Following 18 months of stagnation, whilst the incarceration of a pandemic put a complete stop on LDWA challenge events being staged, the last 6 months, since the lifting of restrictions at the end of July, has seen slow, but sure resurrection. Naturally, organisers are and should be cautious, but confidence is growing and the membership are highly receptive to the regeneration of our challenge events, with many soon being declared full after their release. Fortunately, some offer a waiting list, giving realistic potential for gaining a place these days, as Covid-19 associated problems continue in defiance of what appears to be a successful vaccination programme.
In thinking about later on in 2022, and even daring to consider 2023, organisers and organising groups are growing in belief and the 2022 April Events Diary will display the most comprehensive list of challenge events available in the last two years, up on 2021 August, up on 2021 December and, without further interruptions, is well on course to re-establishing the heights of what we promoted before the dreadful day of Monday 20th March 2020.
Challenge events of all definitions and locations are jumping off the page for the enthusiastic eventer and that includes, for the first time since 2019, a mass-participation LDWA Hundred, which is a big step forward from last year's Virtual Hundred and the year before, when the LDWA's flagship event had to be cancelled for the first time since 2001, when affected by the foot and mouth outbreak. LDWA challenge events are now back and thriving.
Tim Glenn, Challenge Events Secretary