From their website and race information - On the 13th March, Pippingford Park, East Sussex plays host to the ‘Kamikaze Final Sortie'. In 2010 saw over 200 brave participants (of which I was one) tackle the course and establish the event as one of the premium adventure runs in the UK.
Extreme adventure cross country run approx. 8 miles (though this figure varies from the website/ race pack /summary - from anything from 6 to 9 miles) of outrageous cross country running fun!
Terrain - the venue offer the crazy Kamikaze runner incredible gradient related challenges to overcome. The spurs and valleys of this amazing tract of land provide not only tightly packed contour lines but phenomenal scenery to enjoy as you battle round. To complement the natural features the votwo course designers have gone radical and added many more outrageous obstacles; implemented to test fitness, nerve and determination. More mud, hills and challenging obstacles then you can point your samurai sword at. The venue uses the largest down hill slope on the course to provide the runners with a flying start. Expect this to be the biggest 'charge' since Last Hurrah of the Savoia Cavalry Regiment in 1942 ( http://www.suite101.com/content/the-most-famous-cavalry-charge-of-wwii-a66102). Also you can search ‘Kamikaze votwo’ on You Tube to get a real feel for what it might be like for instance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVTRsD-0Py0 and no, I couldn't spot myself.
Facilities - Hills + free Kamikaze race T-shirt + goody bag + Hills + free car parking + hot food and hot drinks in the votwo cafe (not free). + music and race commentary + Hills and in true Kamikaze fashion race numbers will be worn on issued head bands.
2010 Participant Comments:
- This was honestly the most fun I've EVER had in a running event!
- Totally brutal and physically demanding, but completely awesome at the same time!!
- Good work guys! Very hard but good fun
- As my first event, I thought this was awesome and will definitely do it again, hopefully developing fewer bruises next year!
- Fantastic event will definitely be encouraging my friends to take part next year, thank you to all.
- You guys are sadistic, keep it up.
Here's the race map - many of the obstacles fairly self-explanatory. The bog is a small lake - waist deep (subsequently found during the race to be chest deep!) in rotting leaves which are particularly 'fragrant'; the slide is 10m of plastic and washing up liquid and a steep slope; the Snakes Wedding is an entangelment of rope to make your way through; river run is ..... running up a river ; while the rope climb is a hill side so steep it requires a rope to help you up it. They haven't shown the mud scramble (last year it was after the slide) which is the muddiest part of the course over which they put a scramble net under which you have to crawl ..... and then of course there are the hills - which kindly they've marked.
Drive down was uneventful. Pretty murky weather - in fact driving across Ashdown Forest I to put the fog lights on. A bit of background - the forest was originally a deer hunting forest in Norman times, it is now the largest free public access space in the South East. It is a great place for walking and enjoying spectacular views over the Sussex countryside and is known the world over as the 'home' of Winnie-the-Pooh. The Forest is at the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has national and international protection because of its wildlife. Nearly two thirds of its 6500 acres (2500 hectares) are heathland, amounting to 2.5% of the UK's extent of this rare habitat. For more information see http://www.ashdownforest.org/index.php and to see a pretty fun panorama, see http://www.panoco.co.uk/example_ashdown.html
Arriving at the Pippingford Estate (see more information at the end) - the first thing I was asked by the marshals was whether the car was front or rear wheel drive? The reason became apparent as the parking field was a quagmire and what they were doing was having at least our driving wheels on the track so as to not cut up the field too much (still managed to get a bit of wheel spin when leaving and those muddy spays up the sides of the car).
Going down to the registration/race HQ to a) register and b) more importantly, get a cup of tea, I was chatting with the lady in the mobile van and she was explaining that they'd had torrential rain the night before. We also discussed the hardy souls who'd actually camped overnight! Registered and collected my headband with my race number on. No race numbers you have to pin on, no race timing chips - and good reason. if last year was anything to go by, the numbers would not stay on the shirt with the amount of obstacles and so on you have to overcome and a headband as this is pretty much the only bit of you that remains dryish - if you're lucky!
