June - Snowdonia, North Wales

The fourth race of the Quest Adventure Race Series saw perhaps the most challenging course as yet with ascents of over 200 metres between checkpoints. There was some challenging navigating over the Snowdonia hilltops and competitors, at times knee deep in marshland and gorse. With the sun shining all day however, hopefully the stunning views of the Trawsfynydd reservoir, the Rhinogs and the Afon Dwyryd estuary more than made up for the challenge.

Although every checkpoint was visited by at least one team, due to the arduous nature of the course, the average team points total (260) was quite low compared to other events. This ensured that those who completed the four canoeing checkpoints and gained all 140 Questar points were generally in the lead within their race category. Guy and Ian of the Pink Team had apparently taken this strategy to heart and were last seen heading South down the reservoir looking for canoe CP5!

Those that opted to concentrate on the running were faced with a tough challenge as they contemplated the west side of the course. Well trodden sheep tracks added a further network of paths to confuse the runners and large areas of the maps simply marked "Piles of Stones" whilst not actually misleading everyone, didn’t offer any help whilst navigating.

The east side of the course was however more straightforward although hindered by its own set of challenges as Tim Leggitt and Mark Dodds would vouch. The Mini 69 team were forced to pick up their pace when faced with a rather territorial horse near CP14.

The cycle course was designed to include a number of different terrains. Those attempting to go North from CP6 along the gorse covered track got a little more than they bargained for as their scratched legs proved, whilst those pushing themselves up the 330 metre climb to CP11 were rewarded with stunning sea views and Snowdon’s summit. The CotswoldOutdoor.com team put in a fabulous effort on the biking stage coming home with 320 Questars.

Llyn Trawsfynydd lends itself to canoe orienteering with a number of islands and walls remaining from the days when hot and cold streams of water were circulated around the lake for the Power Station. It was generally a relief from the relentless heat to head out onto the water with one particular novice team deploying a rather interesting ‘cooling’ technique with one member leaning over the front of the boat albeit rumoured to be steering.

The race was closely fought by a number of regular teams: Team Goodman, Supper Stars, Redbirds, CotswoldOutdoors.com and the Dark Horse with those who concentrated on the canoeing and one other discipline generally fairing the best. The local Welsh entrants did consistently well within their categories and in particular Sarn Helen and the winning veteran team ‘Eryri’ who did the Saab Salomon car proud!

The novice category fought a similarly close race with some relatively good scoring by all teams and was aptly won by Beginners Luck.

^{Race Scores and Winners}

Overall Winners and Mixed - Team Weston - Theresa Daniel & Gerry King

Men's Solo Winner - Matt Leathwood

Men's - GVR - Gary Van Rensburg & Rowan Vorster

Ladies' - Red Birds 3 - Jacky Wearn, Sarah Boutwood & Lyndi Jackson

Veterans - Eryri - Steve Barnard & Dafydd Williams

Novices - Beginners Luck - Nick Paisley & Chris Cowman

CATEGORY	TEAMS	Canoe	Run	MTB	PENALTIES	CATEGORY POSITION	OVERALL POSITION
M E N S	Mostly Harmless - 135	60	55	35		4	18
	Mini 69 - 139	- 100	225	15	100	6	21
	Team Goodman - 140	140	45	95		3	10
	Sarn Helen - 141	105	85	125		2	8
	Pink - 142	140	- 100	105	100	5	20
	GVR - 146	140	110	75		1	7
SOLO MENS	TFS - 136	60	120	220		2	3
	The Dark Horse - 143	25	285	60		3	5
	Have A Go Hero - 127	140	200	15	200	6	17
	The Hunter - 131	25	140	135		4	9
	Leath - 134	140	255	80		1	2
	Straw - 145	- 100	225	40		5	16
LADIES	Lloyds TSB - 237	25	160	50		2	15
	Red Birds 2 - 247	40	30	55		3	23
	Red Birds 3 - 249	140	20	95		1	13
MIXED	Team Weston - 353	140	220	135		1	1
	The Batemill Mob - 381	25	30	245	150	5	18
	The Radbroke Rabble - 382	100	20	15		6	22
	The Jodrell Bankers - 383	140	55	85		3	10
	Supper Stars - 385	25	225	65	50	4	12
	Cotswold Outdoor.com - 386	60	20	320		2	3
VETERANS	No Threat - 423	140	140	15	40	2	13
	Eryri - 426	25	50	280		1	6
NOVICES	Bar Bar Bleet Bleet - 129	25	75	40	30	7
	Beginners Luck - 138	60	55	245		1
	Whoops - We've lost our map, we're lost! - 151	60	20	190		2
	Swift Recovery - 361	25	20	205		4
	Wells - 362	25	175	90	45	5
	Tri Stars - 364	60	45	75		6
	Hhhmmm! - 384	60	85	120		3