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Clitheroe Bike Club team tackle gruelling coast to coast adventure
WHILE most people were enjoying a relaxing time August bank holiday weekend, three members from Clitheroe Bike Club decided something more challenging was called for.
Sarah Nock, Richard Cowan and Dave Powell took part in a "coast to coast adventure race" from St Bees Head, in Whitehaven, to Robin Hood's Bay, on the east coast.
There were 18 stages to the four-day event, each of which had to be completed by two team members. Stages included kayaking the length of Buttermere, Crummock, Thirlmere and Ulswater lakes and often dragging the boats for up to two kilometres between some lakes and over fences. Sarah particularly enjoyed the kayaking as she is also a member of Clitheroe Canoe Club.
Other stages were dedicated to running over mountains such as Robinson, Helvellyn, Cat Bells and Nine Standards. There were also plenty of biking stages, which best suited Dave and Richard, with a mix of road riding and challenging off-road riding.
Navigation played a big part in the event, with competitors following routes to each transition point and often having to plan their own route. One stage saw Sarah and Richard swimming 500 metres across Derwent Water, immediately after a four-hour run over a mountain.
There were a few incidents along the way, with a twisted knee and then a brief fall from the bike for Sarah and sore muscles and blisters from the boys. The team was also hampered on many occasions by the traditional bank holiday weekend weather, with rain, hail, gales and thunderstorms all on the first day!
Even so, spirits were generally high, even when having to pack the tent away at 4 a.m. to prepare for the day's events. Over the four days they spent 34 hours and 35 minutes racing and finished a very creditable 11th out of 17 teams.
Sarah, who was featured in the Clitheroe Advertiser last October after breaking her collarbone in a fall from her mountain bike, said: "It was a gruelling four days, mentally and physically, but an amazing achievement.
"We would like to say thank you to Len Farnsworth and Mick Harrison-Reader for supporting us on Friday and Saturday by transporting the two-seater sea kayak between some of the lakes and making sure our kit was ready for each stage."
Sarah, Dave and Richard are all looking forward to taking part in further adventure races throughout the winter. If anyone would like to know how they can get involved with such events or is just interested in joining Clitheroe Bike Club, e-mail Sarah at: sarahnock123@aol.com
Our picture shows the team of Dave Powell, Sarah Nock and Richard Cowan, with (right) Len Farnsworth, who supported them on the first day. This picture was taken at Whitehaven Harbour about half-an-hour before the start, and also shows the team's mascot, "Cookie Monster", who also completed the event!
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Weather for Clitheroe
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
