Race Report - ARC - Bruce County, ON - July 9, 2005

[Adventure Racing Canada]

Adventure Racing Canada - Race Report

Merrell Outventure Off-Road Race
ARC Enduro 5-8 Hour Adventure Race
ARC Enduro Extreme 10-12 Hour Adventure Race

July 9th, 2005 - Bruce County, Ontario, Canada - It was a hot and sunny July morning that saw over 150 competitors converge on the small town of Paisley, Ontario to take part in one of Adventure Racing Canada’s multiple races happening that day. Hosted out of the Paisley Arena, three races (Outventure, Enduro, and Enduro Xtreme) would start at staggered times throughout the morning. Teams would be experiencing many streams, hills, and overgrown bush in the navigation section, many kilometers of awesome single track on their bikes, and a paddle on the Saugeen River.


Enduro Extreme 10 - 12 hour Adventure Race
Race Start Time: 7:00 am

“This area is always so beautiful. It’s the perfect place to have a race and my team and I wouldn’t hesitate to come back.”

Beginning early in the morning, this race had a select group of racers board a bus to be transported to their start location: alongside the Saugeen River 15 minutes north of Paisley. Once racers and canoes were in the water and lined up, course designer Bob Miller gave the signal and the teams were off.

A few hours of paddling took the teams down the river, on a brief portage around Denny’s Dam, and into the town of Southampton before entering Lake Huron. Fighting the chop and moving into calmer waters teams steered south towards Chantry Island where they had to locate a buoy marking the site of an old shipwreck before continuing down the coast to Port Elgin. Here they dropped off their boats and ran along the beach to the start of MacGregor Point Park and their waiting bikes.

A straight forward road ride took teams into the town of Paisley and to the arena where they dropped off their bikes and headed out on the navigation section. Several river crossings, streams, overgrown bushes and plenty of mosquitoes along with a couple of checkpoints were all waiting for teams in this section who were still carrying their PFD’s from their paddle.

Emerging from the forest several hours later teams found their way back to Paisley and once again got on their bikes. Heading out of the town on side roads they made their way to the Brant Tract, an area designed specifically for mountain biking, to begin the bike navigation section. Using their trail map, teams had to ride on 5 separate single track sections to find 5 checkpoints located along the trails. Cedar Hills, Buck Run, The Shocker, Neeland’s Lane, and the undisputed favorite of the day The Widow Maker all tested teams ability to ride fast and smart.

Once completed teams then dropped their bikes off at the main parking area for the Brant Tract before running 4 kilometers to the start of the paddling section. Finding the provided canoes waiting, teams launched into the water and began the paddle back to Paisley. Once in the town teams were required to portage their boats upstream on a shallow side river before dropping them off and making a run for the finish.

- Overall Results
Team Name Category Elapsed Time
1.GOOD2GO (CO-ED) 12:44:48
2.NEO (CO-ED) 13:07:48
3.HAVOC'S ADVENTURE (CO-ED) 11:58:41 (missed cut off)
for complete results please visit: www.adventureracingcanada.com )


Enduro 5 - 8 hour Adventure Race
Race Start Time: 9:30 am

“One of the best races I’ve ever done. The single track was awesome”

“Between the three of us we managed to make way more water crossings than we had to and learned that we need to practice fixing flat tires…but we smiled the entire day and will never forget it.”

Though still morning there was no chill left in the air as the sun kept making its way higher into the clear blue sky. The forecast called for temperatures in the high 20’s and no indication of the showers that had cooled things off the previous two days. Racers were able to stay cool, however, as the race briefing and start would be from inside the arena. Teams spread themselves out in the cool shade plotting courses, checking gear, and applying both sunscreen and bug spray until, at a few minutes to 9:30, the call was given to line up and get ready. With a “3, 2,1…go!” announcement from Race Director Cameron Nelson, teams ran from the arena and down a one kilometer trail to begin the navigation section.

Racers were required to carry PFD’s with them as several river crossings had to be made in this section, something most teams enjoyed as a way to escape the rising heat.

Approximately 90 minutes later the first teams began exiting the forest and made it back to the arena where they would pick up their bikes. It was also here that teams faced a special test: remove and deflate one bike tire, remove the tire and tube from the rim, and show the checkpoint volunteer. Teams then got their passport signed and, as quickly as they could repair their tire, they were off.

A road ride on side roads took teams south of Paisley to the start of the Brant Tract and the start of the bike navigation section. Teams were provided with a trail map and told which checkpoints were located on which trail, but not where on the trail they were located. Cedar Hills, Buck Run, The Shocker, Neelands Lane, and, everyone’s favorite, The Widow Maker all had to be ridden by each team providing everyone with the best single track riding around. With no rain the trails were dry and perfect for experienced teams to gain some ground.

Once completed teams dropped their bikes off at the main parking lot and ran the 4 kilometers back to the start of the paddling section. Choosing from a fleet of provided canoes teams entered the water and followed the river straight back to Paisley. However, with the finish in sight, teams were required to make a 100 meter portage through a section of the river to shallow to paddle then drop off their canoe and sprint to the finish line at the arena.


- Overall Results
Team Name Category Elapsed Time
1.MERKER BROTHERS BKS (OPEN MALE) 5:51:00
2.O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU (OPEN MALE) 6:02:00
3.DIRTY DEEDS (MASTERS) 6:18:00
for complete results please visit: www.adventureracingcanada.com )


Merrell Outventure 2 – 3 hour Off Road Race
Race Start Time: 10:10 am

“It’s the perfect challenge for anyone who loves the challenge of a triathlon but hates to swim…like me.”

“Anyone can do these! It’s awesome!”

Leaving from Paisley, teams of two and solo racers started on bikes and made their way first east then south on secondary roads. A few hill climbs and some smooth descents led them to the start of the Brant Tract. Racers encountered a challenging but flat piece of single track called Neeland’s Lane that led them down to the Brant Tract’s main parking lot where they would leave their bikes and head out on a trail run.

Heading north on a track named The Brainbuster, racers weaved through the forest getting their shoes wet and testing their lungs and legs on some of the hill climbs. Once out of the trail and back on roadways racers made their way to the start of the paddling section where their boats were waiting for them.

The Saugeen River had a few twists and turns to challenge paddlers as well as some shallows and rapids, but racers knew the river would take them directly back to Paisley and right to the finishline.


- Overall Results
Team Name Category Elapsed Time
1.BONKERS (TEAM/MALE) 2:20:11
2.THE HOPEFULS (TEAM/MALE) 2:47:12
3.HOT MAMAS (TEAM/FEMALE) 2:48:10

1.LONELY BUT HAPPY (SOLO/MALE) 2:25:55
2.ECO-EXPLORATIONS (SOLO/MALE) 2:36:30
3.LIVESTRONG (SOLO/MALE) 2:37:16
for complete results please visit: www.adventureracingcanada.com )