Latest News... July 2007 Update

It’s been another busy period for ‘Team NAV+art’ and there is quite bit of news and updated info.

The big news and source of much tiredness was the team’s completion of ‘The World’s’ in Scotland. An amazing effort in a gruelling race resulted in a good placing and once again we finished as one of the UK’s leading expedition race teams. You can read more about it in my ‘ARWC Report’

We are very grateful to many people, family and friends, and especially my wife Lindsey for their support over the last few months. I am also extremely grateful to the following for help with key items of equipment that we carefully selected for the race, namely, Montane, Rab, Allsports. George Fisher, and Lancaster Canoes who all responded to our requests for key items of equipment at a discounted price. This isn’t a glib ‘thank the sponsor’ bit of prose, but each makes great kit and responded to a specific request. You can read more about these in my Equipment notes in my ARWC report.

However, true thanks must go to Lyon Equipment for the generosity with technical equipment from Petzl, Ortlieb, Exped and their patience and tolerance as an employee.

Open Adventure

More recently, John and Louise did well to finish 3rd mixed pair in last weekend’s Open12. With heavy legs not yet fully recovered from the ARWC, they must have found the 12 hour race a ‘mere sprint’ in comparison.

With the last leg of the Endurance Trilogy being the Open24 perhaps the longer time and distances involved may suit their nature as NAV+art ‘Great British Racing Tortoises’. It was good to see many of the ARWC survivors back in action, as well as NAV+art friends old and new.

 John and Louise continue to do well in the Open5 series and also the Open Adventure Endurance Series. I sampled the male pairs at the Keswick Open5 with fellow tutor Pete Smith as part preparation for our trip to The Hebridean Challenge in a few weeks. On the same weekend we ran a One Day NAV+art course at the request of, James Thurlow of Open Adventure. Several people enjoyed a very good days tuition and also an entertaining evening in our make shift ‘camping barn’. I’m looking forward to helping out at both the Open12 and Open24 events, and acting as first reserve to John and Louise in case of injury.

BACK to BAMPTON

Looking forward to September we have decided to re-locate our NAV+ art training course back to our previous venue at Bampton Village Hall. There are several reasons for this, but not least because it is very appropriate preparation for the forthcoming OMM. The venue will allow access to a brilliant MM training area, and the use of OMM type maps secured from the previous KIMM in 2005. All these changes contribute to a price reduction to just £165 per person. Other reasons for the re-location include the close proximity of the M6 (environmental/erosion issues), two gastro pubs in the village, and more space in the hall for our indoor sessions, including the gear seminar/workshop. Check out Shane Ohly’s Mountain marathon Kit list at planetfear.com for a great source of info - www.planetfear.com/articles... and follow the links under Adventure Racing and ‘Kit Lists’

Full details of the new NAV+art Course have now been updated.

More immediate is my departure for the Outer Hebrides and The Hebridean Challenge where another Team NAV+art will be aiming for boat loads of fun.

I hope to report back on that very soon after the event.

What else…

I completed GL3Day in Wales. Keith’s lap top blew up…and we all had a good time. We’ve been a bit slow with the results and reports, and Shane Ohly beat us to it with a good report on his website. All GL3Day participants will posted a full report and results booklet soon….I promise.

We also continue to provide all manner of training days’ under the NAV+art ‘Masterclass’ banner, including ‘ropes’ and ‘kayaks’ training if needed.

I guess that’s it for now – I must rush and do some prep and packing ready for The Heb.

Joe