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The Irish Challenge
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This year County Kildare Motor Club and Tipperary Motor Club have combined to co-promote The Irish Challenge Championship with all proceeds being donated to Downs Syndrome Limerick. The Challenge is open to all types of 4x4 from the Purpose built off roader to the shiny show room 4x4. All entrants can compete for both days or a single day. The Irish Challenge Championship combines off-road driving skills with navigation and problem solving skills to create a competition that tests the vehicles and their crews to their limits. It forces the teams to rely on teamwork to get the tests done and allows the best team, not the best driver or best car, to shine through. |
The format of the event is that a number of “punches” (special markers used in orienteering) are placed in different locations across as large an area as possible. This is usually in excess of one hundred hectares, and may be as large as a thousand hectares or more! The teams - consisting of 2 or more jeeps per team - (maximum 1 driver and 1 navigator per jeep) are given maps of the area, and instructions on how to locate the punches. These instructions are a combination of straight forward co-ordinates giving the position of the punch using the National Grid or latitude and longitude, and can also include relative positions such as “the next punch is 0.5 kilometres North of this punch”. The first goal of the competitor is to locate the punches. |
 Once located, the competitor will usually find that the punches are positioned such that there is an obstacle (or two!) which they must overcome in order to collect the punch. The punches are collected by marking a score card which is fixed to the vehicle, using the punch that is fixed by a cord to a solid piece of scenery. This means they must get their vehicle within a metre or so of the punch! Each punch carries a score that reflects the difficulty of it’s location. |
 The teams are also given some Special Tests during the event to test their stamina, dexterity, wits and sense of humour. These are usually kept secret from the competitors until they arrive to do them. These tests are often timed, and can be used as tie breakers should two teams accumulate the same number of points from the punch collection. An example of such a test used previously was to have the driver complete a simple jigsaw while blindfolded, and the navigator could only help by giving him verbal instructions. This is where you see teamwork shining through! |
 The events are held over two days, with the team that accumulates the highest number of points winning. It is not a speed event, and speed limits and safe driving practice are monitored by a number of travelling marshals. Drivers loose points for unsafe activities and for speeding, and this can escalate to exclusion from the event. The focus is on careful and clever navigation and skilful collection of the punches. This also includes being smart enough to skip the really hard ones! |
 So, what can a spectator expect? Well, check with the control office (the horsebox / tent / vehicle with the most activity is usually it!) as to what times they expect the vehicles to arrive to the special tests and the “spectator friendly” punches, and they will direct you as best they can. Some of the more remote punches could mean a walk of 5 or 10 kilometres so it’s worth having an idea of where the handy ones are! Please give the drivers as much space as possible and remember that they may not be following specific tracks, or even the same route as the other competitors! Many punches are “collected” in a few minutes, some can take a fair bit longer, and there are generally one or two that could take hours! |
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For further details please email irishchallenge2007@ckmc.ie |
