Here are both Score event maps

2014 Cropton and Newtondale 30000 Working Drawing with Controls 17th June

2014 Rosedale 50000 Working Drawing with Controls 6th July

Here are the combined Score events results

National Champs Combined Results

Here are the combined results for all 3 events

Cropton Weekend Combined Results

Splits for all 3 events are on the Results page

National Weekend Organiser’s Comments

The New Inn made an excellent event centre for a busy weekend of mountain bike orienteering which was blessed with beautiful weather until Saturday night followed by some of the wettest, muddiest riding this year on Sunday. Camping was idyllic and the planners had designed three very different but testing courses – and at least the sun returned for the prizegiving.

Thanks to Emily Benham and Jens for 3 excellent maps, the helpers and especially the control collectors who went out after their rides.

MTBO Saturday morning

It was a 3k ride to the start which warmed everybody up then a furious dash around the forest with Al Powell, Tim Evans and Euan Tebbitt leading the field on the 3 courses. There was some confusion as to what was legal riding as Andrew had planned some legs where riders had to cut through the forest. Unfortunately, we hadn’t realised that this isn’t allowed at IOF events but, as most of our riders didn’t know this and Andrew had said to some riders that it was ok, we have decided not to amend the results. Apologies to Charley who rode to IOF standard and lessons for Andrew and me for next time – if we’re asked!!

MBO Score – Cropton Forest

It was good warm up for the afternoon event planned by Michael Brough who had given us an excellent spread of controls across both forests. Andrew Windrum used his morning ride collecting controls to good effect only missing 4 controls. The forest is getting more overgrown each year – especially after the summer we have had – so some of the tracks weren’t as good as when Michael planned his course. I approached 41 from the north and regretted it – but the lovely bridleway down through 55 made up for it.

MBO Score – Rosedale

It’s a pity the weather changed for this event as Tony had planned an excellent and challenging course at his first attempt. Scores would have been slightly higher if the tracks had still been firm and dry but I must apologise for not realising that the competition area was far too large. It was intended to be a 5 hour event initially but I decided to change it to 4 hours to fit into the NYMBO league. I know that the low scores spoiled the event for many riders but at least we all get a proportion of Andrew’s winning score of only 339 points! I didn’t enjoy the first hour of my ride as I plodged across the field bridleways west of Appleton le Moor – except for the lovely descent into Hutton le Hole. Rudland Rigg was tough but the singletrack from West Gill Head through the heather and bracken tunnel was exhilarating. I knew it was going to be a tough climb out of Farndale to Blakey Rigg but the ride along the old railway line overlooking Rosedale then down across Spaunton Moor was brilliant.

Thanks to Spaunton & Rosedale estates for letting us use some private tracks and the permissive bridleway on the old railway free of charge. (Please remember that we only had permission to ride the private tracks on Sunday). We have been able to donate £1 per rider (so £53) to the Scarborough & Ryedale Search & Rescue Team.

Rosedale Planner’s Comments

What happened on Saturday night? Apart from some excessive vegetation growth the trails were hard and fast on Saturday. The transformation over night was remarkable and more like we would expect after a week of rain. Sorry but that was totally out of my hands. This was always going to be a tough course over a large area with some big climbs at the top of the map. The deluge at the start added to the conditions and I was very impressed with the smiley faces and patience of the competitors waiting to start.

This was my first attempt at planning and Steve gave me a challenging introduction with Rosedale and Farndale. I ride this area a lot but still found a few bridleways which were new to me during the early stages of the planning. I wanting to give riders an opportunity to visit many of the wonderful single tracks we have in this area. I kept the roadside controls to a minimum. There was some “easy” riding if you got onto the old railway and took the moorland top tracks south back towards Cropton.

There were two points of contention. Control 86 in the woods north of Gillamoor was about 100m from where it was marked on the map so my apologies and anyone who didn’t find it has been awarded the points. The only other point I know about was some riders had difficulty locating the start of the bridleway from the road to control 91. It is there. The first 30 metres were a little over grown and it starts about 10 meters south of the bridleway post but you can still make out the single track striking south west from the road. Is this something that I should have pointed out at the start? So a few things learnt should I have the opportunity to plan another one.

