District Night Hike 2002

This report is based on my personal experience but I hope that most people can relate to it in some way shape or form

By 20:30 all the tents had been pitched, teams were registered and shadows were assigned. After the kit check all the teams were raring to go. My team just got a map by this time, not the best start!

Then they were off, well at 5 min intervals anyway! After a wait of what seamed like an eternity we were off. The walk was 11km long and interesting, we did 14km taking in the much recommended sights of Coalville and its neighbouring village. I must say that Coalville is a “Brilliant” place. On the way there we “broke out” of a quarry, and panicked when a police car came past us and slowed down!

The decision not to use torches was a good idea, navigation was technically easier, could see for miles and we were able to walk past teams that then could not follow us.

My team set off at a brisk pace in the wrong direction. Upon checking the location on the map we put ourselves on the right path 800m to early, missing checkpoint number 1 (unmanned so did not matter).

After a chilling session we quickly found ourselves passing the team who left before us. This raised our spirits. We successful completed the first task and were on our way. This is the point we went to Coalville, and navigated the quarry. After our sightseeing tour we found that we had lost no time on the team just behind us. What a relief! By this point there were 3 teams very close together. We were just in the lead time was looking good and spirits were high (we did not realise that we missed a checkpoint – whoops!). It was then we picked up the pace to lose the teams “following” us and ensure we arrived at the checkpoint first as to not get delayed behind the other teams. The plan worked as we arrived at the checkpoint first of 4 teams one coming the other way. We were told that we missed a base. Unfazed by the news we continued with as much vigour as before, shear momentum took over. We soon found ourselves at the finish – relief! I thought that we put in a gutsy and highly technical performance. We got back in 3rd . We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The event was not with out drama, we had the police called to the scene of a driver slumped over the steering wheel of his car, he was in shorts and T-shirt on a road to nowhere. Several teams had to drop out of the competition for varying reasons.

After a quick nap it was time for breakfast which was cooked – and tasted lovely. Then the presentation followed, our team did not win, but learnt a lot from the experience.

I’d like to take my hat off to the base staff, you did a very hard job. The event was a huge success and will continue to be in the future.

Written by Lee Dunnett