Trivia 2009
April - So many of you know Open Adventure now but this is only the fifth year of events. So why did an Adventure racer's round the world holiday lead to the set up of Open Adventure?
Actually it all started with me (James) replying to a request on the Sleepmonsters forum from a bunch of guys competing in what was known as the British Adventure Racing championships who needed someone to support the team. Those guys were Dynamic Adventure Racing - Simon & Nicky Thomas, Jonathan Mayne and they had Mark Humphreys on board who has since competed with Aberdeen Asset Management and Helly Hansen in the UK and overseas.
That was a great event (last paddle section was a bit suspect), and as the years rolled on I helped them run a few training courses based on the North Downs for Adventure Racers. Lisa and I moved to the Lakes and in the following year, Jonathan Mayne decided to find himself and the edge of the world so took a year out. The guys at Dynamic Adventure Racing were a man down for organising events and asked if I would help out.
Intially I said yes, but after some discussion it was clear that the travel from the Lakes to the likes of the New Forest on numerous occasions would make the whole experience quite expensive and we both decided it was not workable.
With the seed sown, the dates in the diary and no one running any such events in the North we decided to give it a crack - hence Open Adventure came about. One of the first ideas we banded around was to run a coast to coast adventure race.. OK its only taken us five years.
Simon and Nicky still run Dynamic Adventure Racing. Jonathan Mayne, well who knows but he did get married and now has a small child in tow - on occasions can be seen racing somewhere in the UK.
March - In to its 5th year the Open24 is established in the UK calender as one of the best UK racers. Over the last 4 years only one person has won the event twice? Who be that and how did they do it?
Ah now that be a very special lady.. one whose tanacity is reverred across the north east. Her name is Louise Allen. She made it to the very first Open5 in Reeth back in 2005, and has been at every Open24 since. In 2005 she competed with Nikky Parry and then with Nicola England in 2006 in the Dales (albeit a little late back!). We saw Louise in 2007 as a volunteer and then last year she took the brave step of competing with her husband John.
If your new to Adventure Racing and happen to make it to an Open5 but thinking of going for the longer races - tap Louise on the shoulder she always has the time of day to encourage you with a few wise words.
February - Over the past four years we have had over 4000 people pass through registration at our events. How many times do you think we have had to go and collect an injured competitor? never, 3, 10, 18 or 45 times.
This is a tricky one but it is probably only 3 times and of those one ended up cycling back anyway. For pretty much all our events competitors sort themselves out.
Of the three one was a female pair at the Broughton Open5 in 2006 where a lady bent her thumb back and was struggling to use the brake. Back in Broughton again last year on competitor went over the handlebars and call us to help but after we turned up, he decided to still cycle to the finish. The only other one I can recall is a beginner who busted a chain and was having a bit of tantrum so we went to collect them.
Don't get me wrong we have had numerous cases of minor injuries (only one broken bone from a caravan side swiping a competitor cycling on the road) but even in this case competitors seem keen to sort themselves out or we have attended and provided first aid and they have carried on.
All credit to the hardy bunch who call themselves Adventure Racers.. however please don't be afraid to give us a call if you find yourself in a pickle.
January - Only three people have visited all of the controls on a Mountain Hardwear Open5 - who are they and which event was it?
Well many people have said its possible and only three have managed, they are Ian Mulvey who partnered with Rob Turner and Andy Simpson. The event was the second ever Open5 event in 2005 and was based in the South Lakes. The running was on Claife Heights and the Mountain Biking over towards Grizedale.
Arguably they all had local knowledge with Ian running a cafe in Ambleside, Rob working in the Climbers shop and Andy having spent many summers at a family home in Hawkshead.
Oh there is one other person who has visited all of the controls on an Open5 and at more than one event.. That be me - James Thurlow just not managed it in 5 hours.
