DVO JUNIORS (+1) GO…….PETER PALMER RELAYS

For those who were nicely tucked up in bed on the first Saturday in September spare a thought for the Juniors (and drivers / coaches) who, braved the elements and descended, along with 30 other teams, on Middleton Woods Leeds, for this years Peter Palmer Junior Relays. It was our first venture of this kind and which can only be described as the junior version of the well established Harvester Relay that DVO Seniors have successfully taken part in over a number of years. To sum up, the event is a six leg relay which starts at around 4.30 am (yes, we had to wake them at 3.30am which was amazingly easy). Accommodation is provided by way of floorspace – this year it was an enormous indoor athletics hall. Well, for the rest I will hand you over to the team perhaps between us we will paint a picture of just what it was like. Val Johnson

Leg 1 = Luke Addison

I’ve got to say, at first I did not relish the thought of waking up at 3:30am, to go run around a wet forest, in the dark!! But surprisingly, after three cups of coffee, I was actually up and raring to go! We trudged up to assembly and had just enough time to do some stretching before we were ushered into the holding pen to be briefed on how we would start. As the whistle went we all sprinted off along the tapes to the start flag where the group seemed to divide and go in opposite directions! With a quick glance at my map I knew which way to go and went off, at some speed, in that direction. Although I didn’t have a great run, I really enjoyed the relays and look forward to taking part again next year!

Leg 2 = Ben Beresford

After struggling to wake up at 4:00am.I managed to get my O’stuff ready for my early run. We walked up to assembly and pitched the little tent. I cheered on Luke at the mass start, then walked over to the spectator control (which was a garden gnome) looking for Luke, but all we could see was bright lights coming towards us. I saw Luke coming into the spectator control so I got ready and went off to the holding pen. I stood with two other boys who were a lot older than me. The three of us were guessing who was who. I saw Luke I looked at my compass to see which way was north, then I was off (not very fast though due to not been able to open my map). I ran into the trees and it was still surprisingly dark. Fortunately for me my first two controls I had were on open fields, with the first control down a forest road onto the open and the second across the field and just into the trees. Then came the first spectator control it was across another open field. By this time I didn’t need my torch in the open. I punched the spectator control and did a loop around the west side and out again to the second spectator control (the gnome!) and did a loop around the bottom. Finally I handed over to Amy and I then went for breakfast which was a test in its self as I had to eat the coco-pops before the milk soaked threw the paper plate! I am looking forward to competing again next year.

Leg 3 = Amy Bevan

3.30 is not a normal time for a teenager to get up! But I reluctantly dragged myself out of my sleeping bag and gradually woke up, not really looking forward to going out into the cold, especially after hearing the torrential rain on the roof of the sports hall during the night. Leaving all the leg 4-6 people tucked up asleep I staggered up to the start. Although Luke didn’t run quite as good a time as he wanted, this worked to my advantage, as it meant I was now running in the light which I was more than happy about! The ground was luckily not as slippery as I had anticipated, and I had a fairly smooth run (other than a slight confusion with one control…oops!). Meeting my new found friend (the gnome) twice along the way, it defiantly helped me along to hear everyone shouting at me as I reached the spectator control for the second time. Although it was a ridiculously early start, I had such good fun cheering on my team mates and can’t wait to do it again next year.

Leg 4 = Jessica Addison

Well, seeing as I hadn’t been told what was happening until we were half way to Chesterfield, it came as a bit of shock to find out that I was going to Leeds for a night and that I was going to have to get up at 6:30 the following morning to run in a relay. But, everything turned out surprisingly Ok! I managed to get up and eat a tea-cake before going up to the assembly field and doing my run. And, even though I was still pretty tired, I managed to get round without making any mistakes, which was definitely a good thing. I liked seeing the gnome with the balloons halfway round too! :) I had a really good time, and I’d love to take part again, next year.

Leg 5 = Amy Kimberley

Well waking up when all the first legs had to wasn't that good but at least I had a few hours sleep until I got woken up finding out I had 30 minutes to get ready.   When I got up to the assembly I found out that Amy had only just gone out I was quite disappointed but at least I could cheer on the team. When me and jess finally got into the pen we found out that we could be in a chasing start if Jessica wasn't back in time and we did end up in it but luckily we were the first out on the chasing start. The course was easy and simple so I got round in a reasonable time.

Leg 5 = Jessica Beresford

After a good nights sleep I was ready to do my part of the relay. I was glad that it was light though. I set off around the course and didnt have any trouble finding the controls. I really enjoyed being part of the team and hope they take part next year.

Leg 6 = Ben Windsor (LEI)

Five hours after getting up, my leg began. The green course visited the spectator control three times with two butterfly loops being run in different orders by different runners. The course started off really well for me and both the loops went reasonably smoothly. However, on the last part of the course right after the final spectator visit I turned off a path too early and got confused, leading to a 12 minute control, and being caught by the mass start with had happened shortly after I left. So in a running race for the last controls I finished the 6.4km in 49 minutes. By the time I returned it was 9.45am and pretty much everyone had gone! The one advantage of getting back late: the organisers gave me an entire loaf of bread, tub of margarine, and pot of jam for breakfast!