I hope those that managed to ride the single track off Rudland Rigg to Low Mill enjoyed it despite the Jurassic bracken growth. It’s got to be one of the top five single tracks on the moors and I do recommend coming back and riding in dry conditions.

As a natural worrier the control collection has been niggling me for months especially considering the size of the area. So a huge thanks to those who helped bring them in after a tough four hours beforehand.

Finally I should give James and Sam a mention who ride with my ‘muddybums’ group and stick with me for numerous trips into the area as well as helping putting the controls out, collection and planning parts of the course.

I think that’s it. Manchester airport is waiting for me.

Tony Harker

Combined BMBO Championship Results

Scores from both events counted for the overall Championships so congratulations to the winners although it’s a pity that only 32 riders rode in both events.

M40 & Overall Mens Champion – Andrew Windrum

W50 & Overall Women’s Champion – Charlotte Somers- Cocks

M21 Chris Dodd

M50 Graham Fielding

M60 John Dixon

W40 Sheila Pearce

W60 Karen Blackburn

X50 Andrea & Steve Foster

X60 Karen Clark & Steve Roberts

PS Does anyone know where the Men’s trophy is?

Combined NYMBO Weekend Results

I changed Saturday morning’s times into points and added them to the combined Score event points and was able to give prizes to 6 of the 10 riders who competed in all 3 events. So congratulations to Alan Hartley (M40-702), Charley Somers-Cocks (W50-681), John Rawden (M50-672), Ben Martin (M21-606), John Butler (M60-574), Mary Carrick (W60-315).

Our next 2 events are on the August Bank Holiday as usual.

Saturday 23^rd August – Malham Show– 4 hours

Monday 25^th August – Wykeham & Broxa Forest – 3 hours

Hope you can make it to them both.

Steve

Here is the full map of the forest for Saturday morning. Riders will be given a pre-marked extract at 1-16,000 when they Start. The Start is on the east edge of Spiers House Campsite

Cropton MTBO 2014

We have got 25 entries for Saturday morning, 70 entries for Saturday afternoon and 50 entries for Sunday. There will be spare maps as usual for entries on the day. Hope to see you there.

Le Tour at Ripon results

Thanks to David Day for planning and organising this event. It’s just a pity that there were only 14 riders but you can buy the maps and descriptions from Moonglu if you want to have a go

Le Tour, Ripon Treasure Hunt – 6 July 2014

A disappointing entry but perhaps people enjoyed the previous day’s visit by Le Tour so much that they went for more as it passed nearby.

M50 Simon Carr cleaned up & would not have been late back if a road sign at clue 9 had not been removed during the previous week, unknown to me! The majority of other entrants were Generation teams and it was a close run thing between father & son Chapman and mother & (younger) daughter Chapman – only 10 points in it so moral victory to girl powered team. Sam Hart’s excuse for being beaten by the Chapmans was that he had to keep waiting for his Dad, Joe who had refused to enter as an individual because he knew his (17 year old) son would beat him.

There were lots of cyclists about at the weekend so it was a shame that more of them did not give bike O a try. Many thanks to Moonglu cycle shop of Ripon & owner Neil Dunkley who provided the prizes. Well done to all who entered for the first time.

David Day Organiser & Planner

Here is the updated league table after Washburn. 6 events to go!

NYMBO League 14 after 5 events

Washburn Organiser’s Comments

It’s a pity the weather changed for this event – cool and damp wasn’t what I had in mind when I was packing the car – but at least the tracks were firm after the dry weather for the last month. Neil planned an excellent and challenging course at his first attempt which everyone seemed to enjoy and it was great to be riding a relatively unknown area.

There were 2 main choices – clockwise or anti-clockwise and work out when to visit the controls in the valley. Anti-clockwise seemed to be better as you could ride quickly across Askwith Moor and down to Denton. I’m glad I chose that way after visiting Timble and Beecroft as I hadn’t been there since I stopped orienteering in the 90’s. I wonder if it may be big enough for an MTBO event next year?

Congratulations to Graham Fielding (M50) who won overall with an impressive 427 points but I think he could have got even more if he had chosen similar routes to Ray Morriss and Martin & Max Vesty who were only 10 and 7 points behind for second overall and to win M60 and M21 respectively.

