Event Details
Club: | SWEMBO |
Event Name: | Haldon Forest - Night Event - Rescheduled from 31/1/15 |
Date: | 14/02/15 |
Format: | MBO Score |
Mapping: | Ordnance Survey |
Time Limit: | 90 mins |
National League: | - |
League: | Southwest MBO Score League 2015 (Round 1 of 7) |
Electronic Punch: | SportIdent |
Event Report
Just as I was about to put pen to paper (or fingers to keypad, as it now is) and tell you all how the event went without any hitches for once, Faye comes in and tells me that we seem to be missing 101 and 116. A quick look at the map, and I realise why they seem to be missing, I forgot to nip down that stretch and they were still out in the forest!!! so back in the car and back up to Haldon for one last ride!!!
Other than this, the event went really well, after having to be postponed due to snow and high winds from its original date. We had issues with the SI laptop failing prior to the event, but thanks to Royal Special delivery, a replacement was delivered on the morning of the event!!
Having the Registration, Start & Finish in the warmth of the Coffee shop / Route 5 restaurant was certainly a nice change to a cold Village Hall!!!
As the first Start times approached, it became evident that this was a little too early, as it was still broad daylight!!! With the Start time push back 15 mins, daylight had faded enough to send the first of the riders out.
The Course was split, with the fast forest fire tracks to the East, and the purpose built singletracks of Haldon Forest Park to the West.
Most riders chose to head West for the exciting singletracks, with only a few riders venturing East to claim the highest scoring 80 pt Checkpoint.
I was a little concerned that the challenging Red Run might claim some victims in the darkness of night, but these worries were unfounded, with many riders returning saying that that Run was their favourite part of the course. In fact the only casualty of the night was Catherine's bike, which lost a crank!!! nothing a handily placed rock didn't fix though!!
With all the riders safely back, it was down to us to announce the winners: Tim Redman & Stuart Ball took 1st place, with Nigel Worsey and Mark Pollard & Martin Walbank tying for 2nd place.
After a struggle we managed to award all the Class trophies (more trophies than classes!!!) its quite amazing how hard it was to give them away!!!
With this all done, we all retired to the Route 5 restaurant where we all enjoyed the American themed food and drinks, piling on the calories we'd previously burnt off!!!
Once all fed and watered,we all headed home for a well deserved sleep, leaving the Check Points to be collected the following day.
Once again, we must thank you all for coming, and look forward to seeing you all again, when we return to the regular 3 hour daytime format, at Woodbury Common on the 28th March.
Will, Faye & Eden.