 The penultimate stage of the BG Energy Challenge 2007 – UK saw teams head to Loch Ard, a freshwater lake nestled in the heart of the beautiful Trossachs region. The stunning surroundings did little to ease tensions as the teams were joined by their Leaders in this set time canoe stage.
The Leaders were thrust straight into action and deposited on Loch Ard’s central island (representing a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Distribution Area), whilst their teams waited apprehensively on dry land. When the starting gun was fired the teams raced to the waters edge to collect their canoes and await the return of their team captains from the start wire before entering the dark waters of Loch Ard. Meanwhile on the island in the middle of the loch, the Leaders opened the envelopes containing key information about the stage and began their strategic planning.
Team 18 from Aker Kvaerner entered the water first, closely followed by others as a flotilla of canoes paddled out to the island to join their Leader and finalise their strategies just as the rain began to fall. The majority of the Leaders chose to join their teams for the arduous part of the stage, paddling and then running down forest paths to collect and distribute LNG at the required points; teams also shared the duty of being Fleet Captain and collecting LNG from the distribution area on the island.
Team 20 from Amec Natural Resources was one of a few teams to encounter problems on the canoe when they suddenly capsized but with steel determination they quickly righted their canoe and paddled on as the rain finally went away and the sun emerged towards the end of the stage.
Spurred on by the presence of their Leader and the confidence gained from having the additional member, Team 3 of BG Group carried off a strategic coup and crossed the finish line first, with half an hour of stage time to spare therefore ensuring they were well rested for the final stage. Nearly all the teams and their Leaders completed the stage within the two and a half hour maximum time, with just Team 8 from BG Group coming in over the time allocation and incurring penalties. The current leaders, Western Geco, had another successful stage to further increase their lead as they headed into the final challenge.
Mark Carne, Leader of Team 8 from BG Group said:
“That was surprisingly hard but brilliant and great fun. My team members were fantastic, they stayed with me the whole way and kept me going which is what so much of this event is all about. It is about building teams and seeing what great teams can do and that was a great example of teamwork. It is fantastic to see so many people from across the energy industry here, all having a great time and raising such a lot of money for worthy causes.“
This challenge, made critically important by the presence of the Leaders, was a show of team work, strategy and endurance, a great culmination of all the qualities required to compete in the BG Energy Challenge.
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