This was Ray’s 4^th consecutive win despite a nasty injury in Stainburn Forest which required 14 stitches at Otley Hospital before he could go home. It was great to see the Vesty’s back at NYMBO events after Max’s exams. They are riding in M21 now so look out Rik & Ben as they have enough events left to catch you up.

Phill Collings won M40 for the first time with 411, just 2 points more than Conrad, while Charlie Somers Cocks won W50 with the best women’s score of 371 points – 6 points ahead of Sue Booth who won W40. Adrian & Luke Parker won the Generation class with an impressive 370 points but 40 points behind Nathan who was the first and only Youth with 415 points and 5^th overall. Steve & Fionnuala won the Mixed category at their first attempt with 245 points

Thanks as ever to Jens for another excellent map and the helpers who made everything run smoothly as well as Norwood Village Hall for an excellent event centre. Thanks to the Forestry Commission and Yorkshire Water for letting us use lots of private tracks free of charge. We have been able to donate £1 per rider (so £83) to the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.

Final thanks to everyone who stopped to help Roger Tyler, especially Jenny Sutton who took him to Harrogate Hospital and was with him all afternoon until his wife arrived. Unfortunately, he has a fractured hip so he is still in hospital so I am sure you will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

Someone left a pair of clear glasses so please contact me if they are yours

Our next event is a ‘treasure hunt’ MBO at Ripon on Sunday 6^th July as part of the Tour weekend. Then it’s over to Cropton the following weekend for 3 events. MTBO on Saturday morning (12^th July) then a 3 hour score event in the afternoon in Cropton Forest. Free camping overnight at the New Inn (no need to book) then a 4 hour Score event in Rosedale and Farndale on Sunday.

They are all part of the BMBO National Championship weekend as well as events 6 and 7 in the NYMBO League.

Hope you can make it one, two or all 3 events.

Steve

Here is the map for Saturday so that you can follow the routes from the split times on the Results page

Washburn Valley with Controls

Full report later but good luck to Roger Tyler who is still in Harrogate Hospital with a fractured hip. Thanks to the riders who stopped to help and Jenny Sutton who was with him all afternoon. Get well soon, Roger.

Cleveland Hills Handicap Results

I’m sorry that I didn’t get chance to publish these before Ingleton. Congratulations to the winners who can claim their free entry to their next event (by email)

David Paley, Martin Edwards, Will Patterson, Dave & Kelly Wilby

Ingleton Map

Ingleton & Ribblesdale Planner’s Comments

After a torrid weekend of camping in the wind and rain at Knight Stainforth Hall it was a pleasant surprise to see the sun shining at 7am just above Settle. Thankfully the weather held, even though there was a large dark cloud looming at the start of the 4 hour event, most riders adopting a plastic bag to keep their map dry in the event of a shower. Personally I felt the event went well, with good feedback from the riders, and only one control not functioning (Number 35). Planning for the most part went well although every time I went out the weather was a little unkind, being both very windy and very wet. I was hoping to get some good lanes in and quiet areas that people may not have visited before and that they might even use again, particularly south of the A65 which offers some stunning views back over to the National Park. There were a few tricky controls, one being under the road in Clapham that even some locals didn’t know existed and the control point in Wharfe which, due to the cobweb of tracks in the hamlet, caused some confusion. Congratulations to all the class winners and to Alex Pilkington as overall winner. Although I didn’t get chance to ride any of the course, I did get some time to spend with my daughter in the sunshine which was great. Thanks to Steve and Jens for their help during the planning and I also hope folk enjoyed something from the bakery.

Organiser’s Comments

I was also so glad that we had a window of fine weather on a wet and windy Bank holiday weekend which allowed 80 riders to enjoy the beautiful countryside on the south west corner of the Yorkshire Dales. Ben planned an excellent and challenging course at his first attempt which everyone seemed to enjoy. The course seemed to be the perfect length with the leading riders not quite able to clear up – although it was disappointing to see so many riders losing so many points for being late. The initial route choice was crucial and the optimum route seemed to be to go up Twistlelton Dale then round into Ribblesdale before heading over to Austwick and Clapham then a few final controls on the lanes south of the A65.

