Latest News... June 2008 Update
Yet again it’s been a busy few weeks and mid-summer is already upon us. Since the last NAV+art course, which went very well with excellent performances and feedback all round, I’ve been busy with our GL3Day event. What an epic! I said it would be harder and it was. A few people bit off more than they could chew, but the majority persevered for three long tough days to achieve great things. It was certainly a much talked about event and the ‘buzz’ has been very interesting since. We had an overall completion rate of 26 out of 48 starters, but of the 22 who didn’t manage the full distance every day the majority did complete their own routes for three days. Well done to everyone – it was never meant to be a ‘run-of-the mill event’, and never will be. Thanks also for the overwhelming emails of ‘shock and awe’ and positive comments, and genuine and constructive feedback. Things will change slight next year … but only slightly. Comments and ideas are still being carefully considered and next year’s plans will be revealed before too long; as always, it is venues and overnights which prove difficult to resource. Just two days after GL3Day we hosted the Dockray-Hartside Fell Race. This is a simple evening fell race .. no hype, no prizes, no dramas. We organise it in a simple minimalist sort of way, and the plan was executed succinctly by Andy Ramsey, Sally Spence, Ken Ledward, Alan Radcliffe, Jane Newport, and Lindsey and myself. Many, many thanks to the ever dependable and loyal team. Again, … get out and help… Open Adventure The Open5 at Broughton concluded the short Spring series but kicked off the 2008 Endurance series. John raced solo as Wilko rested up for her Bob Graham round, the following weekend. John enjoyed his racing day finishing a very creditable 8th place. Wilko had raced the Keswick Tri the day before but her BG support team had banned her from any events the weekend before, and she managed to keep the Tri quiet until later. Interestingly, Wilko went along to Open 5 to help marshal and collect controls and came back saying she was just as knackered, as if she had been competing! NB – All events need helpers …get out and do your bit for our sport!! Naturally, Wilko trundled round the Bob Graham Round in a steady 22:57hr and whilst it wasn’t easy it was never really in doubt. A Big Well Done to her, and a big team effort too, with NFR team mates and NAV+art friends helping out. Dave ‘Chief Carbo’ Atkinson did two legs in prep for the West Highland Way Race, and even Gentleman John turned out to navigate Leg 3 (John is still known as Johny5, but the ‘5’ now refers to ‘Legs’ because before too long he will be doing the BG himself, (which has 5 legs) even though he hasn’t admitted yet!) I didn’t get to do Open5 myself, either, as I was busy swimming through the young Wilko’s ‘dirty water’ in the Tri the day before. I had also become ‘fifth man’ in a works team at Wildboar24 – 24hour MTB race at Grisedale Forest. I was hoping for an overnight shift but didn’t manage to get way, as I did a fast PB lap which meant I had to continue on for a further lap as my buddy wasn’t ready at handover. The event was great fun, and there was no way I could have left the team before the end. 70 Wild Miles + Clic Sargeant Sponsorship - 21st June Glencoe After many years of wanting to do this event I have finally found the time to do it. Anyway, never mind that, this is an exception and in these days of easy IT charity donation, I hope you will support me. Visit just giving.com if you would like to donate. I would be very humbled, and very grateful, if some of my NAV+art / GL3Day / team and club mates will support me. Follow this link for my website page http://www.justgiving.com/joefaulkner June into July After that, and once we’ve see Dave finish the ‘WHW’, Lindsey and myself are off on our holidays and the The Hebridean Challenge, yippee! (… and the original and best adventure race on the planet.) Team NAV+art will be represented by Wilko and myself in the pairs category, a new development in recent years, and I’m looking forward to it. However, Team NAV+art will be back in force next year for a full-on team adventure. John’s training hard already …. Then it’s Open24 – and the ‘Big Bad Ben Tri’ followed by the OMM…. NAV+art Masterclasses continue to be popular with pairs and small groups. A new formal development and addition to our services will be the NAV+art Tech Skills Day. The format of this will focus on Kayak and ropes skills, details available soon, but please do contact me if you are interested in developing these skills. Our September NAV+art weekend course will be based once again at Bampton. Details of the course are outlined elsewhere on the website; aimed at ‘roughty-toughty’ Mountain Marathon people it will have an ‘OMM’ focus. Training is practical and hands-on, and will be good training for any AR. We will have OMM style maps to practice that 1:40 scale mapping, too. The Sunday mock event will available to all comers for a nominal fee, also. I think that’s enough for now. Many thanks, Joe
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