UK Adventure Race

[Fred]

Found the following browsing around the web

Expedition UK Endeavour

Not Just a Challenge! A real taste of adventure & a real test of endurance!

A beautiful coastline, Caves, climbs stunning Countryside.. yes!

And take all of the above, add another ten or so disciplines, push up the distance to around fourteen hundred miles and add a time limit of two months?..
What do you have?

Expedition UK Endeavour!

This will be tough!!

... there will be three underground check points ...

Anybody heard more about this?
Which caves are they planning to use?

Have they really thought this through:

Racing completely at odds with Conservation.
Rescue issues - are they already cavers, possibility of injury, getting lost etc.

Not sure how advanced the actual event is e.g. there aren't any sponsors listed on their website yet the "race" is due to start in July.

 

[Stu]

Found the following browsing around the web

Expedition UK Endeavour

Not Just a Challenge! A real taste of adventure & a real test of endurance!

A beautiful coastline, Caves, climbs stunning Countryside.. yes!

And take all of the above, add another ten or so disciplines, push up the distance to around fourteen hundred miles and add a time limit of two months?..
What do you have?

Expedition UK Endeavour!

This will be tough!!

... there will be three underground check points ...

Anybody heard more about this?
Which caves are they planning to use?

Have they really thought this through:

Racing completely at odds with Conservation.
Rescue issues - are they already cavers, possibility of injury, getting lost etc.

Not sure how advanced the actual event is e.g. there aren't any sponsors listed on their website yet the "race" is due to start in July.

Caving
There are three caves along the route, two in the Forrest of Dean area and one in the
Cheddar Gorge area of Somerset. Of the two in the Forrest of Dean, one is a tidal
cave which can only be entered at low tide. Both caves are governed by the Forrest
of Dean caving club and access can only be obtained through the club. For the purpose
of the expedition the Forrest of Dean caving club has agreed to grant us access,
monitor our progress within the caves and act as our safety. The cave in the Cheddar
Gorge is a cave well used by experienced cavers and a guide map of the cave will be
used. The assistance team will be outside the cave awaiting our return. Prior to entry
and after exiting the cave the cave rescue group of the area will be informed.

This from the web site - cave that can only be entered at low tide!!! Never caved down there but isn't it Otter Hole and what the f**k is the club getting involved in it for? Don't care what anyone says this is terrible for so many reasons. What of "real" cavers? Is access off limits for the day? Very bad situation.

 

[complex]

From the risk assessment page of that website

Caving
There are three caves along the route, two in the Forrest of Dean area and one in the Cheddar Gorge area of Somerset. Of the two in the Forrest of Dean, one is a tidal cave which can only be entered at low tide. Both caves are governed by the Forrest of Dean caving club and access can only be obtained through the club. For the purposeof the expedition the Forrest of Dean caving club has agreed to grant us access, monitor our progress within the caves and act as our safety. The cave in the Cheddar Gorge is a cave well used by experienced cavers and a guide map of the cave will be used. The assistance team will be outside the cave awaiting our return. Prior to entry and after exiting the cave the cave rescue group of the area will be informed.

It doesnt actually appear to be a "race" as such - theres only one team, for starters, so with a bit of luck the Otter Hole guide will make sure that they don't do much/any damage.

 

[Dave H]

Do your own challenge - the three highest peaks and the three deepest caves (England , Scotland and Wales) in 48 hours.
You'll find quite a discussion about it somewhere else on this forum.

 

[Stu]

From the risk assessment page of that website

Caving
There are three caves along the route, two in the Forrest of Dean area and one in the Cheddar Gorge area of Somerset. Of the two in the Forrest of Dean, one is a tidal cave which can only be entered at low tide. Both caves are governed by the Forrest of Dean caving club and access can only be obtained through the club. For the purposeof the expedition the Forrest of Dean caving club has agreed to grant us access, monitor our progress within the caves and act as our safety. The cave in the Cheddar Gorge is a cave well used by experienced cavers and a guide map of the cave will be used. The assistance team will be outside the cave awaiting our return. Prior to entry and after exiting the cave the cave rescue group of the area will be informed.

It doesnt actually appear to be a "race" as such - theres only one team, for starters, so with a bit of luck the Otter Hole guide will make sure that they don't do much/any damage.

But they have billed as a race with the potential for a mass media coverage. Self serving bollocks if you ask me. Distasteful.

 

[dunc]

It doesnt actually appear to be a "race" as such - theres only one team, for starters, so with a bit of luck the Otter Hole guide will make sure that they don't do much/any damage

What... "much" damage? It would be hoped that NO damage occurs at all - if any did I would hope the team and the guide get stuck head first in the tidal mud!!!! :twisted:

But they have billed as a race with the potential for a mass media coverage. Self serving bollocks if you ask me. Distasteful

Well said! Can't imagine the media coverage would have any useful benefit to caving.. :guns: them I say!

