Nopesport

Well the rat is back, and better than before. With a triple pronged attack on the UK this year, following on from the huge success of last years race in Edinburgh, it is Bristol that is the first to feel the rat's bite.

Planned by one of last year's winners and a former top class orienteer, Saab Saloman's Pete James along with Race Director Gary Tompsett, Bristol looks set to be another exciting event with all sorts of challenges in store for teams of all abilities. For those not taking part, it's worth heading down to see what its all about and catch some of the action. Just the event village itself looks exciting, with kayaking, bungee jumping, abseiling, climbing, trampolining, paintballing and more all available to try. If that sounds a bit too energetic then theres always the chill out zone, as well as a host of stalls from sponsors as well as dj's, bands and videos on a stage throughout the day. The main action itself will kick off around 7pm on Saturday night with the prologue, starting from the event village at the Lloyds TSB Amphitheatre at Cannon's Wharf. Sunday will see an early morning for the main challenge, also starting and finishing in the event village.

So while one of last years winners is planning this years event, what about the other two orienteers - Bruce Duncan & Fiona Berrow? Well, they're both back for more too but this time not together. Bruce is back again competing for Saab Salomon with whom he's enjoyed further success since hooking up with them for the Edinburgh Rat Race last July. Fiona meanwhile is competing for the newly formed all womens team based in Edinburgh, Scottish Adventure Ladies Team (who have yet to secure sponsorship from the major Salt producing companies but I hope it happens soon), one of two all women's teams taking part in the Elite Competition. Will we see orienteers take the title once again? Other orienteers taking part are nopesport members P2B & Andy S. If you fancy taking on the challenge and showing what orienteers are made of, then there are still places left for the Saturday Night Prologue race where you can take on everybody in this 3 hour "score race with crazy bells on" event. To enter this then get yourself down to the event village before 4pm to enter.

Good luck to all taking part, if anyone would like to send me their photos/reports/comments from the event then please do so: brooner@nopesport.com

Further information available on the Rat Race Website

Event Party Central in Bristol