Nidderdale Organiser’s Comments

David Day planned an excellent course with plenty of route choice but probably enough distance for a 4 hour event which is why the scores were lower than usual. However, as most riders got back before it started to rain heavily, they were probably happy not to have to ride the extra hour. We were therefore lucky again with the weather and the tracks were still firm despite the previous day’s heavy showers.

Thanks as ever to Jens for another excellent map; David Day for putting out all of the controls; Geoff Moorhouse, Karen Blackburn, Michael Brough & John Dixon for their help on the day; then Dave Lloyd, John Rawden, Ray Morriss, Simon Coiley, Adrian Parker, Andy & Corinne Parsons for collecting them in so that we could leave by 3.00.

It was great to see over 70 riders for the final event of the season including quite a few newcomers. Congratulations to Graham Tibbot (M21) who won with 405 points and turn the tables on Andrew Windrum (M40-373); Conrad Ellison rode well to finish 3^rd overall with 351 in M50; followed by Ray Morriss (M60-255) & Roger de Faye (M70-245) In the Women’s section, Sue Booth won W50 with 269, Jo Anderson & Jemima Parker won W40 & Karen Blackburn W70 with 190, followed by Clare de Faye (W60-174) then Heather Tufts (W21-170). Angela & Tony Brand-Barker came back from Lithuania to win X50 with 268 (50 points ahead of Steve & Andrea Foster). You can follow all of their routes using the splits file and course map.

2016-nidderdale-40000-working-drawing-with-controls-3rd-october

I enjoyed my ride as it brought back pleasant memories of the tracks I used to ride regularly from Aldborough when I first started mountain biking. I chose to ride the bridleways rather than take the quicker road options which cost me time but were far more enjoyable. I stayed south of the main road and finished on the very interesting and scenic causeway below Sawley Hall.

Unfortunately 2 controls (38 & 51) were stolen, 57 wasn’t working properly and 56 was in the wrong place. (David put it where he had marked it on his planning map and hadn’t noticed that Jens had drawn it on the final map). So not the best way to finish the season and please accept our apologies. Hopefully, I have amended all of the scores but please let me know if I have missed you out.

Prizes were awarded to the leading riders at 1.30 so thanks to Rob & Anne Wiltshire at the Yorkshire Dales Brewery who are happy to sponsor the league again next year.

The next event will be a 2 hour Lanequest MBO near Northallerton on Saturday, 19^th November. (Details on the BMBO and NYMBO web sites). John Dixon, Andrew Windrum & Tim Evans have volunteered to plan 3 of the 4 winter events so please let me know if you would like to plan the February event in the Malton/Pickering area.

Hope to see you at another event soon

Steve