Now in it’s 2nd year, the eagerly anticipated HSX Winter Adventure Race gave 18 competitors the opportunity to lose all feeling in their feet. Sub zero temperatures and some sneaky control placements meant some runners learnt some route choice lessons the hard way, by ending up waste deep in freezing bogs. The route planner (me) also learnt something about remembering to tell everyone about moving controls to a different location. Still, everyone returned with smiles on their faces and there was even talk of a summer race (anyone want to volunter to set the route?)

With only 2 teams arriving withing the time limit of 3 hours and 2 points lost per minute late, the scores threw up some interesting results. Overall winners were Alan and Chris, having collected all 10 checkpoints but returning around 20 minutes late, finishing with an impressive score of ~160.

Full results will appear below (when I manage to make it through the snow to work, where the piece of paper with the scores is)

Open Class
1) Alan and Chris
2) Rich and Rich
3) Craig and Tom
4) To come
5) To come

Rookie
To come

Solo
To come

Triple
To come

Female
Charlotte and Hayley

Congratulations from everyone at HSX to Bear Grylls on his appointment as Chief Scout! Peter Duncan will be a hard act to follow, but we’re sure Bear will do a great job. And hopefully he’ll give us a few tips for the Atacama Challenge…

Russ Parke has been awarded an MBE for services to Hampshire Scouting. This award is well deserved especially for all the time he has and continues to devote to HSX. WELL DONE RUSS!!!! Photos and more details to follow.

What a great weekend we just had….

It was the 3rd Annual HSX Christmas Quiz Weekend featuring the 1st Annual HSX Adventure Race which also featured a Christmas meal and a forum… Busy Times…

Anyway, the 1st HSX Adventure Race was great. Chris Laws done an amazing job at sorting the course and setting it all up ready to be used on Saturday morning. So after a short briefing the teams were ready to go… We had a mass chasing start with all seven teams starting at the same time, we then had four hours to get to the finish point, whilst visiting as many checkpoints as possible… Don’t forget though that it rained all of Friday night and within 15 minutes of starting Jamie & I and Steve & Tom were up to our wastes in freezing waters…. Also, Jamie nearly “drowned”… whilst approaching one river, Jamie & I commented on how deep it was, Jamie said he was happy to test it’s depth.. This resulted in him being up to his neck in the river…. I crossed elsewhere… (for those of you who are thinking why didn’t we find a bridge, the spirit of the Adventure Race is as fast as possible and finding bridges wastes time!!)..

The results were….

Category Team Position
Veterans Bram & Ollie R 1st
Veterans Jamie K & Alan B 2nd
Veterans Richard Brimelow & Paul Pepper 3rd

Newbies Richard Batstone & Pete Rawlinson 1st
Newbies Steve & Tom R 2nd
Newbies Bertie & Ross 3rd
Newbies Hayley & Rebbeca DNF (Retired early)

Well done and thanks to all, especially Lawso for organising it…

All day Team Malawi had been preparing the Christmas meal for the staggering 50 people who would be eating.. The food was great, thanks and well done Team Malawi….

During dinner, Russ was also presented with token of everyone thanks for the time he has given to HSX over the years… Thanks Russ for everything..

Then we had the Quiz….

As always the controversial HSX Christmas Quiz sparked controversy….
Jamie & I, delivered an amazing quiz, which everyone loved… Even though Round 1 the blind chilli challenge started us of with a potential melting pot… Highlights were, the spot prizes from Geek Squad, the facial pain shown whilst eating the chilli’s, the “How much do Russ’ pants weigh” question and obviously Jamie & I being amazing..
An important note here is that Jamie & I have now retired from doing the quiz, the three years have taken their toll on our personal lives and relationships, so we’ve decided to pass the reigns onto someone else… Volunteers wanted please…

erm… Once again thanks to Jamie & myself for this…

On Sunday we had the HSX Annual Forum…. The forum was a fairly slick affair with Craig leading it as the new Mr HSX… Craig now has a new committee helping him…. The dates for next years training weekends were also given out…

Also, Lake District, Easter 2009 will be organised by Jamie, Bram & myself… No info currently available, but o be given it when it’s available, please contact HSX….

Alan