Event Details
Club: | Border Liners Orienteering Club |
Event Name: | Coombs Wood MTBO |
Date: | 08/03/14 |
Format: | MTBO |
Mapping: | Orienteering |
Time Limit: | |
National League: | - |
League: | - |
Electronic Punch: | SportIdent |
Event Report
The first MTBO of the 2014 national league was held at Coombs Wood near Carlisle on Saturday 8th March. Coombs Wood is a small woodland, but as the riders found out what it lacks in size it makes up for in contours. The most hardcore downhiller tracks were avoided but riders still had to tackle some very steep riding (in both directions). Most riders commented on the beautiful views along the Eden valley, it did help the sun was shining for what feels like the first time in six months.
An extra treat for the riders was the use of the new SPORTident Air+ touch free punching system. A few riders had used it before at international competitions last year but this was the first time it's been used at an MTBO event in the UK. It allows the rider to simply pass by the control without stopping, all they have to do is check the card is beeping/flashing and has therefore registered their visit.
There was some close racing at the top of the A course with Killian Lomas pipping Edwyn Oliver-Evans and Andy Windrum, only 72 seconds separating the three of them. Worthy of a mention is Campbell Walsh in fourth, only four and half minutes behind in his first ever MTBO. Campbell has done some foot orienteering, some MBO score and some adventure racing but his background is somewhat different – an international kayak slalom paddler who won silver at the Athens Olympics and many other international medals.
However, the debut of the day goes to the winner of the B course – Martin “Bilbo” Bagness who won the B course by six minutes, with some good riders behind. Perhaps not a surprise as he was an international foot orienteer in the 80s and early 90s, the highlight winning a silver in the world championships relay in 1993.
On the C course Jake Powell all of 9 years old manfully coped with the climb on a course designed to test W60s and 15 year olds, well done Jake I hope you enjoyed it all. However I think we should support his dad's initiative at the forthcoming Baildon event (11th May, enter now!) of putting on a D course for the youngest riders, they are the stars of the future and need supporting not putting off.
Thanks go to Borderliners for being so supportive, especially Christine Goulding who checked controls, ran the start and was on hand in case anybody needed first aid. SPORTident UK for providing the Air+ kit and turning up to run registration and download free of charge. The Forestry Commission for agreeing access for what was the first ever cycling event (not just MTBO) in the woods. The good people of Armathwaite who appeared nothing but supportive of having us zipping through their local woods. Finally Sarah and Thomas for putting up with me being a bit stressed in the final few days before the event.