He appears confused at first adapting old cross-country event (5,5)
I believe the answer is:
paper chase
'old cross-country event' is the definition.
(old-fashioned running game)
'he appears confused at first adapting' is the wordplay.
'at first' indicates taking the first letters.
'adapting' is an anagram indicator.
The initial letter of 'confused' is 'c'.
'he'+'appears'+'c'='heappearsc'
'heappearsc' with letters rearranged gives 'PAPER-CHASE'.
(Other definitions for paper chase that I've seen before include "Trail-following cross-country race" , "cross country run" , "Type of cross-country race" , "Cross-country race following trail" .)