Its becoming obvious that I'm beginning to get into some race routines. For instance finding a cup of tea before the race and hopefully a bacon sarnie afterwards; pasta as carbo-loading the day before the day before; same race wear ...... No outright superstitions yet but I suppose its only a matter of time.
Walking back to the car to get the camera in order to post the stunning views, realised I couldn't actually see the other side of the valley. You could only just see the start line (yellow and red flags). Actually this is becoming part of the routine too. Get there early, find tea, register, take some photos, chill out reading the sports pages (motivational of course), final about 30 mins before change into gear and go for a warm up jog and stretch.
On reaching the car was in time to see the stately arrival of "the hearse" - see Race 6. Typical gallows humour with fellow racers wondering if it had been supplied instead of the more normal St John's Ambulance.
One thing I notice from the photos is that they don't really give any impression of slope - in fact it all looks pretty flat. I can assure you that haring down into the valley you're certainly aware of the slope, the tussocky ground, the 'dampness' underfoot etc.
I've added a photo of what the valley more normally looks like - and yes those are Ashdown Ponies which we also saw on the run round looking decided unimpressed even nonplussed with our athletic endeavours.
Wandering back to the start after my warm up to be confronted by about 30 competitors in coloured tabbards being shouted at by a couple of army type training instructors. There's a army-style get fit classes that are undertaken in the London parks - Forces Fit - which are very popular though personally I don't like getting shouted at and being told to get down and 'gimme ten' especially when its muddy!
It was pretty treacherous underfoot as all the paths were either ankle deep in mud or were just very slippery. Then into the first water - which was cold and muddy and really smelly! Thigh deep rotting leaves, stirred up by the runners in front, topped off by a couple of foot of muddy water. A couple of ropes were provided to drag yourself across as it was impossible to wade through otherwise. Amazingly - there were a couple of marshals in the water for the whole event - they must have had really warm wetsuits/ dry-suits as they were standing in chest deep water for the best part of 2 hours yet were still encouraging people on! In fact all the marshals were great - really encouraging you onwards - and as per usually, the photographers were strategically placed to ensure that they capture you at the point of most pain.
that crossed we then had to cross the stream, up the hill and down the slide (a bit like snakes and ladders - up then down, up then down..... ). By this time the trainers and socks, not to mention shorts were full of goodness knows what of fragrantly smelling "stuff". The advantage was that your trainers don't move around on your feet so less likely to get blisters, the downside was that they weigh about twice as much. Another advantage of going through cold evil-smelling gunk is that the cold covers anaesthetises the aches and pains from the previous races, unfortunately it introduces new ones as your cold limbs are forced to run when they'd much rather be in front of a log fire in a country pub, pint in hand ..... in fact that might be an idea for my next challenge.
The map then shows a leisurely looking jog along the series of lakes. The reality was a combination of shin deep mud and crossing of deeply incised streams and small valleys along what could be charitably be called a path. The river run was to be expected - wet, and the rope climb was, for want of a better word - steep. It was here that the organisers had cheerfully announced that medics would be on hand 'in case'. I didn't see the medics partly being distracted by a very pretty marshal with a devastating smile and a winning way of encouraging you on. In fact she wasn't the only one, the marshal (or marshal-ette?) helping you out of the bog/lake had a similar winning way with her. You see, it doesn't matter how knackered, cold, wet or muddy - I do notice the important details! Unless, of course, its all a figment of a fevered imagination brought about by delirium as a result of extreme exercise?
Then it was the "big hill". I think the organisers had run out of inspiration when naming this part of the route - though to be fair they got it spot on. The only thing I can say was I managed to run up both times - there was no way a veteran of the Steyning Stinger was going to walk. Although when I say run it was more of a heavily wheezing shuffle. On (finally) reaching the top we were greeted by a chill wind and a sign stating that it was an ancient monument and that no digging was allowed (see end for more on the archaeology). A little further down the track, sensibly sheltering in a stunted grove of trees were the ponies - obviously feigning indifference to the proceedings. Interestingly, they are Exmoor ponies and part of a conservation project - more details at the end.
