Polaris - Spring 2000

A new year, a new Polaris location, and a new partner. When the entry form landed on my doormat, the location was advertised as "the Southern Pennines". Mike, my usual partner felt that he would not be available for this event, so I had to find someone else to carry my tent for me! After some initial hesitation, Peter agreed to join me - I somehow managed to fool him into thinking it would be fun!

2 weeks before the event a call was sent out from a fair maiden in distress and in need of a Knight in shining armour. However, Victoria emailed me instead, in search of a lift to the event. Victoria had already learnt that the event area was in fact the Peak district, near Buxton.

I picked up Peter and his gear before heading over to Osmotherly to pick up Victoria, and down some tea. Once at Chelmorton, we set up camp in the field registered, marked up the maps and retired to the pub. Jo, Victoria's teammate, and Neil, Jo's intended arrived soon afterwards, closely followed by Dave, Neil's climbing partner for the weekend. After a few beers we retired to the tents for the night.

Saturday dawned misty and cold. The sun soon burnt off the mist as Peter and I set about getting ready, and having breakfast. This was when we suffered the only equipment failure of the weekend. the handle falling off my new mug! After the usual queue at the loos, we headed off to the start and giveout. Once armed with our list, we marked up the map with the overnight camp and set off in search of the first checkpoint.

We quickly knocked off checkpoints 5, 7, 13, and 15. steep climbs to 5 and 7 letting us know that this wasn't going to be easy. A second disaster almost befell us after 15 when Peter thought he had lost the brandy. A quick search found it again and we headed off on a tarmac blast across to the track up to 20. Just as we started the climb, the rain and hail started but soon stopped again, once we had sweated to the top in waterproofs.

After 20 we plummeted back down into the next valley at breakneck speed and found several other competitors about to attempt the same bridleway up to 19. This path was completely unrideable, in fact everyone had difficulty pushing their bikes up it, much to the amusement of the walker that passed us all. Once over the top we descended a short way to check 19, and then looped around the top of the hill past the radio mast (Dawesy's first law again!) and down another bridleway to check 18, then it was more bridleway, and then tarmac round to the site. You could see cyclists looping round and then along the ridge all heading the same way.

Once at the site, high above Eyam, and next to another mast, we found a reasonably large flattish area and pitched camp, saving room for Victoria and Jo.

Next morning, we were greeted by a winter wonderland scene. The whole campsite was covered by a thick white frost. Still the girls soon had the billy on for coffee, and we all rose and packed everything away ready for day 2.

Peter and I headed off in search of the first checkpoint, and then made a quick pitstop at a service station enroute to check 8. It was during this stop that I relearnt the meaning of luxury (ask and I'll tell!). A tarmac grind of about 1.5 miles lead us to no. 8 where we met 2 guys who had managed to forget about BST and had slept in and missed their start time by 1 hour! The best off road descent of the weekend lead us back down to the valley. We then all bashed along the tarmac to no. 4, and then more tarmac towards no. 3. To reach no. 3 we had to drop down a 1 in 6, over the river, and then back up an absolute beast of a climb, where more amused walkers passed us all. After 3 we then cruised along the ridge and down to the main road, heading back to Chelmorton and the event finish.

Once finished we had only to pack up, eat the free meal, buy the photos, say goodbye to friends old and new, and head back up to the north east.

Many thanks to Peter for being an excellent partner, and Victoria for the kosher jam tarts and a couple of superb rides since! Congrats also to Victoria and Jo for coming 5th in the ladies category!

See you all in the summer. The summer Polaris is once again being held on the Yorkshire Moors, if interested, please call me asap for entry details.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Polaris - Spring 2000

Gary Dawes