Newsletter from Causeway Coast Adventure Racing.
At the first TA team Tango & Cash were going that fast they arrived at the checkpoint before the marshals. Tango & Cash were the first team to go out onto the foot section which took teams up onto a ridge before returning back down into the forest to collect their bikes again, but before they were allowed to go they had to knock down 2 targets.
Back on the bikes again and down through the ford beside the event HQ for the 2nd task which was to demonstrate they could change a puncture on their bikes, with some teams finding this task harder than others. To make matters worse one team had only just changed a puncture before hand and others had some to change afterwards.
From the HQ it was a bike ride up over the mountain to the kayak section which was followed by the third task which was an orienteering loop on foot. Once back at the bikes it was back up over the mountain again and 3 checkpoints later they would arrive at secret task number 4 (a rope section over the river). Long queues built up here and some teams were given the option of going on and not getting the time penalty. The last secret task seen the teams having to crawl through a pipe before getting the checkpoint which we had to move to a safer place (it was hanging beside the mini waterfall, but due to the rain which had fell the river had become to deep to send teams into)
Team Crash Test Dummies finished first and are now in the lead for the series points, full results are up on the website www.causewaycoastar.co.uk
Pictures
Many of the teams taking part in the first race will of seen Shane popping up in many different places and snapping away at them as they took part in the many different tasks on the race route. His pictures are now on Sleepmonsters and can be viewed and bought here http://www.sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop.php?basket_ID=1163070919&event_id=3831
In keeping with CCAR, Shane has kept his prices at a very keen rate so why not have a look at them and maybe buy a few of them to show yours friends and work colleagues what you get up to at the weekend.
Thanks
CCAR would like to thank the teams who came to the race and hope they all enjoyed it.
We would also like to thank Steve at Realcycles.com who shortly before the race agreed to put up over £1000 worth of prizes for the race series hence the reason the series is now called the RealCycles Adventure Race Series, Realcycles have their shop in Carryduff and stock a wide range of mountain bikes and also have a vast knowledge when it comes to mountain biking. Why not check out their website www.realcycles.com
Todd's Jeep from Campsie who bought us all the bibs the competitors were wearing.
Forest Service for the use of the forest.
Limavady Borough Council who have give us great help and support for this race and the come and try race in August.
The Water Service who without we could not of had a kayak section in the race.
Race 2
Entries have now opened for the second race and a copy of the entry form is attached. The entry fee is £40 per team and cheques should be made payable to CCAR and posted to Ivan Park 22 Grasmere Court, Coleraine, BT52 2DL.
We already have some teams entered so places are sure to fill up fast and the only way your place is guaranteed is when we receive your cheque.
Any teams from the south wishing to enter will need to send a cheque for sterling or contact us via email for the bank details to set up a bank transfer.
Teams who have already took part in the first race will still be able to take advantage of the series discount we are offering. More details on the website.
Feedback
In order for us to keep making these races better we need your feedback, should it be good or bad we would like to hear. ivan@causewaycoastar.co.uk
We have two items we would like to hear feedback on before the next race.
1. The next race takes place in Castlewellan forest park. We have been offered the use of a building in the forest park which we can use for our registration but more importantly to you the competitor it has showers. We need to know if you would be happy to pay extra money for the use of these facilities. If we do decide to use them it would be about an extra £2 each.
Would you pay the extra for a shower?
2. Also for the Castlewellan race we will be trying out a timing system, this should allow us to work out times faster so we can have results on the day. It should also stop any teams who might be tempted into cheating by not going to the checkpoints in the right order. At the finish of the race you will be given a print out of your split times and the order you went to the checkpoints.
Do you think this would be a good system to adopt?
