1 DAY OF ADVENTURE

The ACE 1 day series comprises 3 superb Saturday Adventure Races in the South East of England designed for all levels of competitors. Each event is made up of around 50% newcomers and 50% of people who have taken part before. Enter as a solo, pair or team of three and experience the UK’s original adventure race – right on your doorstep. All ACE Race events are within 90 minutes of central London. These events will appeal to runners, bikers, tri-athletes and adventurers from all walks of life.

THE FORMAT

ACE 1 day races are 5 hours long. The  format features running and biking, together with engaging physical and mental challenges and navigation. Operated in superb venues across the South East, ACE Races are designed simply to provide you with a really good day out on your bike and on foot. The format is designed to appeal to all levels of ability and as such 1000s have taken part since the inception of the 1 day series in 1996. Within the events, there are options to do as much or as little as you like and all maps, specialist equipment and route instructions are provided, as well as an extremely friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The events are managed by Detail Events, a professional adventure sports management company and as such, all standards of production and course planning are impeccably controlled. 

The day starts with Registration, which runs at the event centre right next to where you have parked your car. After registration and collection of your racer pack with special edition ACE Race “Buff” inside, there follows a short briefing from the Race Director. Then the race begins with a mass start, following which competitors run up to 2.5 miles X-country following a set route, to collect their map and instructions for the rest of the course upon completion of this run. They then have to visit pre-marked checkpoints (CPs) on foot and mountain bikes applying simple navigation techniques, cunning route choice and teamwork and completing small teamwork challenges throughout the course. (or one-person challenges if you are taking part as a solo!)

ABILITY LEVEL

The events are deliberately designed to challenge all abilities and are especially suited to first-time adventure racers. The total distance covered will be approximately 5-10 miles on foot total dependent on how many CPs you uncover and 10-20 miles on the bike (also dependent on how many CPs you uncover). If you can ride a bike and sustain a steady jog for an hour, you can cope with these events.

EVENT SCHEDULE

0900 – 1015 Registration
1030   Competitor briefing
1100   Start
1600   Finish
1630   Prizes presentation

THE SPORTS

Run
Run on way-marked trails and stride out to enjoy the view, or pace it hard to get out in front. Then we get you to pull out the maps and it’s your turn to locate the checkpoints.

Bike
Some really nice off road biking features in every event. Feel the excitement of great descents, sweat it out on some steep terrain and enjoy the tranquillity of the forests you’ll ride through.

Navigation
Some of the event is way-marked; some is on the maps. Don’t worry – you don’t have to be Christopher Columbus; and remember, there is no such thing as “lost” in these events – just navigationally challenged!

Problem solving
It might be physical; it might be mental. It’ll be stimulating and it will be fun. This is what makes ACE Races stick out from the crowd – engaging problems thrown in along the route to ensure you are always kept on your toes. Get stuck in!

THE VENUES

10 May – Pippingford Park
Pippingford Estate is a favourite for ACE Races; a beautiful country estate nestling at the very centre of the mighty and ancient Ashdown Forest in Sussex. Our base of operations for the day is set among 1,000 acres of this delightful woodland estate and you will find yourself striking out from here across open heathland and into dense woods. The Estate also features a military training ground with fun obstacles – and our course planners always find a way to “liberate” some of these for you!
More info on the location can be found at www.ashdownforest.co.uk

12 July – Bracknell Forest 
This is a classic adventure event area and rightly popular with the biking fraternity. The event is held within Swinley Forest, a Forest area of the Windsor Estate between Bracknell and Bagshot owned and managed by The Crown Estate. It comprises 2600 acres of Scots Pine woodland criss-crossed with an elaborate rabbit’s warren of trails and tracks. It all makes for a superb Saturday afternoon as you uncover secret singletrack, magic descents and a few huffs and puffs to get up the hills! You might think Berkshire is flat. It isn’t!
If you are into your flora and fauna, you may be interested to know that this site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and forms part of a Special Protection Area, protected for the rare bird species that live there. Keep your eyes peeled!
For an excellent hive of local knowledge offered up with biking as the theme, check out http://www.gorrick.com/swinley/

30 August – South Downs
This is a new venue for ACE Races and we are privileged to be able to offer you the first event in “QECP.” This is Hampshire's biggest country park, featuring over 20 miles of trails for running and biking. Within the park are Butser Hill National Nature Reserve and the highest point on the South Downs. Enjoy 1400 acres of open access woodland and download within the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
For the full info on this Hampshire County Council owned venue, check out http://www3.hants.gov.uk/qecp

THE PRICE

Prices at £35 per person. For this you get entry, superb sponsor merchandise, all specialist equipment and maps. You need to bring a bike, although hire bikes are available. To enter, click here. TO enquire about hire bikes, email our office here.

RECOMMENDED KIT LIST

• Mountain bike & helmet (mtb hire available on request)
• Simple bike tools
• Compass (optional, but recommended)
• Appropriate outdoor clothing
• Space blanket & whistle

MORE INFO

Full information is at www.aceraces.com or call us on 0845 009 4365