Strong Start To Endurance Series

19 MAY2010

Last weekend saw 200 competitors battle it out in the Open 5+ race in Coniston, the first of three races in the planetFear Endurance Series. The demanding course took participants over some fantastic natural sites in the Coniston area, challenging them with running, mountain biking and kayaking to the finish line. Racers collect points as they complete each section of this unique course.

The race began with the competitiors running as fast as they could up towards Tarn Hows - maximum points being achieved for selecting the longer run. There was some jostling for position up at the front and as the hill climb kicked in the racers began to spread out.

Teams soon arrived at the Orienteering section of the race, which was the downfall of regular race leaders Antony Emmet and Helen Jackson - a mistake here cost them 30 points and first place in the event.

It would not be an adventure race without a kayaking section on Coniston Water. Teams of two paddled in 'sit on top' kayaks across the lake, gathering 4 possible checkpoints.

No time to rest after the paddle, it was a quick dash across to the transition and onto the mountain bikes. Each team navigated their way around Coniston's bridleways stopping en-route at 'special stages', challenges set by race organisers. The first of the challenges was at Hodge Close, racers leapt off a rocky ledge into the icy cold waters of the quarry - then swam across the quarry and exited the area up a metal ladder and through a long tunnel.

Wet from the first challenge, the racers leapt back onto bikes and cycled down to Cathedral Quarry. Leaving the bikes again, teams completed a short scramble and tunnel search to find the checkpoints.

In the remaining couple of hours, teams navigated their way towards Elterwater, Skelwith Bridge, up onto Iron Keld and finally back over Hawkshead Hill to the finish line. Racers were rewarded at the finish line with tea and cake for their efforts.

At the finish there was a buzz of excitement as teams worked out who had won. As 4 teams had managed gain the maximum of 900 points, the only thing that defined the winners was a matter of seconds over the finish line.

Results
Female pairs winners:
1st - Barbara Lonsdale/Jackie Scarf
2nd - Jenny Allen/Judith Hughes
3rd - Liz Barlow/Sally Ozanne

Mixed pairs winners:
1st - Steve Fisher/Fi Spotswood
2nd - Julia Baron/David Spence
3rd Anthony Emmet/Helen Jackson (team planetFear.com)

Male pairs winners:
1st - Tom Gibbs/John Houlihan
2nd - Andy Mitchell/Phil Scarf
3rd - Kim Collison/Neil Hamblin

The remainder of the planetFear Endurance Series races will be the Open 12 on June 26/27 in the Yorkshire Dales and the Open 24, on July 24/25 in North Wales.

Races are open to male, female and mixed pairs - and teams are expected to run, mountain bike, possibly kayak or even abseil. Map reading skills are essential and racers have to find their way around the course picking up as many points as they can en-route.