 

[cap n chris]

If it's a showcave where charging money is standard fare then fine. However, unless these people are already cavers there will be problems if they're planning on using any other site.

 

[dunc]

It doesnt actually appear to be a "race" as such - theres only one team, for starters,

Not in the usual sense as in against another team - but they only have 2months to achieve all their goals - which puts it as a race against the clock imho.

However, unless these people are already cavers there will be problems if they're planning on using any other site.

Doesn't look like they are cavers and don't appear (from my quick glance) to mention anything of previous experience of it in their bios..

 

[cap n chris]

A more considered glance at their website leaves me wondering. You get the feeling that this is actually a homespun event based around four friends who have put together this website. There are presently no sponsors with only a short time to go before it begins.

I get the feeling they're going on a two month jolly anyway (presumably booked the time off work, assuming they've got jobs) and trying to get as many freebies, sponsorship etc. as they can with attendance press coverage, cheap accommodation, free entry to sites etc.. Never underestimate the gullibility of the populace.

The cave in Cheddar has got to be Gough's Showcave and the "beyond the pathway" caving there is piss easy so that's hardly a challenge. IMO this is a two month holiday for a bunch of people who have done this to suit themselves.

The website just makes it look "official" and "hey wow!" and mainstream.... I don't think it is. Prove me wrong.

 

[Stu]

A more considered glance at their website leaves me wondering. You get the feeling that this is actually a homespun event based around four friends who have put together this website. There are presently no sponsors with only a short time to go before it begins.

I get the feeling they're going on a two month jolly anyway (presumably booked the time off work, assuming they've got jobs) and trying to get as many freebies, sponsorship etc. as they can with attendance press coverage, cheap accommodation, free entry to sites etc.. Never underestimate the gullibility of the populace.

The cave in Cheddar has got to be Gough's Showcave and the "beyond the pathway" caving there is piss easy so that's hardly a challenge. IMO this is a two month holiday for a bunch of people who have done this to suit themselves.

The website just makes it look "official" and "hey wow!" and mainstream.... I don't think it is. Prove me wrong.

Hmm maybe you're right. Can see it being a trial run for something bigger. The main guy has a track record in adventure events (errr hate the term!!) and he states his intention to make a future in the profession.

 

[Fred]

From Forest of Dean Caving Club website

Access to Otter Hole is only available to experienced cavers belonging to bona fide caving clubs

I'll bet the "racers" don't fit this description and while I know inexperienced people have been into the cave e.g. Chris Searle as presenter of the recent HTV West series, Secret Underground, I doubt he went very far.

Also I'm pretty sure Otter Hole is a SSSI, anyone know the legalities of damaging such a site?

 

[cap n chris]

Just read the UK Endeavour Risk Assessment page and I confidently believe it IS a man and a dog operation.

Actually I was left with the uneasy feeling that this was a bit of a "Moorhouse" International/National Search & Rescue event! :shock:

 

[Stu]

Just read the UK Endeavour Risk Assessment page and I confidently believe it IS a man and a dog operation.

Actually I was left with the uneasy feeling that this was a bit of a "Moorhouse" International/National Search & Rescue event! :shock:

Well we know who to turn to if it goes pear shaped!!! :twisted:

 

[Mine Explorer]

I hear rumours that not everyone in the Forest of Dean CC belives this is a good idea...

...it remains to be seen whether the venture ever goes beyond a web site proposition.

 

[paul]

Nothing to do with April the 1st???

 

[Stu]

Nothing to do with April the 1st???

Could be, doesn't seem to be a punchline though. No one's owned up to the prank with a gotcha type outburst.

The post was made after mid day, so assuming not a gag by the original poster.

Seems too "real" and unfortunately too believable to be a gag.

 

[Mine Explorer]

Nothing to do with April the 1st???

Could be, doesn't seem to be a punchline though. No one's owned up to the prank with a gotcha type outburst.

The post was made after mid day, so assuming not a gag by the original poster.

Seems too "real" and unfortunately too believable to be a gag.

I first heard about it on Good Friday - a bit before April 1st.

 

[JB]

I'd go along with Chris' theory that they're a collection of Moorhouses. Not to be taken lightly though - pretty dangerous thing that.

I'd be surprised if they get much interest. I definitely get the feeling that some ex-military type (WTF is a "field team" anyway...) is trying to impress his civvy mates. Either that or it's a spoof website.

I'll be watching the website with interest...

"A beautiful coastline, Caves, climbs stunning Countryside.. yes!
This will be tough!!
Bon Voyage"

 

[Fred]

The post was made after mid day, so assuming not a gag by the original poster.

Definitely not my gag/wind up, if it is one.

 

[tubby two]

We are talking about people who have a separate hobby of 'abseiling' here.... must be hardcore folk then. yes. right.

tt.