The run of good weather had to end some time and it was unfortunate that it happened for the latest event in the Lakes MBO Series 2025. All started well but it was not long before the threatened rain drenched all of the riders, but for some strange reason did not remove their smiles.

Our thanks go to Chris and Becky for planning this event. It took in many classic Lake District bridleways as well as offering a scenic round of Derwentwater. There were a few rough sections but the toughest areas were avoided. The recently legalised Bridleway over Walla Crag proved a real challenge for many but with 60 points on offer and a look at the contours on the map you should have realised that you would have to work hard for them. For those not up for the challenge there were plenty of points on offer around the Newlands Valley and out towards Threlkeld.

There was some very close competition with strong performances from many riders.

Once again we say well done to Tom Gibbs, Angela Brand-Barker and Dave Cowgill & Claire Riley as category winners. John Johnston was first EBiker whilst a big well done to Stefi Stein who, along with Dad, Rob, took the Generation team honours. Well done to all for surviving the downpour!

"Planner's Race Report: Lakes MTBO, Event 6
Location: Keswick, Lake District
Date: Sunday, 7th September 2025
Conditions: Overcast start, transitioning to heavy rain – slippery terrain later in the race
Format: Mountain Bike Orienteering (Score event – maximum of 3hr 30min)
Course designer: Chris Naylor

Overview

The stunning yet rugged town of Keswick in the Lake District hosted another cracking round of the Lakes MTBO series. More than 30 riders took on the score course, navigating through a variety of terrains. Although the event kicked off under a dry and cloudy sky, the weather took a turn for the worse as heavy rain began to pour. Fortunately, riders were greeted with hot drinks and cake upon their return, providing a warm respite.

Top Performances

• Men’s Overall Winner: Tom Gibbs (M50, Lakes MBO) – 550 points in 3:29:51, finishing just seconds before the time limit. A remarkable ride and a decisive victory.

• Women’s Overall Winner: Angela Brand-Barker (W60, Lakes MBO) – 400 points in 3:14:06, demonstrating exceptional endurance and navigation skills in challenging conditions to lead the women’s category.

• Top Young Rider: Alexander Reed (M21, Lakes MBO) – 519 points in 3:27:32, delivering an impressive performance for a younger competitor.

Despite the inclement weather, the atmosphere remained upbeat, and the Keswick round turned out to be a memorable challenge. A big thank you to Chris for crafting such an enjoyable course, and congratulations to everyone who participated.

We hope to see you in Staveley for the next and final event for this year.

Becky"

The final event in the 2025 series will be a return to Staveley on Sunday 12th October. This will be a 3 hour event planned by Ray Morriss. He promises an event with a different character to last year and will make use of some lesser known but equally challenging bridleways. Entry to this event is now open so please help the organiser by getting your entries in early. Visit the BMBO Calendar for more details and to enter.
With only one event left in the series there is still opportunity to win a prize voucher kindly donated by Wheelbase Cycles. Your best 5 scores count in the series and you will need to have done at least four events to qualify. There are prizes for all age categories and classes. Come along to the prize giving upstairs in Wilf’s cafe after the ride, for a bite to eat and a good old natter, and you never know, you might be going home with a prize!