|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
I really enjoyed collecting the controls in on Wednesday morning, seeing all the trampled grass where there had a been a scuffle to get to the punches. I missed that on Tues night. It was a challenge to fit a 1:25,000 scale route onto an A4 map, but using some sneaky time delay tactics, it turned out to be just possible. Unlike the Cartmel event, where controls were at the top of hills, there were a handful down at the bottom of hills. Anyone visiting any of 1, 2, 3, 5, 16 will know exactly what I mean. There were some encouraging comments at the end from riders who appreciated the great detail of the reduced scale.
I had especially placed the controls so that there was no clear route. This should have prompted plenty of pondering over route choice. During planning, I changed my mind 3 times as to the best route, but on the night, Paul Trott just about got it spot on. His route was 1, 4, 8, 6, 2, 5, 12, 16, 17, 13, 10, 11, 15, 14, 21, 20, 22, 26, 30, 29, 28, 27, 24, 25, 23, 19, 18, 9, 7, 3. This took him 1hr 59mins and was 29.1 miles, quite an achievement! The only way he could have saved another mile was by going out through 7 and 8 to 4, then 6. Instead of getting 7 at the end. The lanes were narrow and twisty, not easy to negotiate in a hurry. Plenty of gravel and farmers mud about, the rain through the day on Tuesday must have made it quite slippy in places.
There was a excellent view to be had from control 22 looking over the whole of the mapped area, but also right out Morecambe Bay and up into the Lakes. There was an elevated view of Kendal from controls 4, 6 and 5 and anyone venturing out round the 12, 16 & 17 loop will have seen over Grayrigg and Whinfell. The rain more or less held off, there was a bit of drizzle now and again but the weather kept a few people away. Number of competitors were down from mid eighties to 73. Incidentally, When we hung control 11 on the sycamore tree, and did a little pruning, it was absolutely riddled with greenfly, did anyone else notice this?
A few people had trouble finding controls 26 and 8. Both the roadsigns were there and a lot of people got them, but it could be down to overgrown vegetation hiding things. The worst control had to be no.2. I only know of one person who visited this, he being PT. It was right down at the bottom of the Greyhound, Kendals equivalent of the Tow Tops hill at Witherslack. I hoped that most people would get a tour out around Killington reservoir across the M6, the 6 controls to the North West were put there for the top riders to try for if they felt fit.
The Championship is taking shape nicely. Paul Trott looks like being the run away winner in class A, Tom Somers Cocks has improved all through the series and looks set for second place. Henry Syska unfortunately missed events 4 and 5 which means has it all to do next week. But 3rd place is pretty open at the moment. Despite missing week 2, Anne Plant has class B sewn up, Jo Barret putting her trailquest experience to good use in 2nd place. 3rd place is very close at the moment between main organiser Carol McNeil and Rachel Slattery. Class E is currently a dead heat between 'Tyson & Shepherd' and 'Cheeseman & Morriss' with everything to play for at Staveley next week, I can't wait......
I very much enjoyed organising the event, it was great to see all the work, planning and preparation fit so nicely together. The junction at the start was a little busy and congested at times, but that was the only real problem I saw. Thanks for all the positive comments at the end, they are appreciated. I must thank my father for helping all afternoon and being chief time keeper on the night, Kay Hartley for her efficient work at registration. Jonathon Bethell for being start marshal and kind loan of the van to keep us all dry and of course Bruce Barnes, the fella collecting the control cards and counting up the scores. Carol McNeil kept everything consistent with previous events and finally the Station Inn for being most accommodating. I am dividing the £120 raised in half between British Heart Foundation and Banardos. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
