Grim Original

Race report: Grim Challenge – Aldershot, Hampshire, December 3 & 4, 2011

The conditions for this year’s Grim Challenge looked like it could be a fairly dry occasion and not at all Grim

Thankfully there was plenty of rain in the days leading up the event plus the added advantage that a number of Army vehicles were driver training on the course to make sure the mud was sufficiently boggy. On Saturday after overnight and early morning rain it turned out to be sunny and mild, one competitor said that instead of the usual Grimness, it was more of an “Unpleasant challenge”.

The organisers wanted to eliminate some of the less interesting sections of the course and there were a number of route changes. The changes meant that two third of the Fast Driving Circuit were eliminated and some obstacles introduced, plus some moguls included before the alpine section.

The course ran through the usual obstacles and water features which included the BOG, camo net and the large puddle, before ending up in the crater on the run in to the finish.

Saturday was a fairly competitive affair with Darren Pilgrim the men’s winner pulling away in the last third of the race. Darren said “That was a fairly tough race but I enjoyed it. There was always something to think about and never an opportunity to relax”. The women’s race winner Danielle Murphy dominated the event and won by two minutes.

The Sunday’s weather conditions were dry but feeling much colder with a change of wind direction. This did not put off the competitors who turned up in their droves to take on the Grim in all its glory.

The course normally gets churned up after the Saturday race but this year it seemed to be even more so. A particular area of stickiness was the BOG area and the camo net with a number of people getting stuck and finding it a challenge to make it through.

This did not deter the leading three runners, all representing Westminster School, who seemed to float over the tricky conditions and all finished within 30 seconds of each other. Simon Wurr who has previously won the Sunday Grim Challenge said “the changes to the course worked well and made it more interesting and I am glad to have won”. The Sunday’s women’s winner Ellie Barnes won by over two minutes and steadily made her way through the field.

The rest of the runners clambered over and through the varied terrain and obstacles to complete the event. There are a large number of people who have competed the Grim for the first time and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Report by Grim Challenge Event organisers

Click here for more information on Grim Events

December 3 - Men's results

December 3 - Women's results

December 4 - Men's results

December 4 - Women's results

Click here for full results, including teams