Event Details
Club: | West Coast MTB |
Event Name: | Event 2 - Torver Cumbria |
Date: | 17/12/17 |
Format: | MBO Score |
Mapping: | Ordnance Survey |
Time Limit: | 3hr |
National League: | - |
League: | West Coast MTB Winter League 2018/2019 (Round of 4) |
Electronic Punch: | SportIdent |
Event Report
For a first time organiser, this was certainly a baptism of fire (well, baptism of ice, mud and rain actually). But on the bright side at least I didn't have to compete. The event was almost abandoned on the Saturday due to freezing rain making it impossible to make any progress on the minor roads around Torver, however I decided that a postponed start to allow black ice to clear would be sufficient.
Race day dawned with some of the worst conditions I've ever had the misfortune to watch other people riding bikes in. 1 degrees centigrade and heavy rain. The rain was not even warm enough to melt the ice, and 1 early starter fell heavily, whilst another was forced to walk sections of tarmac. Unfortunately not a level playing field for all competitors and I apologise for not holding the start back until later.
I also had to deal with an unexpected emergency call from a competitor who had lost his bike and was retiring on foot, but both the competitor and bike were recovered unharmed.
Amazingly, most of the competitors bravely battled it out for the full 3 hours, and longer. An impressive display of toughness (which I watched from afar). Finishers were visibly shaking and cold to the touch, most finishers hands were almost useless, but luckily there was a roaring open fire only 5 metres from the finish, courtesy of the Church House Inn, as well as warm soup and other lifesavers.
Results ?
Well, in the words of Errol Brown - everyone's a winner - because everyone gave it there all in truly horrible conditions and everyone came back fit and well.
Chris Hope and Ben Bardsley provided a magnificent overalll win, with Chris Swift (M60) in a superb 2nd place, just ahead of a flurry of eager M50s. Julian Cooper came out on top in M50, with 3rd place overall. Other notable fabulous performances from Ruth Walton, Michael Hargreaves and a 10 year old Elwood Razzetti.
Importantly, most people went home with a well deserved bottle of something and a mince pie or 2.
I am genuinely in awe of the guys and gal that rode on Sunday.
The greatest of thanks to Tony BB for the map and teaching me how to use the SI kit. And my 2 fabulous helper elves, Jane and Alistair Hornsby who sacrificed a ride to help me place and collect controls.
Event Results
Results: | Download |
Club Website: | Unavailable |