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Race Report The sun was shining amidst April showers at the pre race briefings for both runnings of the one day Questars events in Sherwood Forest. Whilst the going at Aintree for the Grand National was officially ‘Good’ overnight rain had made the course in Robin Hood’s hideaway ‘ Good’ to ‘Soft’. Obviously adventure racers are a hardy crew as unlike the Grand National runners all the competitors finished the courses. There was just one faller (Russell Hayes) who in his determination to minimise penalties for being slightly over the 5½ hour set time collided with the finishing post. The adventure race utilised most of the varied woodlands that comprise the ancient Sherwoood Forest. The challenge for competitors was to choose a route through the Forest, on foot and bike, in search of the outlaw Robin Hood and his Merry Men who were of course in hiding – and to accumulate as many Questar points as possible during their foray. Robin Hood was audaciously spying upon the Sheriff of Nottingham (a.k.a. Martyn Ward) very close to the event base but was well hidden amongst the pine trees. His exact location, course director Guy of Gisborne (a.k.a. David Hunt), explained could be ascertained from solving four puzzles and riddles each located at a marked checkpoint (CP). The hiding places of his six merry men were disclosed at a further six designated CPs. The Sheriff would award extra Questars points to teams who found the outlaws and an extra bounty if the whole band was spotted. So with a number of CPs revealed and some hidden, competitors had a mental as well as physical challenge ahead of them. It was a fairly even split between those who chose to run or bike first. Runners were soon able to spot Will Scarlet hiding at the edge of the wood followed by Little John who was busy clearing a small area east of a footpath junction. However they then discovered that if they wished to find Maid Marion a journey north to the oldest part of the Forest would be required as she was cowering behind a yew tree close to some spiders near the ancient Major Oak deep in Sherwood Forest Country park. Two thirds of teams did find her and posted strong running scores. In fact three teams Team Goodman, Pete Robinson (running under the very appropriate soubriquet ‘Robin of Sherwood) and Liam corner visited all 15 running CPs, to score the maximum questars on this stage of the race. Bikers who ventured out into the Forest were rewarded with some very varied terrain from single tracks to well maintained cycleways as over 80% of the course was off road. Many were able to find Friar Tuck still enjoying a lengthy lunch on top of a hill in the northern part of the Forest. Some even ventured further north into Clumber Park to pick up a valuable CP located near the picturesque Clumber Lake. The portly friar would have been proud of the appropriately names Supper Stars team who visited everyone of the 15 mountain bike CPs. The fast course did not prevent many competitors from also simultaneously working through some fiendish puzzles. The Sheriff was delighted with the number of teams that were able to find Robin Hood’s hideaway. The extra bounty was claimed by Liam Corner who amassed an outstanding 825 Questars to win overall. There was close competition in many of the prize categories. The Novice category produced some very good scores and judging by this and their enjoyment of the day many Novices will be soon progressing to the Masters categories. Congratulations to all the Sheriff’s men and women who braved the heavy showers and rose to the Sherwood Challenge, Special mention to the following prize winners: Novices
– John Darwin (Cunning Stunt)
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