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"Challenge Valley at Clyne Farm"
by Neptune
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For those readers who have not heard of challenge valley before, it is
described as the muddiest assault course in the world and is located near Swansea in South Wales
(UK).
So one day in July me and my friends Dolphin and Twillin took a waterproof camera and video
camera to find out just how muddy this assault course could be. The weather was cloudy but it was
still quite warm when we arrived at Clyne Farm. I think we were all just a little apprehensive
about what we had volunteered ourselves for ...
We met our friendly group leader Matt and his absolutely mad dog Gwen.
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The log bridge.
Our first obstacle was a nice easy one. Matt gave us a quick demonstration of what we had to do.
Walk across a narrow log bridge over a little pond. hmmm no one fell in, how very disappointing
but there's still plenty of time.
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The wobbly bridge. A wooden platform suspended on ropes.
Walk onto the wobbly bridge, stop half-way and stand on one leg then the other, turn around 540
degrees then walk off backwards to the other side which Matt expertly demonstrated to us. Twillin
went first followed by Dolphin with me last. We all managed to complete this obstacle, again
without falling in the muddy water despite Matt making the bridge wobble even more with his foot.
Twillin begged for another try because he had not fallen off first time.
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The monkey bar bridge.
Again matt showed us what he wanted us to do. swing from one bar to the next, stop half-way and
turn around 360 degrees, let go with one hand and do a monkey impression Oo Oo Oo, continue
across to the other side. I found it really easy and made a fast crossing. Dolphin took it slowly
and carefully. Now Twillin made the monkey bars look like very hard work and what a great way to
finish, sliding down the support into the water! Which we captured on video.
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The Pig Pen.
Another nice easy obstacle, Just crawl through a 3 foot diameter concrete pipe. Not quite so
simple as the pipe is at 45 degrees and one end is in a small muddy pond. Twillin was first to
jump in and crawl through the pipe, Dolphin went next and finally I went last. Now we were all
wearing muddy trousers, trainers and socks.
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Crawl Bar Bridge.
This obstacle seemed one of the most difficult, lie face down on top of the bar, hook one ankle
onto the bar and leave the other leg hanging straight down to lower the centre of gravity for
balance. Proceed across the bar by pulling with both hands. This was the first time I have ever
tried doing this type of crossing and it seemed fairly easy to do. Dolphin also managed to get
most of the way across. BUT twillin, well he just seemed to start all wrong and it just got worse
and worse. We all had a good laugh watching him and we got another good video clip of his
performance.
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The Postman's Walk. Two ropes, one used as a foot rope the other as a
hand rope
Matt demonstrated the correct technique with arms out-stretched to the sides, along the top rope
with the rope running across the back of the shoulders, side stepping across very fast. I had
first try at this one and had most difficulty. When I got about half-way across, the ropes were
getting further and further apart so Matt had to give me instructions for an alternative method
for shorter people. Twillin and Dolphin both managed this obstacle quite easily.
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River Run.
Matt did not show us how to do this part of the course only a verbal description. I wonder why!
Climb over the scramble nets, jump into the river run along to the tyre, jump through both feet
first and climb out at the other end. Nothing to it. Twillin had the first go and he was having a
great time splashing about in the mud, but he got caught up by the tyre and should have listened
to the instructions "FEET FIRST" I'm glad that we managed to get him on video, we let him have
another go but it was just as messy. Dolphin went next and I went last with us all getting more
muddy, unfortunately the video camera had given up completely.
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Rope Swing.
Hold the rope and swing across the muddy pond and don't forget to let go when you get to the
other side. Easy, I even tried dragging my trainers through the water to see what would happen.
All I got was a shoe full of water. Dolphin almost fell back in to the pond after his successful
crossing. Twillin, well maybe rope swings are just not his sort of thing so it was another big
splat in the mud!
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The swamp.
All three of us had to simultaneously jump into a large boggy mud pond and cross to the other
side. Funny Matt, did not show us how to do this part of the course either! I was very surprised
that no one shouted "Leeches" as the scene was so reminiscent of the 1986 film "Stand by me"
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We all had to agree that doing the assault course was great fun. Twillin won first prize for
getting the muddiest and was given a good hosing down by Matt to remove all the caked on mud. You
can see the rest of the photographs in Album 9 of our photo galleries. The videos will follow
later once we have edited them.
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