After a wet start everyone managed to stay dry and the snow showers didn’t arrive until after we all got home. Thanks to John Dixon for planning the course, Jens Strain for another excellent map and the Fox and Hounds for a warm welcome when we finished.
Edwyn Oliver-Evans got it right this time to not only beat his Dad but also Andy Conn – which not many people manage. Andy got his usual 400 points with 1 penalty but it wasn’t enough to win overall. Martin & Max Vesty finished second again with a brilliant score of 353 to win the Generation class. Pippa Archer was the first female rider, Ralph & Chris Defty outscored the other mixed teams and I manage to beat the older riders. I enjoyed my ride having decided to head south so that I could ride along the Landmoth ridge with brilliant views on all directions. I then noticed that 4 of the 30 point controls were north of Northallerton so headed up there but only had time to visit 2 of them.
My route was 12 4 23 10 25 26 21 18 20 24 17 13 19 29 11 30 7 and I’ll add the other winning routes when they arrive.
This was the last winter MBO event so the first league event of the year is only 3 weeks away at Duncombe Park near Helmsley in Ryedale. Please enter online if possible and I hope to see you there.
The league posters are online the web page so please download a copy for your local bike shop or biking group.
The results are below so please let me know if there are any mistakes

Bullamoor results

Race report from Martin Vesty

Today’s route was immediately determined by the location of the 30 pointers. We had also decided to avoid as much bridleway as possible with the damp ground likely to be heavy going for young Max’s 13yrs old legs, despite the super light Moonglu Whyte’s C19 we were both riding.

We set off looking to pick up 14 & 7 on the way to Brompton and we immediately ditched the first one (14) having looked at the muddy field. 15 points missed but we felt we’d do better using the time elsewhere later. After 7 we quickly picked up 2 and rode out to 30. We then headed further north to 29, 27 and 28 via 16, to avoid the direct bridleway to 28, which again we felt would be heavy going.

We then picked off 1, 24 and 17 and had decided that the better route for the remaining time would be to go further down the east side riding the short main road and lane to 20. The muddy lane to 18 was the muddiest we had it for the whole ride but then onward to 21 and 26 (the last 30 pointer) gave cracking views over to the Cleveland hills with the wind behind us. The bridge for 25 was just down the hill and at the road junction after 25 we had 9 mins left which ruled out grabbing 10 and 4. From here we headed as direct as we could back to base via 12 and with Max on my wheel it was team Moonglu time trial style back, with just two mins over the 2 hours needed to finish with 353 points.

More top riding from young Max !

Online entries have closed for this weekend with 64 pre-entries for Bullamoor and 34 for Gilling Woods. Jens has printed a few extra maps for both events so send an email to nymboevents@btinternet.com if you want to book one of them. You can take a chance if you wait to enter on Saturday or Sunday but you may only get a photocopy.

Saturday 18th – Fox & Hounds, Bullamoor, Northallerton – 2 hour Score       John Dixon has planned an excellent course in the undulating countryside between Northallerton and the A19. Plenty of minor roads and decent bridleways and a lovely pub at the start and finish

Sunday 19th – Gilling Woods, Easingwold – MTBO (fixed route) event (Gilling MBO Flier)            Andrew Windrum has planned 3 interesting courses which will test your navigation as well as your technical riding. There is also a 60 minute Score event for those riders who would prefer this format. There are only 3 and 1 spare waterproof maps on the A and B course respectively but there will be some extra photocopies for entry on the day. This event is taking place at a major Ebor orienteering event so please follow their signs into the forest and park tidily on the forest road verge. You will probably be over 1km from registration so you are advised to ride there and then be ready to start. Hope to see you at one or both of these events

NYMBO league 2012            

All 9 entry forms are on the BMBO site and online entry is now open.

