Event Details
Club: | Manx Timing Solutions |
Event Name: | Manx Spring MBO |
Date: | 01/04/12 |
Format: | MBO Score |
Mapping: | Ordnance Survey |
Time Limit: | 3 hours |
National League: | - |
League: | Manx MBO League 2012 (Round 2 of 3) |
Electronic Punch: | SportIdent |
Event Report
Spring MTB Orienteering - Isle of Man - April 1st 2012
After several weeks of fine, dry spring weather, the Manx trails had dried up nicely. Despite threats from the weather men (and women) that this was set to come to an end, somehow we managed to hang on to the sunshine for one more day! Although quite chilly to start, it was a beautiful calm and sunny spring morning up at South Barrule plantation; where we held an open-air registration and give-out. A total of 66 competitors took on the challenge.
The event area included the popular South Barrule and Corlea plantations as well as Stoney Mountain. The western edge included Arrasey and Glen Rushen, where a cluster of high scoring points were bound to act as a magnet for those with big plans for the day. However, anyone tackling these was faced with a major climb in either direction to escape the steep-sided valley. For those with any legs left, there was then the prospect of a long descent via Earystane to the finish at Silverdale Cafe. This meant that competitors had to plan a route that started in one place and finished in another.... we hope that the ride back to South Barrule after tea & cakes was not too arduous!
Eventual overall winners, Julian & Nick Corlett, clearly set out with the aim of collecting ALL the checkpoints. When planning these events, the intention is to create a series of options without any one obvious choice. It should be just about impossible to get all the points. However, they did almost manage it. Although almost 35 years his senior, it was apparently Julian who was setting the pace for his team mate and nephew. Of the 755 points available, they managed to pick up 715 of them. By my reckoning, a rough estimate of their route meant that they clocked up around 50km in just under the three hour time limit.
This gave them an unassailable lead over second placed Super-Vet Stuart Garry on 614. This meant that the top 2 places were taken by Super-Veterans - an impressive feat. Third overall were the much younger team of Lee Clayton & Juan Kinnish with 604 points. They would probably have placed second but were blighted by a snapped chain and a puncture - both within the critical final minutes of the event; when time is always short.
Stephen Collins and Ali Mazzone were 4th overall on 570 with David Filson & David Harrison 5th on 564. Experienced pairing Peter Bradley & Patrick Russell were 6th and, very impressively, the Generation pairing of Brian (Dad) and Nathan Draper were 7th overall - despite picking up a few time penalties. This I think is the highest overall placing that we have had for a generation team!
In the categories: Sebastian Perry was top solo senior. Aidan Mallinson top Veteran. Stuart Garry top Super-Vet, Julian & Nick top senior men's team (their ages averaging them out), Stephen Collins & Ali Mazzone top veteran men's team, Brian & Nathan Draper top Generation team (of 5), Paula Gelling was top (and only) veteran woman, Sarah Moore & Serena Wood (only) senior women's team, Jo Hawkins & Julie Lyness (only) veteran women's team, Miles Shimmin & Alexandra Valentine top senior mixed team and David Gooberman & Catreena Quirk top veteran mixed team (of 3). It was good to see a total of 5 generation teams taking part this time.
Special thanks are due to Sandor Talas for stepping in and helping with the event planning as well as putting out and collecting half of the checkpoints. Also to Shaun Gelling for collecting checkpoints: and of course to the Silverdale Cafe for providing the perfect venue for the finish. I hope that no-one minded the slog back to pick up the car afterwards!