RACE FIVE RACE REPORT

BRECON BEACONS JUNE 2004

Click below for: DETAILED EMIT SCORES

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Race Report

THE BRECON OAK TREE CHALLENGE
Saturday 17 June 2004

As experienced adventure racers and novices alike assembled beside Llangorse Lake they were all greeted with stunning views stretching across the National Park from the high Brecon Beacons in the west to the rounded Black Mountains in the east. Little did they know that the most valuable checkpoint (CP) of the day was awaiting them next to the trig point atop the 2000 ft. Mynydd Troed.

In their pre race briefing packs the theme of the race was explained. As over a third of the variously valued CPs were located by oak trees a further three mystery CPs could be located by answering correctly a multiple choice puzzle on an oak tree theme, one in each stage of the race: trail running, mountain biking and canoeing.

The lakeside race HQ on Llangorse Common was the transition point between all three race stages, next to the lake which is the largest natural body of water in south Wales.

After the race briefing competitors headed out at 30 second intervals. Most of the Masters category of teams opted to canoe first, launching their inflatable canoes right next to a wooden reconstruction of an ancient lakeside settlement known as a crannog. After an hour on the lake with a stiffening breeze many were wondering if canoeing first was the best strategy especially as the sun gave way briefly to a hail squall. Nevertheless many posted excellent canoeing scores with seven teams gaining all canoe CPs including the mystery one.

The sun returned and the wind kept temperatures mild - ideal conditions for adventure racing. Most Masters then embarked upon their trail run stage and a huge range of route choices. Quite a few headed straight for the highest CP and were rewarded with tremendous 360 degree views right into mid Wales.

Returning for the final mountain bike stage there were many comments of appreciation of the wonderful rolling lush countryside if not for the accompanying nettles that had grown over many of the footpaths and extensive bridleway network.

The Novices were also having a good time with most concentrating on the trail run first and recording some very respectable scores too. It turned out to be a close run thing at the top of the Novice category leaderboard. In third place were Team Talk sporting very professional looking team colours with 380 questars. Next all the way from New Zealand were the ‘Flaming Kiwis’ who lived up to their team name to score 405 questars only just beaten by the winners of the Novice category Keith Conradi and Jonathan Pitt who must have dispelled their team name of the ‘Blues.’

The Mixed team category was also closely contended. Carol and Andy Yarrow (competing as ‘65 Megahurts’) had a storming trail run stage scoring 310 questars, visiting all but 4 CPs to gain the highest score in this stage of the race. They came in third place in the Mixed category with 445 questars just 10 behind current Questars Series leaders Sacha and Toby Fisher who did well to cope with a chain snapping at mountain bike CP 21 on the far side of the Black Mountain outliers. Mixed team winners (and second placed overall) were Chrissy Scott, Ben Wright and Tom Hawkins competing under the curious title of ‘2 x 2’ with a great score of 540 questars.

Race regulars ‘Have a Go Heroes’ (Graham Crabtree and Andy Goss) certainly lived upto their name to win the Mens Team prize and go into second place in that category for the series to date.

In the Men’s solo category Tim Leggett, who was using the race as a recovery run after qualifying last week for the World Team Challenge in December, came in second with 515 questars placing him third in the overall race, which was won by Liam Corner. Liam not only was the only competitor to visit all three of the mystery CPs, he also had the highest mountain bike stage score and accumulated a magnificent 555 questars in total.

Congratulations to all participants and especially to the following category winners:

NOVICE - Keith Conradi and Jonathan Pitt Blues 415

VETERANS - Mark and Chris Goodman Team Goodman 450

MENS - Graham Crabtree and Andy Goss Have a Go Heroes 435

WOMENS - Claire Wilkie 260

MIXED - Chrissy Scott, Ben Wright & Tom Hawkins 2 x 2 540

MEN’S SOLO & OVERALL WINNER - Liam Corner 555