They Won The Adrenalin Rush...

We couldn't help having a bit of a giggle when we up seeing the guys at The North Face UK in Kendal last week. Sitting on marketing manager Keith Byrne's desk was a ridiculously large broadsword in a leather scabbard.

Obviously we assumed it was some sort of office disciplinary implement, but turns out that Keith and Team TNF were awarded the medieval hacking thing for winning this month's Adrenalin Rush adventure race in the Scottish Highlands - along with a friendship bowl and the chance to compete in the 'Four Winds', an eight-day adventure race in Utah in the US in August.

The team, consisting of Keith, OM member Chris McSweeny, Ski Sharp and Nicola MacLeod came in 5 hours ahead of the competition after a gruelling 75 hours over a 510km course with just three hours of sleep in total. The race is reckoned to be the hardest in Europe.

During the event the teams climbed some 11,500 metres on foot and finished by padding the length of Loch Ness. Keith commented: 'The key to our success was how well the team worked together. I hope this is the launch pad to a successful 2003 adventure racing season.'

Congratulations to the team. The sword, if you were wondering, is going to be displayed in TNF's new Covent Garden concept store, see link to previous articles below.

You can find a full race report plus pictures on the sleepmonsters.com adventure racing site.