We’ve received this email which we thought we should share – please take care if you’re using Hamsterley

To:  All Members of Hamsterley Trailblazers

 
Forestry Commission officers have advised us that an extremely serious and dangerous health and safety incident took place last weekend at Hamsterley Forest when a rope was deliberately tied between two trees at cycle wheel height, across one of the Descend Downhill cycle tracks causing a cyclist to crash off his bike.  Fortunately the cyclist was wearing full body armour and was not seriously hurt – but he could have been very seriously injured or even killed by this action.  The police are involved in investigating the matter.  Click here to see the webcam the cyclist was running at the time 
 
I have been asked to block email all members to draw attention to the incident and to ask you to be extremely vigilant in the forest and look out for anything like this or other trail vandalism.  If you do come across incidents of trail sabotage, please do your best to make the trail immediately safe for other users – eg remove any obstacles, rope etc.   Please then report the incident to the police and if possible, see one of the Forest rangers or other Forestry Commission staff, letting them know where it has happened and the time you found it.  If you can take a photograph of the sabotage area before touching it, that would also be very useful.  Please also let me know of any incidents so that as a club we have an idea of what we are facing.
 
Some of you will remember that when we first built the Grove Link trail we experienced a series of serious trail sabotage incidents – at that time we worked with the police and forest staff to catch the person involved (several members camped out overnight and caught the person red-handed.)  I hope we can be as equally successful in catching this person or people.
 
Whilst we are keen to catch the culprit, we are also keen not to scare people from visiting the lovely woodlands, so the Forestry Commission have asked that we consider the impact of wider scaremongering by accident.  Please do consider the message when telling people, the woods are safe, sadly there has been one incident in Hamsterley and we all hope that it is just a one off.
  
Many thanks
Vicky Chilcott
Secretary, Hamsterley Trailblazers

80 riders turned up for our first event of 2012 – a record for a Saturday morning event. Thanks to Andy Gibbs for planning an excellent course, the Jefferson Arms for an excellent event centre and Jens Strain for his usual high standard of mapping. Everyone seemed to enjoy their rides despite the wind. Although it’s a very flat area with ahigh pointof 20 metres there were some excellent tracks and quiet country lanes. Thorganby was on the edge of the competition area so quite a few riders were late back but the leaders got it right again.

I enjoyed my ride but unfortunately tried to get across the indistinct bridleway between 28 and 14 so 2 punctures and a 400m muddy carry proved to be a poor route choice. However, I decided not to try to get over to the old railway line and rode through the picturesque Escrick Park Estate instead. Quite a few extra tracks in there so we may ask to go back next year using a 1-25000 map.

Congratulations to the category winners and here are their routes

Andy Conn Overall winner with 399 points

I decided at the start that I wanted to go to the south west of the map because there seemed to be many 30 pointers there.  So straight there without messing around with in and outs to small value controls. Then up the west side of the map and then worry about getting back when the minutes were getting short. 

so…5 23 2 12 19 26 15 30 21 11 20 10 29 22 17 27 9 24 14 28

(should have gone to 18 first and ignored 5 but didn’t want to  have a muddy bike early in the day;  only 300m on a bridleway at Thornhill Farm?  A poor excuse I know….)

Martin & Max Vesty Generation winners and 3^rd overall with 335 points in 26 miles

I didn’t have to ease off too much for Max except for the bits into the wind when he couldn’t get enough shelter from the wind. Route terrain worked out well for us.
We set off with a rough plan to go for the nearby 30 pointer at 28 (via 7 farmhouse) and then swing south and across A19 get as much as possible go north and come back. However, riding into the wind so much we decided to change plans on the hoof and carry on heading North via Escrick Park, via 3, 25, and exit at 13. We then wanted to get the northerly 30pointer so headed towards Wheldrake, picking up 14,24 and 8 at Wheldrake. Then looped back to 9 to get to 30 pointer at 27. We then headed to A19 and Deighton. We had planned to go for 17 but decided time was getting on after last months event oversight regarding time, we decided to miss that one and went straight for 22. Then down the fast trail path to get 29 and 26. Quick trip to church in Riccall to pick up 15 then across A19 again to head home. Picked up 19, then into the lovely looking Skipwith common area to pick up 12 and 2. Another religious moment pausing at Skipwith church for 23. Then up round that lane and we hoped to go for 18 for 20 points but Max’s 13 year old legs were now beginning to tire from the fast pace. We therefore went back via 5 not wanting to risk any more bridleways slowing us down, making it back to base bang on cue in 120mins and none extra (this time!).

