Here’s Simon’s report for the Malham event last weekend.

Online entry for Swaledale on SUNDAY September 12th is here

Despite the unfortunate cancellation of Bank Holiday Monday’s event, it was great to see nearly forty riders heading off in glorious weather at Malham. Even better was seeing so many smiling faces and hearing so many positive comments upon their return four hours later. Conditions were near perfect with nearly everywhere on the map riding superbly.

My main planning aim was to try and provide a few alternative tracks to compliment some of the usual Malham ‘classics’. I also wanted to try and shrink the total area slightly whilst still giving a variation of routes. Those who ventured to the southeast corner of the map seemed to enjoy these ‘new’ Bridleways.

Things turned out very competitive throughout the results and particularly close at the top despite a good variety of routes. It looks like experience triumphed over youth this year as M50’s filled the top 3 places.

Overall honours and the splendid Malham Show Mbo trophy went to Ifor Powell who scored 395 points just piping Conrad Ellison by 4 points with David Cowgill just 2 points behind Conrad in third.

Ian Furlong was top M21 finisher in 4^th overall after Nuno Cerqueria suffered a few too many lateness penalties. John Hollows took the Ebike class in 5^th overall while Chris Smith took the M60 honours in 9^th. Ray Morriss pipped John Dixon in M70, top Mix pair were Molly & Dean Ralphson with Jeffrey & Laura Barber taking the Generation class. Not only did Karen Blackburn triumph in W70 but she was also the top lady overall with Jill Ellison taking W50 and Helen Bagley W60.

Full results here

Overall honours and the splendid Malham Show Mbo trophy went to Ifor Powell (presented by Tim)

If there was a prize for commitment it would have to go to poor Mark Rowley who upon discovering that he’d left an mtb shoe at home still managed over two hours wearing just one! Commiserations Mark.

I’d like to thank the many people who contributed as usual to make the event possible:

Chris Wildman and the Malham Show team for their help with the venue. Tim Evans, Steve Willis and Dave Robertson for their invaluable help with organisation ,Tim again for another great map and Tony Brand-Barker for his help at both the finish and tracking down the ‘missing’ rider who didn’t download after finishing.

Finally, massive thanks to all the control collectors below who helped ensure we were all home before dark:

Ifor Powell, James Chilcott, John Dixon, Ray Morriss, Tony Brand-Barker, David Cowgill, David Collins and Tim Evans.

Simon