Pair embark on mystery challenge (From Oxford Mail)

Pair embark on mystery challenge

2:49pm Friday 22nd August 2008 in News By Thom Airs

Two car enthusiasts are setting off tomorrow on a 1,000-mile treasure hunt with nothing but a series of challenges to guide them around the UK.

Stewart Griffiths and Kathryn Drewett are taking part in the 'Britball Run' over the next three days in a bid to complete a mystery course in the fewest possible miles and raise £1,000 for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

The Britball is an organised car tour around the UK, with the emphasis not on speed, but teamwork, navigation skills and forward planning.

Mr Griffiths and Mrs Drewett, who work for Oxfordshire County Council, will compete in Mr Griffiths' MGF sports car.

They set off from the Heritage Motor Centre, at Gaydon, near Banbury, today.

Mr Griffiths, 34, from Eynsham, said: "All we know is the start point. We have no idea where we are going - all we know is that the hotels for both nights have been booked for us and that we will be given a series of numbered envelopes containing our challenges.

"Previously, entrants have had to do things like find a blue Smartie, when they weren't available due to the colouring, and find the longest leek in Wales."

During the event, Mrs Drewett, 33, from Little- more, will be wearing black overalls and a black helmet to look like the first incarnation of the 'Stig' from Top Gear, while Mr Griffith will be in an all-white outfit similar to the Stig's current appearance.

Mr Griffiths, who will be taking three sat navs and an old-fashioned map, added that they had already raised £500.

He said: "It's the first event of this kind that we're doing. We're dead excited."