PlanetFear Open 24

The third and final race of the planetFear Endurance series began with rather more of a splash than a bang on Saturday, as 63 teams, eager to round off the series in style, embarked on an epic 24 hours of endurance, navigation and adventure in and around the North Wales National Park.  With the potential for such a huge points score over the two days, the closely placed leading teams in each of the male, female and mixed categories knew that a missed control or a time penalty here or there could make all the difference to the overall series standings.

Preparing for the weekend ahead at registration in Betws-y-Coed.

A race prologue kicked off the event early on the Saturday with the teams entering an optional coasteering special stage along the western coast of Anglesey, where some much-required bonus points were up for grabs to those willing to take the plunge.

Leaping in to the turbulent sea during the coasteering prologue.

Battling through a choppy Irish Sea, rubbing shoulders with jellyfish and diving from cliffs in order to gain the edge over the pack, some may question whether this was more of an assault on the senseless than an assault of the senses. 

Probably not cold enough for some competitors. 

With many big smiles and a few apprehensive moments the stage was quickly despatched by the eager competitors and a brief rest was had before the journey to the race proper began.

Competitors at Rhosneigr beach.

With the rain, tide, wind and now fog against the organisers, the kayak event of stage one had to be cut short due to weather, and instead of the mass start which was planned to take place on sea, a staggered start released teams at 30 second intervals along Rhosneigr beach.

Out on the lanes of Anglesey.

Racing towards their bikes to begin a 25 kilometre ride across Anglesey's southern tip, the competitors took in a trail run special stage through the delightful Newborough Forest, and then onto a condensed kayak section along the Menai Strait, which finished on the mainland, moving teams onto the second bike stage of the day. 

Kayaks lined up for the 'plan b' shorter kayaking stage.

Paddling out in to the Menai Strait.

Moving gradually from the coastal lowland around Bangor and Caernarfon, through the increasingly more undulating Welsh mountains towards Bethesda and the Glyders beyond, the signs of an already long day were beginning to show on a few faces as the teams moved into the first run transition at the head of the stunningly picturesque and peaceful Nant Ffrancon valley. The event claimed its first casualties here as a bout of food poisoning and exhaustion brought the efforts of two teams to an unfortunate end.

The Nant Ffrancon valley.

Fuelling tired bodies, making adjustments to kit and finalising strategies, the teams now had to decide whether to shorten the challenging night stage and opt for rest or push their bodies on into the dusk, which by now had started to settle on the high Glyder fells. 

Unsettled weather overnight as the teams head out on the run stage over the Glyders - Image Dave MacFarlane

The tough, uneven and featureless terrain of this mountain range would require acute navigation and test the skills, stamina and resolve of the hardiest of teams looking to collect maximum points, and as the sun set into a grey sky the clag descended to provide an even sterner test.

Poor visibility remained over the tops during the night. Image - Dave MacFarlane

Despite the poor visibility and tough terrain, the vast majority of teams made it through to the early morning transition at Capel Curig in good time to once again collect their bikes and move south through the relatively short up, along and down section of stage four and into the village of Pentre-bont, as the sun slowly began to break through the darkness and shepherd in the final 8 hours. 

A lone runner passes as their team mate follows. Image - Dave MacFarlane

A final run section at stage five took the teams through and around the walls of a secluded, wooded valley and up to the summits of Y Ro Wen and Pen y Benar before heading further south to take in the relatively flat terrain of Moel Penamnen and on towards the mining area of Cwm Penmachno, into what, for many, was to be the highlight of the event.

The cave special stage and posible highlight - crossing the underground lake in boats. Image - Dave MacFarlane

This third special stage presented the teams with yet another period of darkness as the course entered the Cwm Penmachno mine, providing the teams with an opportunity to collect an essential 300 points.  Making their way through around a kilometre of tunnels under a hundred metres of mountain, the competitors needed to cross an underwater lake which had formed in a disused mine shaft in order to access the low exit tunnel on the far side. 

Exiting the tunnel on the cave special stage  - worth a total of 300 points.

Upon leaving the mine the low temperature and total darkness was in stark contrast to the muggy forest on the far side, which was beginning to heat up in the morning sun.  It was here that another team were forced out of the running when an extremely unlucky Emma Van der Gucht, of team The Planners, fell and re-dislocated a previous shoulder injury on the slope into the final transition.

A tricky exit and if your knees and bum weren't already wet, they were after this.

With day two of the race already into its final six hours the competitors were still looking surprisingly fresh, despite the lack of sleep and the gruelling conditions of the overnight stages, and as they mounted their bikes for one last push through the trail-ridden woodland around Betws-y-Coed to the finish, there was a sense that the difficult part was now behind them.

Moving on to the final leg in to Betws after leaving the Marin trail.

Taking in parts of the Marin mountain bike trail and having to negotiate their way around some vicious changes in altitude, the teams had one last special stage around the Llyn Elsi reservoir in the forest south of Betws.  Again optional, and with three separate course choices, each with varying scores attached to them, this orienteering course took the teams through some oppressive undergrowth while providing a stern test to by now weary bodies and minds. 

Sleeping, after 24 hours of solid racing, 28 hours including the prologue.

Negotiating tricky terrain to find final, essential controls at such close proximity to the finish line would appear to be one of the necessary traits of an adventure racer, as the teams criss-crossed the main road and temptation of the finish line without faltering from their course.  When they did cross the line, however, the relief, joy and exhaustion was clear to see in their mud-splattered, sleep-deprived faces.

Female Pairs Winners Wales Open 24 and Series

1st - Barbara Lonsdale/Jackie Scarf (Centre)

2nd - Jenny Allen/Judith Hughes (Left)

3rd - Liz Barlow/Sally Ozanne (Sally pictured Right)

The results for the female pairs series winners is also as pictured above.

Mixed Pairs Winners Wales Open 24

1st - Bruce Duncan/Nicola MacLeod (Centre)

2nd - Steve Fisher/Fi Spotswood (Left)

3rd - Julia Hobson/David Spence (Right)

Mixed Pairs Series Winners  

1st - Steve Fisher/Fi Spotswood (Centre)

2nd - Chris Morgan/Anna Sloan (Left)

3rd - Emily Brooks/Jake Morgan (Right)

Male Pairs Winners Wales Open 24

1st - Tom Gibbs/John Houlihan (Centre)

2nd - Simon Enderby/Stuart Lynch (Left)

3rd - Kim Collison/Neil Hamblin (Right)

Male Pairs Series Winners

1st - Tom Gibbs/John Houlihan (Centre)

2nd - Andy Mitchell/Phil Scarf (Left)

3rd - Kim Collison/Neil Hamblin (Right)

Gallery available soon.

More info on the Open Adventure series of races can be found on their website here>>>

All images unless stated - James Swann.