One more hill to the start/finish and then repeat circuit. I'm not sure whether knowing what is coming next is good or bad? However true to form had settled into running with a couple of others. They were faster downhill and through the heavy mud, I was quicker up hill. Basically, you can read the blog again as it was exactly the same, just add more wheezing, ever tightening calf muscles (very stiff on Monday! hobbling around like an old man - well unsurprising really as I'm fast going that way), getting muddier, and the joy of actually overtaking someone still on their first lap!
Then back to the car to get money for the celebratory bacon bap. Always tastes good, but this was especially welcome - albeit probably a little less that hygienic considering what I'd, waded and crawled through!
People have asked how I keep the car clean. Basically I strip everything (within modest limits of course - I'm not an exhibitionist!) off and put it in a bag. Get rid of most of the mud with a vigorous towel down - feels a bit like sandpaper sometimes and then the towel is likewise bagged. Then put on clean-ish track suit and t-shirts etc. all of which a) keep the mud largely confined and b) are consigned to the washing machine along with everything else. The drive home was uneventful though it was pretty smelly! All the kit rinsed off in the bath before having the full pre-wash / wash cycle. Has come out virtually odour-free. I had to take two showers to get rid of the smell as I was covered in "mud" from the lake that formed debris like tar requiring an almost total ex-foliation to get off.
Fortunately off work on Monday so have time to recover though have had to take my mountain bike in for replacement wheels as due to the racing I've done so far this year I've managed to wear out the hubs. As I need the bike for the next two weekends, more for a matter of confidence, decided to get them upgraded to better wheels as the last thing you need as you are hooning down some hill, is a lack of confidence in your wheeled steed!
Result: 20th out of 200 finishers in a time of 1:30:02 (and the 1st placed supervet and about 4 1/5 mins faster than last year)
The History of Pippingford (http://www.pippingford.co.uk/history.html) is inextricably linked to that of Old Lodge and the Ashdown Forest in general.
Up until the civil war, all the land - both that which is now in private hands and what is now forest proper- were one and the same. The whole comprised a royal hunting preserve, with commoner’s rights being held by custom and tradition. With the overthrow of the monarchy and the execution of Charles the 1st the situation was set for "all change”.
The parliamentary survey of 1685, carried out by William Dawes and others, is somewhat scathing about Pippingford. It refers to "Pippingford Lodge, and parcel of Ashdown Forest, late property of Charles Stuart, late king of England". The occupant was one John Franke, described as a gentleman, and keeper of Pippingford Walke and the West Ward.
The buildings were said to consist of a brew house, Kitchen, Parlour, Larder, and a buttery below stairs in addition to the main house. A stable, Ox Stall and Barn also feature. The land was assessed at "One and Twenty Acres" and the buildings were said to be "out of repaire". Attached to Pippingford was a "Parcell of open common and waste ground sett for and to the common wealth". This stretched from Wych Cross, eastward down the gill to the head of a brook called Deep Deane Gill at Stony Brook. down to where it joined the steel forge river, and thence southwards for three quarter of mile to sixty perches below three wards and then back to Wych Cross.
The woods and trees were said to be of little value except "for fiering" and they were valued at forty pounds. In another survey, the land was claimed to be good for little else save growing rabbits. However, all was claimed by the common wealth.
After the restoration of the monarchy, all presumably reverted to Charles II, following this, the enclosures took place.
Pippingford was enclosed by William Newnham, who lived at Maresfield Park. He is said to have set it up in more or less its present configuration, and planted many trees. Pippingford and Old Lodge then comprised 2175 acres. After passing through the hands of Williams' heirs and successors, the estate was acquired by William Bradford in the early nineteenth century. He built the first Mansion, which was destroyed by fire on the fifth of November 1833. The local legend has it that no one came to help extinguish the flames, because it was thought in the village that it was a Guy Fawkes celebration. The fire is supposed to have been started by a drunken butler knocking over an oil lamp.
Most of the contents were saved, but the house was destroyed, and was not apparently insured, apparently. The estate fell into the hands of the unfortunate Bradfords Lawyer, Henry Shirley.
