Run, Bike and Slide...

Race report: Mountain Hardwear Open 5 – Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire Moors. January 9, 2011

Over 200 people braved the icy, cold weather to take on the challenge of a 5 hour adventure race in the North Yorkshire Moors. The clear, crisp weather made for spectacular views as the racers navigated their way around the Mountain Bike and Running routes.

The event was the second race in the Mountain Hardwear Open 5 Winter series. The Open 5 races are all at different locations in the UK and competitors have 5 hours to visit as many points (controls) as they can on the map. Some controls can only be collected by mountain bike and others only by foot.

Racers and organisers were determined that this event would go ahead after having to rearrange from the original date in December when the snow stopped play. Bright sunshine and a cold wind greeted competitors as they arrived at the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre on Sunday morning.

James Thurlow director of Open Adventure said - “It’s great to get back to Sutton Bank after being thwarted by the weather in December – the location not normally on a runners or mountain bikers map, provided some amazing views and great competition in what is a very accessible part of the country”

Competitors could start anytime between 0930 and 1030 and it was not long before everyone was out on the course. Racers have to decide whether they choose to run or cycle first, playing to their strengths and then consider which checkpoints to visit in the allocated time. This is dependent on their navigational skills, fitness and bike ability, the route planning is often the key to success.

The mountain biking section of the course took cyclists up onto the escarpment and around the valleys and lanes feeding the River Rye. Cyclists had to take extra care on the icy paths, and at times it was a combination of sheer determination, riding, pushing and sliding that got cyclists back to the transition.

The run was the least icy section of the course, but made up for the lack of ice with plenty of mud! Trails meandered through the woods and up to Hood Hill where racers were greeted with incredible views from Hood Hill. Helen Jackson (Team Planet Fear) comments about the run “Great views and good weather, not too cold (unbelievably), good terrain to run on frozen paths and not too icy.”

Event planner Andy Conn excelled himself with a fantastic distribution of well placed controls which enabled racers to see some magnificent views, experience some great mountain bike trails and running trails.

It was another spectacular event hosted by Open Adventure. There are still another 3 races in the series, so if this article has sparked an interest then my advice is don’t miss out on the next one www.openadventure.com

Special thanks must go to the National Park team for their supreme effort, Forestry Commission and Gliding Club for extended use of their land and members of the public for putting up with lots of muddy racers, bikes and full car parks at the visitor centre.

Mountain Hardwear, Open 5 Series

Overall Results

Male Solo

Male Pairs

Female Solo

Female Pairs

Mixed Pairs