Having only seen the smaller tracks on planning visits when they were either ankle deep in mud or knee deep in snow, I decided early on to position most of the controls on or near to the forestry roads which were always going to be reliable. This made the job of putting out controls on the Friday and Saturday very pleasurable except when I checked out the track between numbers 42 and 38 (I did warn you at the start). Late demands by FC to move 4 controls just a few days before the event reduced route choice options between Newtondale plateau and the valley but fortunately didn’t affect the course too much.
Both Andrew Windrum and Andy Conn, having set off in completely different directions, cleaned up comfortably with time to spare while others prepared to ride hard between controls were also rewarded with high scores. The trick for mere mortals was to decide which of the clusters to leave out. Thanks to all of you for turning up and especially to those who helped collect controls in afterwards.
Dave Lloyd

Cropton Forest Comments
Thanks to Dave Lloyd for planning another excellent course despite not being able to cycle in the forest due to the snow until 4 weeks ago, Jens for another excellent map and the helpers as ever for making the event run smoothly (especially my family – Amy, Jo and Chris). FC asked us to move 4 controls at very short notice so I was very relieved that Dave and Jens were able to amend the course. The staff at Spiers House were very welcoming and it made a change from Keldy and Stape – although most riders probably visited them both. After cancelling the first event and battling against wind and snow drifts last week it was brilliant to ride in spring sunshine on dry tracks and pleasing to see 120 riders on the day. There was plenty of route choice and, I thought, plenty of riding but Andrew W and Andy C still managed to clear all of the controls with 18 and 12 minutes to spare respectively. Congratulations to all of the category winners – Graham Fielding (M50) who also cleared up in just over 3 hours, Max & Martin Vesty (Gen) who finished 8th overall, Rik Thompson (M21), Ray Morriss (M60), Teresa Billington (W40) and Steve & Andrea Foster (X50).
I enjoyed my ride but was disappointed to only have 90 minutes between uploading the start block and being ready to download. Unfortunately I wasn’t back before the first finishers so thanks to Dave Relton for sorting it out when it stopped working. Please can you check your dibber numbers at registration as having a different one is the main reason for problems at download.
Full results have already been posted along with the competition map if you couldn’t make it to the event and want to follow anyone’s route. This will be a feature on the web page for all events from now on to go with the blank map being posted on the Tuesday before each event.
The next events in both leagues are on moors with a 4 hour NEMBOS event in Swaledale (North) on Sunday 12th May and then a 5 hour NYMBO event at Ingleton on Saturday 25th May.
I am planning the Swaledale event – the tracks are drying out nicely and the gamekeepers are happy for us to use the bridleways and some private tracks despite this being the main part of the nesting season so please keep to the tracks. We are using the Dales Bike Centre at Grinton with a shop, café, accommodation and bike wash available so check out their web page at http://www.dalesbikecentre.co.uk/
Graham Fielding is planning the Ingleton event which is again part of the Overground Underground festival of events so check out their web page at http://www.ogug.co.uk/
Hope to see you at one of these events
Steve
PS We won’t be using numbers this year as we can check the splits for any problems
PPS There will be a series of monthly evening social rides announced soon instead of the 2 hour treasure hunt type MBO events.

Cropton Controls Map

Cropton results including split times now available at the Results link, and the full map with controls available by clicking the map above. A great day for a event, full comments to follow.

100 pre-entries and a decent forecast so there will be 20 spare maps for entry on the day.
There will be a few more tracks marked out of bounds this year due to nesting birds. This is a critical time of year so please respect these areas.
Spiers House Caravan Site shop and cafe will be open all day.
There will be a free bike wash afterwards but please make a donation in the charity box provided.
Tony Harker of Muddybums will be selling biking kit at sale prices so please support him. He is the main sponsor of the NEMBOS league.
Looking forward to a great weekend for a belated start to the season.

The first NEMBOS event of the season on Sunday 14th April is definitely on. Martin Edwards has been out this weekend checking the roads and bridleways.   The roads are all open again but there are still lots of snowdrifts on the moors above Allendale so Martin has moved some of the higher controls down into the valley. He will be marking the remaining drifts onto the map on Saturday so that you can avoid them. We have only got 25 entries so far (Sunday) so please pre-enter by Wednesday evening so that we print enough maps for everyone.

Cropton Forest Event – 20th April

The extensive network of forestry roads and minor byeways will, as ever, provide fast route choices to all parts of the competition area. However, once away from the main roads, paths and tracks will not be so reliable so route choice, even for short legs will be crucial. On the day of my final planning visit in mid-March the area was under 6” snow so no matter how favourable the weather may be in the coming weeks conditions are unlikely to be the same as last year’s event at the start of the season. The choice of control sites has taken this into account.

There has been extensive felling in both forests but this has not affected the state of the forest roads some of which have been even been improved. The emerging Moors to Sea (M2C) cycle route cuts across the area from west to east and this has brought with it improved track surfaces in some places. Other improvements  include re-routing of the bridleway currently through Rock Cottage (SE 754/947) to the north (there are notices at the start & finish),  and  upgrading to bridleway of the track passing the front of Middle Farm (SE 805/920) which now continues down to Newtondale.

I have used the following definitions in the written control descriptions:

1. A road: = any metalled or improved surface navigable by a standard family saloon and includes forestry roads.
2. A track: = a wide (car width) route through forest or farmland, may include rides and bridleways.
3. A path: = narrow, single track route, may include public footpaths
4. / (forward slash): = a junction between two different features
5. The description of the control site will usually give  compass direction in relation to the map feature

Dave Lloyd 14/03/13