Apparently the house lay derelict until the estate was acquired by John Mortimer. He was obviously a ,man of some substance, as he had a town house in Hanover Square, and was able to commission the famous French architect, Hector Horeau , to build what must have been an exceedingly grand and expensive country one. Like another of Horeau's creation, Normanhurst, near Battle , The house was modelled on a French chateau, and was hopelessly impractical. it was completed in 1857, and was three times the size of the present one. As a matter of interest, Hector Horeau won the competition for the design of the great exhibition of 1851, but was not awarded the contract, no doubt because he was a foreigner.
After Mortimers death in 1871, the property passed to a Mr Grey, who is believed to have been his nephew. He was reputed to have been a very pleasant man, and existing photographs seem to bear this out. He was well liked locally. Strangely enough the estate seldom seems to have been handed on from father to son, and after his death it was owned by Captain Banbury, believed to have been in the Royal Engineers. He is supposed to have been Mr Grey's nephew. Captain Banbury constructed, or perhaps reconstructed the existing Middle Lake, but the Big lake, which now lies empty was reconstructed by the previous owner.
In 1914 Pippingford was acquired by a speculator, a Mr Anderson, who owned collieries. He cut down the vast majority of the trees, once so carefully planted by the previous owners, and effectively devastated the estate. Despite this he eventually became bankrupt, and the property was sold to Haley Morriss. After this the character changed and the same family still run it today.
Haley Morris was a keen naturalist, and with the exception of foxes, wildlife was encouraged, and the existing lakes built. Farming was a secondary consideration, although the farm was run for agriculture. At one time it was reputedly the third largest pig farm in England.
With the coming of World War 2 in 1939, the Army moved in. This is believed to have been to counter any German Paratroop landings in the Ashdown Forest which would have been part of Operation Sealion. This was the code name for their planned invasion of England.
The farm was run by the Ministry Of Agriculture and after the war was let to a fruit farmer.
In 1986 the lease was terminated, and the farm like the rest of the estate is now run with nature conservation as a foremost objective whilst trying to sympathetically derive an income.
The estate is still used by the army with every Sandhurst cadet doing their first week of field craft on the estate.
Archeology
The earliest reference to the area is in Roman literature where it is referred to as "Esk's Hill Forest", the esate was then an important iron working area, the Romans established a hill fort known as "Garden Hill" which was excavated in the 1970's Garden Hill Fort became very prosperous supplying as it did the iron which was so essential to the Roman conquest of Britain. Expensive imports were found among the remains, including pottery, known as Samian Ware, which was made in the South of France. The only complete pane of Roman glass ever found in Britain at that time was unearthed, and the fort bears the distinction of having the smallest Roman bath house ever discovered. The lead piping is still there. By the end of the sixth century the fort had become derelict with the fall of the Roman Empire. The Roman farmland and gardens became overrun by the forest waiting to take them back, and it passed into history.
The second blast furnace ever built in England was built at Pippingford in 1500. The remains can be seen to this day. At this time Henry the VII was on the throne. Iron was smelted until the end of the Seventeenth Century. During the archaeological excavation of the site a cannon, the only one ever found which had not been bored out, was unearthed along with other objects. These can be seen at the Anne Of Cleeves museum at Lewes.
The Sussex Pony Grazing and Conservation Trust
http://www.sussexponygrazing.co.uk/index.php
From the above website - The Trust assists with the conservation of native flora and fauna by undertaking large-scale extensive grazing of selected chalk grassland on the South Downs and lowland heath on Ashdown Forest using hardy Exmoor ponies. Substantial parts of these two areas are now in ‘unfavourable condition’ as defined by the government’s countryside advisor, Natural England. Originally set up to assist with the conservation of important Sussex wildlife habitats including the lowland heath of Ashdown Forest. This habitat is threatened by invasive species to the detriment of botanically rich plant life and associated fauna due to lack of grazing. The ponies, now numbering 54, fill this gap and thrive on the nutrient-poor herbage which is often unpalatable for modern domesticated breeds of cattle and sheep.
It is conservation-oriented and NOT an animal charity. However Exmoor ponies are an endangered breed themselves so there is an important, if secondary value, to their activity.
