NYMBO May Update

Swaledale Trailquest

After 24 rides in the North Yorkshire Moors this winter checking out routes for a guide book it was lovely to get back into the Dales to plan this event. 6 rides in April reminded me how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful area. The weather improved at the beginning of May so that conditions were perfect for you last Saturday. It's a tough area so I decided to reduce the usual size of the competition area and hope you found the 1-40000 Jens Strain map even clearer than usual. I tried to help your route choice by marking the more difficult tracks with the ‘soft ground' symbol. Most riders found this helpful but a few still decided to take either the route from Storthwaite Hall to Fremington for no points – a pleasant route on a social ride - or the moorland route around Great Pinseat from 25 to 22 – which I have managed to do once and won't go back.

Control 23 caused a few problems although it was in exactly the right place. I didn't want to use the road end 500m ESE again and I wanted to identify the indistinct bridleway junction. With hindsight, I shouldn't have used it as there are too many tracks in the area to show them all clearly. Sorry.

I wanted to place #5 down by the river below Crackpot but the farmer assured me in no-uncertain terms that it wasn't a right of way so I placed it on the road. As I drove past the track end last Friday I noticed a brand new bridleway sign so it will be used next time!!

Thanks to the helpers again, especially John Dixon who helped put out nearly half of the controls on Friday afternoon. Andy Stanforth intended to help but was lucky to only be clutching a broken collar bone after a difference of opinion with a lorry on Wednesday. Hopefully he will recover for next month. Thanks also to the volunteers who collected the controls afterwards when all they wanted to do was go home – Nick Harmer, Richard Harrison, Bob McDonald, John Dixon (again), Will and Sam Wilson, Jens and Eileen Strain. Having sat around all day I enjoyed my ride around Apedale and Harkerside before a concluding pint in the Bridge at 8pm.

There was no litter, no gates left open and no reports of any problems from farmers or gamekeepers so the final thanks is to you for coming to the event. NYMBO have donated £50 to the Swaledale Mountain Rescue team who were available – but not needed!!

I have enjoyed looking at the splits and seeing the variety of routes that were taken. There didn't seem to be an optimum route but Andy Conn notched up another impressive score to win overall. Andrew Windrum came second and I hope it didn't ruin his chances for the Fred Witton race the following day. Emily Brooks possibly had the best score of the day to finish 6 th overall with 330 points. There was some close competition in the M60 class with Dave Day taking the honours. Dennis Jacques and Sheila Pearce returned to Yorkshire to beat all of the mixed teams despite a fall at the ford made famous by James Herriott! Commiserations to the Berry family who all fell off in separate incidents. I hope they all recover quickly. Perhaps the most outstanding score of the day was by Alan Billington with 310 points despite not having a bike!! It was being repaired so he decided to do a 5 hour training run instead. He did use a few public footpaths but observed the out of bounds areas.

Each league class is beginning to show a familiar pattern

M21 Andrew Windrum leads Steve Wilson

M40 Mike Nayler leads Mark Grange by 9 points but Andy Conn has won both times he has ridden

W40 Roz Bardon took advantage of Mandy's absence despite a fall.

M50 John Dixon used local knowledge to lead John Rawdon by 9 points

M60 John Tiffany leads David Day by 17 points

X40 Steve & Andrea Foster are clearly ahead of all other ages – for now!!

We are back in the trees next month with an event in Gilling Woods. Nick Jones is planning a course with 2 maps again. Nick Harmer has planned an excellent course the following day in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with 5 hours to enjoy some stunning views and excellent tracks.

Why not come for the weekend as camping is available on Friday and Saturday at Redcar House where there are portaloos but no water or electric. No charge either but please take care on the very uneven road from Gilling East where the nearest pub is located – the Fairfax Arms.

Future Events

Wednesday 21 st May 2 hour Lanequest

Ferryboat Inn, Thorganby, Wheldrake, York GR 691420

Entries to nymboevents@btinternet.com

Saturday 7 th June 2 hour MBO

Sunday 8 th June 5 hour Trailquest

Redcar House, Gilling Woods, Ampleforth, Howardian Hills GR587766

Entries to nymboentries@stoneriggs.plus.com

Full results and details of all our MBO events are on the 3 web pages

www.nymbo.org.uk www.trailquest.co.uk www.eborienteers.org.uk

Please let me know if there are any errors in the results, any links that don't work on the NYMBO page or you want your details removing from this mailing list.

I hope to see you all at another NYMBO event soon.

Cheers

Steve Willis