Ok a quick edit before I start: This is an official Wrongens blog post, but being a Wrongen, our illustrious leader Vince is still getting to grips with his website, so It’s going on my own for now. So here it is, the first Wrongens blog, about the first official OCR Wrongens outing.

OCR Wrongens take over of The Obstacle Gym

“I’ve arranged a training day, I have a space in the car, will you come?” Asked my good friend and OCR Wrongens founder Vince James. “OK Sure, let me check my calendar” I said, and this is how I found myself up early on a Sunday morning, for a 3-4hr road trip to The Obstacle Gym to do a training session with a group of people I’d never met before.

The road trip started as many do when Wrongen Vince is involved, with male genitalia being discussed at length before we had even left Hastings, but the journey flew by, and other than a detour into a cow shed (don’t always trust your SatNavs folks!) we made it to the venue set in Shawell Woods, Lutterworth.

The Obstacle Gym has a 900m muddy trail set up, incorporating around 30 obstacles from belly crawling through tunnels to traversing a high rope above a net, several walls, monkey bars and rings, a rope swing and even a warped wall to practice on as well as some muddy ditches and a cold pond to wade through.

Once we had signed in we were split into a couple of groups and given a walk round the course by the gym staff, who explained each of the obstacles, we were then let loose to play. We were told if we wanted any specific tuition on any of the obstacles to just find one of the team who would come and help you, or you could just go out and enjoy the course. They also have a climbing wall to play on and a rope set up to practice climbing at the base area, and a track to do a tyre drag and set a time if you liked.

I set off for a first lap of the course, and after making short work getting up the first big wall using the ropes I got stuck at the top and had to be helped back down, caught in the arms of The Obstacle Gym owner Colin, we had a chat about technique and confidence and then I was off again over a tall wooden ladder and off into the trees. For the first lap we took our time, in fact I took almost an hour to make my way round the short course, stopping several times to have more than one attempt at an obstacle, or stopping to help and watch others.

During the first lap, at the high rope traverse, we were taught how to do a flip dismount by Colin, which for me with my fear of heights and no confidence in my own grip strength, felt terrifying, but with a lot of encouragement and yet again with Colin there to catch me, I actually managed to do it (although I wasn’t brave enough to try it again on my own).

After the first slow lap, fellow Wrongen Jude Thwaites and I set out for a second speedier lap around the course before stopping for a bit of cake provided by Wrongen Louise while keeping warm by the fire pit provided at base. Finally a group of us went out for a final time to get some photographs on the obstacles.

The only bad thing I have to say is that its so far away from where I live that I won’t be able to go back again, and again, and again. I would completely recommend a visit to anyone if you get the chance, it’s so much fun on a fantastically designed little course that gives you the opportunity to practice techniques or just to get good and muddy and have fun with like-minded people.

For our first official Wrongen’s outing it couldn’t have been more perfect, we all got to meet a lot of new wonderful people whilst doing what we love, and so that leaves me to say a massive thank you to Vince for organising the trip for us, and to the whole team at The Obstacle Gym for having us all up to play. I’m sure I’m not wrong in saying – we will be back!