into the distance like a real runner) - I plodded on behind getting more and more demoralised and sickly and felt really horrible. I felt like lead and couldn't eat or drink or smile. i swore alot and hated this leg with soo much passion I swore I would pull out at wasdale and never attempt it again. I even considered going off the hill earlier. The boys kept me going and ignored my whaling, tears, swearing and moaning and eventually after a minor breakdown on Scafell Pike I got to Broad Stand and found paul Farmer there with ropes and a camera - i found a smile and then loved the climb up broad stand and cheered up (mainly cos I knew I was gonna give up and get in a car at wasdale.
Wasdale - no one let me give up - Rachael and David Lawrance were there and they fed me bacon sarnies and tea (apparently they had fed bacon sarnies to alot of people and gone hrough 25 rasheds of bacon!), they found my clothes, packed me and my supporters off and sent me up Yewbarrow - apparently i was carrying on!
Leg 4 - God it sounds so short when you write about it - it is not short, it is not easy and at this point I wanted to die! but i picked up a bit and got up yewbarrow in good time. We had no navigator at this point but Mick had done this leg years ago and David and Stu got their maps out - luckily after a bit of search by David on top of Yewbarrow we found the top and then i discovered my new found eating plan - I can eat as long as I stop - or sit down - as long as I am not moving I can eat - luckily David had a rucksack full of cheese and pickle sarnies. And I remembered all the tracks and lines on all the hills - phew!
I had lots of sit downs for food and moaning but spirits started to get higher as i slowed down and started to recover - i knew I wasn't gonna make it and I had to crawl up some of the up hills as hands and feet were slightly more stable!!! I even made up a new website - "The Failed BGR" - people who have tried and failed can register their attempts, write a report, get a certificate it looks just the same apart form a big red FAILED on it!). Mick spent most of this leg persuding me to carry on at honnister as it would be good for me to complete it is one go. I knew he was right as this would mean that I then would never have to do it again - complete it - even outsie the 24 hours and i could walk away - but I had no energy or drive and I wanted to cry! The chatting and walking cheered me up though and I even ran down the last hill into Honnister and got into the car park and surprised everyone by announcing i was carrying on!
Surprised looks - they all thought I was bonkers - maybe I was - poor Alex had just pulled out so i asked her if I was bonkers - she said yes but do it - it will be good for my head. I felt great so I asked if anyone wanted to join me - no-one did so after tommy soup I put a rucksack on and took off by myself! BONKERS - DEFINATELY!
Leg 5 - i felt great - I stormed (slowly) up Dale Head and took the camera out for self timed top pictures then spent ages phoning people and texting and telling everyone I was bonkers - but at least I was happy and not in a car thinking i should have carried on - phew - it was good for me. The midges were not good for me - the phone calls were good for me - people telling me I was bonkers was good for me. The run (yes run) off Robinson was great apart from now my feet hurt and started to get blisters, i tried to run the road bit but started phoning and texting again - i was soooo proud of myself for carrying on i wanted to cry - and for a change I didn't - the emmotional wreck was behind me and I was gonna make it.
I did make it - in 27 hours and 54 minutes. I even beat my mates Racheal and David to Moot Hall - got the pix and got in the van to meet up with Karen, Janet and Mike in Cockermouth for a raher lovely shower, a bbq and at last some wine - apparently i rambled on and on - on a complete high till midnight then slept like a baby in a really comfy bed - I was sooo happy
I write this on Tuesday and I am still on a high - what a great day in the hills (I have forgotton the bad bits already!)
Thank you to all the supporters and Alex promses to have another go in September, I have said I will do road support!!!

Sunday 30 May. Two Miles up the A6 North of Kendal is the small Hamlet of Selside, this was the Event location of the Cross Cumbria Trailquest event. It is pretty rare these days to find a 5 hours Mountain Bike Trailquest and had not realised until getting to the village hall that I was to be out longer than the usual 3 hours. Paul had already arrived and registered when I got there, we were going our own separate ways for this one with Paul in the Male Solo class and me (Mick) representing Team Haglofs in the Male Vet category. I had not ridden in this part of the Lake District which meant every track would be a New Adventure. The weather was ideal with the previous days rain clearing to give dry conditions. I glimpsed at the map at the give out and did my usual strategy of heading off towards a checkpoint (CP) whilst still working out a route plan for the event. I new the North of the map was the hilliest and headed off there first to do the big climbs of the day with fresh legs. The first time I came across Paul was when he was heading back down a hill I was heading up, I had gone too far up the hill but Paul had gone further and was back tracking.
The reason was that the CP was pretty well hidden and there was no tape to help out. This was to become a theme of the race, you definitely needed the CP descriptions to hand as they were all well hidden and became a bit of hide and seek game finding them. I headed up to Barrowdale (which is a fantastic spot and I will be going back to check it out more in the near future). Paul was on a mission and was powering up the hill while I was taking a more relaxed approach taking a few photos to use on the blog! Whilst doing so another competitor caught me up and I thought time to pull my finger out, there were a fare few gates which me and the rival took turns to open and close, and before long the advantage of the teamworks I had caught Paul back up. We summited the hill above Barrowdale and Paul veered off to the right on an indistinct path whilst I favoured continuing on a similar indistinct path. I had got it right and managed to open up a few minuets lead over Paul.
 

The race was to continue with a similar theme, we kept toeing and throwing right down to the South of the map, Paul had pulled away from me and went to collect a couple of CPs I decided to skip, time was knocking on, I planned a route back to event centre that maximised the points on the return route. Paul took the gamble to pick up more points, due to the CP's being well hidden this took longer than anticipated, and he then had to sprint back in a more direct route. I made good time on the return and finished 10 mins early and I was left wondering if I should have gone for another CP. The food and hospitality was excellent, I got chance to catch up with Mike Toyn and we compared routes. Mike won overall (1st overall and 1st Male vet class) and I came in second in the male vets. A good event that challenged all riders in a great location.