Open Adventure - Haglöfs Open 5 Staveley

This week has been a week of both recovery and reflection. 
I woke up early to get in my huge bowl of porridge and left towards Garstang for my very kind offer of a lift from Heather Jackson. This is the third Open 5 race I have done since last years Slaidburn and Grizedale events so there was plenty to talk about on the way.

Again I was renting a bike and had to wait until 10am for Wheelbase to open so went to register and took on some more food and drink. The last few days saw the hot spell, but this morning definitely showed it was October in the U.K., overcast with a drizzly rain. 

I decided to bike first like I have done on the last two events, perhaps I should experiment with this for the next race in Shropshire. Open 5's are score type events so the route is decided by the individual, with checkpoints being worth different amounts. The values of the checkpoints are discovered on starting but you can study the map from registration. 

High Borrans OEC

I set off north from the start aiming for checkpoint 16 after finding out number 17 was a no control and worth nothing. This was a long stretch up a road so I used this time to look at the map and plan my route a bit more. After some stretches along tracks and bridleways I 'punched' number 16 and continues passing High Borrans OEC.

A fast descent down and across the B road for number 18 on the bench. A rider came up behind and overtook me, I thought I was going fast enough myself, he was zooming. Heading back north I picked up 13 and then wasted a little bit of time weighing up which way to go around for number 12. I went around the top and then powered all the back into Staveley, past registration and the start and to number 19. I had been going for about an hour and 15 minutes at this point. North up a small lane and up across some heath land for point 14 which I found out later that Big Bear Bikes Male Pair James and Morgan couldn't find. Another 30 mins up to number two and this is where I started to dwindle. Route options were planned on the way up to here and i decided i would swing round to the left and head back picking up 7 and 8 on the way 

Reston Scar

for 60 points. This is where I learnt I can't ride over a rocky track and eat a sandwich at the same time. I got into transition just under the 3 hour mark and quickly got down some food and water and went out for the run. I decided to go over Reston Scar first as I knew this area from orienteering earlier this year and picked up 60 points in 30 mins. A rash decision took me out to the east and over towards Brunt Knott to get the spread out points to the east of the map. Some Fell Running familiar nav for the next two points, on the tree and on the dam. I had 35 mins left so picked up 45 points from 3 checkpoints and finished 5 minutes early. 


Out of 70 male solos I came 33rd and score 425 overall, winner on 588 it was close scoring at the top with only few seconds late dropping people several places. 
In conclusion I think I am fit enough to score higher, I just need to get more fuel in more often and plan my route a bit more. Until then, in Shropshire on the Long Mynd in a months time. 


Paddy