Vancouver Skyline XTC (X-country Trail Challenge)
North Vancouver, BC 14 April 2003
50K, 25K or Custom distance

North Vancouver, BC - Jim Swadling (4:50) and Wendy Montgomery (5:22)
earned top honors on the 50K course, and training buddies Pat Barry and
Sibylle Tinsel shared the glory in the 25K Up (4:33) in the first
'shakedown' running of the new
Vancouver Skyline XTC (X-country Trail Challenge.)

Held on trails that skirt Grouse and Cypress mountains on Vancouver's
rugged North Shore, participation in the XTC was by invitation only for
runners who didn't get in to the popular Diez Vista 50K scheduled on the
same day. The race offers a 25K "Up', a 25K "Down" and a 50K "Up and
Down" option. A "Custom" distance was also added by popular demand.
There was no aid, no trail marking, no t-shirt and no fee to
participate. Detailed trail descriptions were, however, available to
all participants.

Three former Canadian National 100K team members, 3 prospective sub-24
Western States 100-mile runners and several top finishers in the
Montrail BC Ultra Series set out at a strong pace. The lead group
remained close for the first 20K before Swadling, Cressman and Nicol
caught their stride. The predominantly-downhill return leg further
separated the field with Swadling launching to a lead that just kept
getting wider. Overall, runners found the course to be more challenging
than expected.

There were a few hiccups. In particular, a public works truck
completely blocked a section of trail, causing some runners to detour
and others to run over the bumper. Self-sufficiency was understood, but
some water at the 25K turnaround would have been helpful to the 50K
runners. A good half of the field got lost at least once, but
thankfully there were no calls made to the North Shore Search and
Rescue. The only casualty was Andy Nicol who went down hard on his knee
near the 50K turnaround. Andy received many a sympathetic comment from
dog-walkers concerned about a blood-covered leg that looked as though a
bear had gnawed on it.

Many thanks to the Avalon Brewpub for providing a free pint to all
participants and Kevin Thompson of Rackets and Runners for the shoes he
chipped in for a draw prize.

The first 'official' XTC will be held on Saturday 14 June 2003. For
details and registration, please refer to www.araucana.com/XTC.

Ean "Rain, No Train" Jackson


Name Event Finish Home town

1 Jim Swadling! 50K 4:50 North Vancouver,BC
2 Andy Nicol 50K 5:14 Vancouver, BC
2 Ean Jackson 50K 5:14 North Vancouver,BC
4 Wendy Montgomery! 50K 5:22 North Vancouver,BC
5 Scott Riddell 50K 5:41 North Vancouver,BC
6 Ann Taylor 50K 6:05 North Vancouver,BC

1 Pat Barry! 25K Up 4:33 Vancouver, BC
1 Sibylle Tinsel! 25K Up 4:33 North Vancouver,BC

9 Gavin Tansley Custom 4:40 Burnaby, BC
10 Kendell Dickinson Custom 4:23 Vancouver, BC
11 Kelly Wilcox Custom 4:20 Vancouver, BC
12 Dave Cressman Custom 3:46 Vancouver, BC
13 Rainy Kent Custom 3:30 Burnaby, BC
14 Jim Hatch Custom 3:15 North Vancouver,BC
15 Andrea Cobham Custom 2:55 Vancouver, BC
16 Kirby Patton Custom 2:55 Vancouver, BC
17 Kevin Thomson Custom 2:55 Vancouver, BC

! - course record