We’ve got 2 events next month. Our usual Saturday morning 2 hour MBO Score event at Bullamoor near Northallerton planned by John Dixon on Saturday 18^th Feb and a Medium MBO (Fixed route) event at Gilling Woods near Easingwold planned by Andrew Windrum on Sunday 19^th.

Hope to see you at one or both of them.

Steve Willis

Here are today’s results and comments to follow tomorrow Thorganby results

A message from Steve, who’s in France at the moment:

“Happy New Year! Hope you had a good break and are looking forward to getting back on your bikes. If you have entered this Saturday’s event at Thorganby there is a map reserved for you. I haven’t acknowledged receipt because I am still in the Alps. If you haven’t entered then please go on line or send an email. Don’t forget to join BMBO first free of charge on line. Hope to see you at the Jefferson Arms. Steve”

At least the weather forecast suggests it be a little warmer by the weekend!

Happy New Year!

A quick reminder that the next event is next Saturday, the 21st, at Thorganby near York. Details are on the Events page, where you’ll also find details of the Gilling MBO event on Sunday 19th February.

You can find the full calendar on the All Events Calendar page, and if you would like to be on the mailing list (or even update your details if you’re on it already).

Thanks to Tim Patterson for planning an excellent course, Jens for another accurate map and the staff at the Scotts Arms for a warm welcome before and after the event. It was brilliant to see so many riders and the weather managed to stay dry (but cold) apart from one short shower. It was also great to see so many local riders at their first event so thanks to whoever spotted the information and encouraged their mates to join in.
I thoroughly enjoyed my ride apart from the soft bridleway between 27 and 22. Other riders had similar problems finishing via 22 and 7 when the best route was probably out and along the roads. The leading riders managed to work out when to go round via roads and when to use short sections of bridleway. There were a few mechanical problems and punctures as can be expected but at least my tyres didn’t go down until after I had finished.
There were some excellent scores most notably from some of the local newcomers and the Generation teams.
Congratulations to the winning riders in each category and here are their routes.
John Rawden M50 370 points
13 18 17 20 26 27 14 24 28 16 11 6 21 15 30 29 23
Tim Evans M40 364 points
7 12 23 29 9 30 25 19 10 18 17 20 26 14 28 24 27
Dave & Julie Sharpe X21 361 points
13 18 17 20 26 27 8 14 24 28 16 11 22 7 12 29 23
Nathan & Adrian Parker Gen 335 points
7 12 23 19 25 10 17 20 26 27 14 24 28 16 11 22 1
Alan Hartley M21 310 points
7 12 23 19 10 25 29 9 30 15 21 6 11 16 22 1 2 3 4 5
David Day M60 308 points
13 18 20 17 10 19 25 29 9 30 15 21 6 11 22 1 7
If there are any errors in the results please let me know
If you weren’t here is the map if you want to have a go in your own time.

Map of Sickinghall MBO

Unfortunately a couple of the descriptions were wrong as the control locations were moved at short notice but not the description sheet. I hope it didn’t spoil your ride. Also, 3 riders were seen using the footpath through Stockeld Grange to get to the railway line which was clearly marked out of bounds. This is illegal and doesn’t do our reputation any favours so I would appreciate an acknowledgement and an apology.
Our next event is at the Jefferson Arms at Thorganby south of York on Saturday 21st January so I hope you can make it. The highest features on the map are the railway bridges but there are plenty of bridleways so it’s up to you which type of bike to bring. I hope you can make it as Andy Gibbs has planned an excellent course which includes another disused railway line – my favourite type of bridleway in winter!!
Merry Christmas
Steve
PS We will be back from Samoens in time for the next event and our apartment is still available for a few weeks if you want to ski this winter.