Nopesport

Renault Kangoo Indoor Adventure Race
2nd-4th April 2004

The Outdoor Show, held at the NEC, this coming weekend, will host the third annual Indoor Adventure Race Championships. There are around 30 mixed teams (usually two men and one woman) competing in this unusual event. The event arena takes up much of a large hall, and has stages in the grounds around the NEC.

There are 4 heats taking place on Friday and Saturday, with the winners of each heat and next four highest scores progressing to the final on Sunday. Jamie Stevenson, Helen Winskill and myself will be competing in the Saturday afternoon heat (1:30 - 4:30pm) as a “BOF” team. Other Orienteers to look out for include Kim Buckley, running for “Team Bristol,” and Dave Peel and Jenny James, running for “Peel Adventure.” We are all in the same heat by the way so there should be some good banter.

There are four stages each lasting approx 45 minutes. Within the arena there will be teams racing on kayak and bike simulators, and a rotating climbing wall (simulator stage). Meanwhile other teams complete a type of assault course which includes zip wires, scramble nets, rope climbs and Jacobs Ladder (technical stage). Teams alternate from indoor to some outside stages including some biking and orienteering in the woods (bike endurance)…I think I’ll let Jamie do the navigating!! Also some paddling on the nearby lake (canoe endurance).

Anyway it looks like a good alternative to the Trossachs, and I’ll keep you posted about our progress. If you know anyone going to the outdoor show tell them to pop along to our heat 1:30-4:30pm on Saturday, and give us a shout…I’m gonna need it!!

More info at:
http://www.theoutdoorsshow.com/outdoors.php
http://www.aceraces.co.uk/index2.html

Neil Northrop