News
National MBO League Round 2
Posted: 21/03/11
National MBO League Round 2 (Southern MBO Series) sets new UK participation record...
Yes, you read that right. Round 2 of the Southern Series was the most well attended race ever (in the UK). Many thanks go to the 91 competitiors who turned up to ride their bikes around this superb area known nationwide as Swinley Forest. We hope you all enjoyed the excellently planned courses by Eric Harper (planned to a standard worthy of a World Cup) and riding along the beautifully flowing singletracks which weave extensively around the woods.
With such a technically challenging area, both in terms of the MTB riding and Orienteering required, many of you finished with frazzled brains and thoroughly exhausted. Despite the courses being a fraction longer than the estimated 50 minute winning times, everyone I spoke to at the finish had a great time out there - the only complaints being about your own navigational skills, or lack thereof on a few occasions!!!!
The 15.5km A course was won by Stuart Lynch in a time of 72:02 closely followed 1 minute 31 seconds behind by Ifor Powell . Third place was taken by Alan Harley in 75:40. Leading M20 was Chris Brand-Barker on the A course in a time of 87:12 and 7th place overall. Leading woman on the A course was Caroline Gay in 21st place and a time of 2 hours 11 seconds.
The B course was 11.5km with Emily Benham taking the top spot by a massive margin of 10 minutes and 9 seconds to Andy Jones. Emily was the only athlete to complete the B course in under one hour in a time of 57:48. Third overall and 2nd woman was Charlie Somers-Cocks following Andy Jones by a mere 7 seconds in 68:04. Helen Clayton recently back from injury completed the course in a very credible time of 69:36 as 3rd woman and 5th overall.
Katherine Bett won the C course in 62:08 to beat 2nd place, Chris Ashenden, by a huge margin of 8 minutes 50 seconds - a fantastic result from the 16 year old. Third place was Denise Harper in 72:41.
Many congratulations to all who competed, we hope to see you all at our next event on 26th March at Moors Valley. The event format will be a score course to be completed within 2 hours - however the planners the course winners to race in under 60 minutes.
Emily Benham