Neither Andy or Andrew could match Alex Pilkington who won overall (and M40) with 496 points. Graham Fielding (M50) had an excellent ride to finish 3^rd overall with 487. Rik Thompson won M21 again with 425 while Ray Morriss made it 3 wins in a row with 370 in M60. Charley scored an impressive 368 in W50 to pip Maggie (W40) by 18 points and Dave & Kelly Wilby were the first mixed team again with 280 points. Adrian & Luke Parker won the Generation class again with 352 points and beat Nathan by 30 points although he was still the highest scoring Junior.

I enjoyed my ride and decided to miss out the northern controls as I had never ridden some of the lanes south of the A65. All very enjoyable except for the push up the side of the forest west of Kettlesbeck. I expected to ride up a forest track before crossing the moor – but it was a marshy path instead. (The map has already been changed)!

Unfortunately #35 didn’t work so please let me know if you visited it and forgot to let John know at Download.

Thanks as ever to Jens for another excellent map and the helpers who made everything run smoothly as well as the I Centre for an excellent event centre. Parking was a bit tight but the proximity of the bakery helped.

Thanks also to Ray Morriss, Maggie McPhillips, Michael Connor, David & Zoe Cowgill and Al Powell who helped Ben to collect the controls after their rides.

Final thanks to Al Powell & Maggie McPhillips who interrupted their rides to help a collapsed fell runner.

I have got 3 items of lost property so please contact me if you left your cycling shoes, helmet or green drinks bottle.

Our next event is at Washburn Valley near Otley on Saturday 28^th June.

Hope you can make it.

Here is the updated League table.

NYMBO League 14 after 3 events

It’s early days with 8 events still to go but there are some familiar names already leading some of the categories.

Here is the yesterday’s map

2014 Ingleby Greenhow 30000 Working Drawing with Controls 13th April

Cleveland Hills Organiser’s Comments

It was great to see 96 riders enjoy the spring sunshine on the North York Moors once they had climbed onto the escarpment where the views were stunning. (Another improvement of 50 riders on what was a NEMBOS event last year). Conrad & Jill had planned another excellent and challenging course which everyone seemed to enjoy.

Thanks as ever to Jens for another excellent map and the helpers who made everything run smoothly as well as Ingleby Greenhow Village Hall for an excellent event centre.

Andrew Windrum won the battle of the Andy’s by 10 points and they were both well ahead of the third placed rider in M40. Rik Thompson won M21 (408) for 3^rd Overall while Ed Oliver Evans over-reached himself to lose all of his 450 points. Neil Reed won M50 for the first time with 365 points while Ray Morriss won M60 for the second month in a row with 330. James Martin took advantage of Ed’s mistake to win M18 with an excellent 320 points and Adrian & Luke Parker also scored well to win the Generation class with 315 points. Dave & Kelly Wilby took the Mixed honours with 295 points while Sheila Pearce (W40) was the leading lady again with 260. You can follow their splits and check out the map on the NYMBO web site.

I had already decided on my basic route before the event ( as I had seen the map) and I wanted to ride around Baysdale, Bilsdale and Hasty Bank. I managed although I was 3 minutes late and thoroughly enjoyed my ride (except for pushing my bike up onto Cold Moor and down through the forest to #53), the views were stunning and descents very fast especially on my new 29er!!

Thanks again to the helpers who enabled me to ride and finally to Steve Langron, Dave Lloyd, Andy Conn, John Rawden and Ray Morriss who helped Conrad to collect the controls after their rides. Everything was collected in by 5.30 so I was home by 6.30.

Planners’ Comments

We really enjoyed planning the event and putting out the controls on Friday was a joy with the great weather.  Our intention was to provide plenty of route choice and no one obvious route. A big thanks to Ingleby Greenhow Village Hall, Dudley Arms for the use of their car park and to Steve and Jens for their support during the planning.
Well done to all riders and thank you all for your positive comments at the end of the event

It’s only 8 days until our next NYMBO event which is a4 hour event at Ingleton on Monday 26^th May. Ben Martin has planned an excellent course around (not over) Ingleborough on the excellent bridleway network.

This is part of the Overground Underground Festival and you can check out the full weekend programme at http://www.ogug.co.uk/

Hope to see you there or at another event soon

Steve