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

What a year at the OMM it was. This year due to the rain and media storm last year, the organiser’s had moved the start away from the Event HQ, this added some time onto everybody’s day, but nothing too bad..

The Elan Valley, Builth Wells & Ian’s parents house were all great settings for The OMM. Having never been to the Elan valley before and having not experienced the legendary tussocks, I would go back again for a bimble..

Anyway…. Results.

Tim Clarke & James Fry came 40th in the Medium Score class….

Alan Braithwaite & Jon Hallam came 76th in the C Class…

Chris Laws & Dan Gray came 28th in the C Class…

Tom Percy & James Jones did not finish the C Class (we hope James’ knee is ok)…

Stu Rose & Terry Massey came 121st in the Short Score…

Neil Gregory & Andy Reed came 120th in the Short Score…

Ian Furlong & Selwyn Fisher came 11th in the B Class…

Well done to all and see you next year……

Saturday 15th August saw Alan Braithwaite and James Fry of the HSX ART at the ACE Race at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Alan raced as a solo for HSX ART and James raced as one half of a pair as the team The Lost Boys.

It was a great day out where luckily the hot hot sun we?d had, disappeared behind some clouds for the day, which was good for us.

The race consisted of running & mountain biking off road, whilst navigating and having to complete five challenges, one of which was a short downhill mountain bike course..

To spread out the start, the organisers decided to put the maps 1.5 miles away, so we had to run and get them and return to our bikes.. What they then told us, was that the 1.5 mile run was up the Butser Hill… For those of you who know the QECP, that?s no small hill.. This broke the pack up sufficiently with both James & Alan being in the lead 10 teams at this point.

The race was also split into to two loops. If you completed the main loop within four hours, you were allowed to complete the Endurance Loop. The Lost boys, unfortunately didn?t make it back in time, however Alan did and he went onto the Endurance Loop..

Both James & Alan said they had a great day and would encourage others to have a go at it if they are interested.. feel free to ask them about it… There are a couple of pictures below..

Final results were…

HSX ART – Alan – 4th in class & 9th overall

The Lost Boys – James & John – 13th in class & 41st overall….

Pictures are –

Butser Hill (the maps were by the mast), The competition, Alan after and James & John after.

The 1st/2nd August saw HSX ART enter the Rat Race in Sheffield. The Rat Race bills itself as the Ultimate Urban Adventure (basically an adventure race in the city rather than in the mountains). It was a great couple of days which saw the team partake in the Mean Streets first, a 2.5 hours assault on foot of Sheffield city centre. We were given an A-2-Z of Sheffield and had to go chasing after the checkpoints, these included activities like climbing, singing ?Amarillo? on stage in the City Hall, flipping beer mats in a pub, throwing some shapes at one of the cities many night clubs, running into the middle of a city fountain and riding the flume at the swimming pool and many more.

Day 2 of the Rat Race was Nine2Five Challenge. A linear route to be completed in under eight hours. The route predominantly on bike, also included a running section, kayaking stage & a big abseil in the Magna Centre, which is a disused steel works from the 60?s, 70?s & 80?s. Some of the bases on this day included, scoring a conversion at the Sheffield Eagles Don Valley Stadium, riding around a BMX track, visiting the home of the Full Monty, riding ringos down the local ski slope and lots more.

It was a great couple of days and I?d recommend anyone have a go if you fancy a multi activity day, whilst doing some great activities…

Provisional results released by Rat HQ today put HSX ART (Alan Braithwaite & Jon Hallam) in 17th (not the best as we made a couple of stupid mistakes) and Fusion (not HSX ART but featured HSX?s very own Ian Footlong) in 12th. There were 36 teams altogether. Well done to both teams and see you at the next race soon…

The event was also filmed and it will be on Channel 4, 13th September 2009 at 0800hrs….. Autographs to follow…

Below are a couple of photos from the event….