Last updated 15 November 2000
Extreme Events
Stop Press: Steve's
Diary is now here for you to read.
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09:00 gmt 11/11/00
Results are as follows: Marco Olmo wins for Italy in 21:41:34 - beating
the old record by no less than 6 and a half hours! 2nd C Ginter of
France 22:43:05 (last years winner) and 3rd E Motte, Italy
26:33:58. First Lady P Enioux from France 29:22:00
Brits finised in the
following order: Bolam 41:17:40, McClean 46:13:05, Coleman 46:13:05
(winner of the "Smilliest personality of the event" award)
Milte same time, Blackford 48:57:04, Turnbull 49:57:04, Kitous 54:34:08,
Dodds 55:24:27, Partridge& Taylor 55:45:23 and finally Cotton
56:13:16. 173 Started - 134 Finished.
21:00 gmt 9/11/00
All but one of the Brits finished this epic run. Gale force head winds
made travel and sleep very difficult in the final stages. The team
arose at 03:00 to embark on last leg and finally finished at
around 16:15; thus taking 55 hours 45 mins.
"Petra is
beautiful but the race was utter attrition - much harder than the
MdeS. Looking forward to meeting the Queen of Jordan at the Gala
Dinner tomorrow. Hope to be back in the UK on Saturday" said
Steve "Lawrence" Partridge, before he fell asleep....
12:20 gmt 8/11/00
race started on time at 08:30 with 161 competitors. Steve's party
(Cotton, Taylor & Kitos?) now at ck point 8. Coleman, Blackford,
Bogan & Turnbull are ahead at Ck point 11. There have been
lots of dropouts already, but, all of the Brits are still in there. The
race has been won, by an Italian, in the unbelievably time of
23hours. The soft sand has tested everyone along with the 35
degree heat. Steve plans to camp at ck point 10; make an early
start in the morning; taking the mountains prior to anticipated finish
later in the evening.
20:00 local 6/11/00
Now at Wadi Rum - everyone has
registered and are all in fine fettle. Common consensus is that
the course is longer than stated - nearer to 140
miles! There are about 160 starters, including the 11 Brits.
Everyone has passed the physical check ups and equipment checks - so far
so good - no penalties incurred. Daytime temp 35º but currently
only 3º - looks like it might be freezing tonight. Will be aiming
for beddown at ck point5. Overall aim is for 57 hours.
17:00local 5/11/00 Had
to hang around for a couple of hours before a 3hr trip across the
Jordanian desert arriving at midnight. Slept in Berber tents which
hold 20 people. Sky unbelievably clear - millions of stars.
Woke up to amazing sights of jagged rocks and red sand. Everyone
is bonding well and joking together. Wonderful start. Looking
forward to the start at 08:00 Tuesday morning.
11:30gmt 5/11/00 All
arrived at Heathrow Airport. Everyone fit and well and looking
forward to the event. |
Jordan
Desert Cup event took place between 5 and 11 November
2000. Our own Steve Partridge was one of the
"sane" people taking part in this event along with 13 other
Brits, most notably Andy Blackford of Runners World. |
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Marco Olmo (I) welcomed by
Patrick Bauer, race director and by the medias under the finish
line |
Quietness moment for
Thierry Simonin (F), cares and hydratation |
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172 competitors coming from
19 countries set off for 168 kilometers including 104 sandy
ground at the foot of stony citadels of the Wadi Rum desert |
Check point N°1,
competitors are supplied only with water |
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The day before the
start: Lunch time in Wadi Rum & Last minute training |
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| Statistics
Distance: 168km
Maximum time: 62 hours allowed
Terrain: 104km of sand, 24km of undulation track,
41km of mountain track.
Checkpoints: 13
Altitude: 1540 meters, maximum Slope: +12%,
The scenery is said to be superb - although, with
it being a non-stop race some of the beauty will, no doubt, be lost. |
The Jordan
Desert Cup was first run in 1999; this race probably takes over the
title, from the Marathon Des Sable, of being the 'Toughest footrace on
Earth'. Unlike the MdS, there are no overnight stops between each stage.
Steve says "The training is not
going well at present due to work pressures, but the majority of those
running are looking to complete the race rather than to set fast times.
A recent training run along the Grand union canal highlighted
deficiencies in the kit which are currently being attended to."
The event is/will be televised by Eurosport.
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The official French site is www.aoicimbaly.com.
Click on the Jordan site and you can access the course map, road book
and other information and up to date results. here is also some
information on www.jordandesertcup.co.uk. |
Steve has supplied the following Bio's of his group of
friends:
| Your Name: |
Stephen Partridge |
| Occupation: |
Projects Director Kenson Ltd |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (93, 95,96,97,98,99,2000), Boston,
New York, Madrid, Marathon Des Sables (1999) - Seven Sisters (3) - 50
mile Thames meander (2) - Toughguy (2)
Total no of marathons and ultras 41
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| Reason: |
I am wondering about that?...to get away from the
phone |
| Your Name: |
Anthony Taylor |
| Occupation: |
Lawyer (retired) |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (10) - Marathon Des Sables (1999) -
Seven Sisters (2) - 50 mile Thames meander (2) - Grand Union Canal 145
mile run (5) - South Downs Way (4)
Total no of marathons and ultras 90
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| Reason: |
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| Your Name: |
ALASTAIR COTTON |
| Occupation: |
BUSINESS MANAGER (THE ECONOMIST) |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (1998) - SAHARA MARATHON (1999)
Total no of marathons and ultras ?
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| Reason: |
BECAUSE IT'S THERE !! |
| Your Name: |
Andy Blackford |
| Occupation: |
Journalist (Runner's World) - Extreme running
experience |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (94, 99,2000) - Marathon Des Sables
(1996)
Total no of marathons and ultras 145 |
| Reason: |
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| Your Name: |
Jeremy Bolam |
| Occupation: |
Hotelier |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (94, 99,2000) - Marathon Des Sables
(1997)
Total no of marathons and ultras 45 |
| Reason: |
About time I did another Desert Race |
| Your Name: |
Tony Kitous |
| Occupation: |
Restauranteur |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (99,2000) - Marathon Des Sables
(2000)
Total no of marathons and ultras 15 |
| Reason: |
I just enjoy them |
| Your Name: |
Mark Dodds |
| Occupation: |
European E commerce Director for Microsoft |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (,97,98,99,2000) - Marathon Des
Sables (1999 & 2000)
Total no of marathons and ultras 34 |
| Reason: |
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| Your Name: |
Rory Coleman |
| Occupation: |
Print Manager |
| Experience: |
LONDON MARATHON (,97,98,99,2000) - 7 World records
for extreme running, 120 marathons in one year, 1000 miles across the UK -
2 New York's, numerous European Marathons/ Marathon Des Sables (1999 &
2000) - Inaugral Desert Cup - Seven Sisters (3) - 50 mile Thames meander
(2) - Toughguy (1)
Total no of marathons and ultras 242 |
| Reason: |
Only Man in Britain to have done it twice |
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