Event Details
Club: | Lakeland Orienteering Club |
Event Name: | Lakeland BikeO Series 1 |
Date: | 01/06/10 |
Format: | Bike O |
Mapping: | Ordnance Survey |
Time Limit: | 2 hours |
National League: | - |
League: | Lakeland BikeO 2010 (Lanequest) (Round 1 of 6 events, best 4 to count) |
Electronic Punch: | No |
Event Report
Little did Oxen Park resident and International Orienteer Carol McNeil realise that way back in 1995 when she devised a series of six 2 hour road bike orienteering events, they would still be flourishing and even growing in popularity some 15 years later.
So it was that 108 entrants a mix of solo, teams and generation pairs, with a wide mix of abilities, set off from well known local gastro pub The Strickland Arms at Sizergh on Event 1 of the 2010 series, sponsored yet again by Wheelbase of Staveley, and this year more hotly contested than ever.
Organiser Phil Morgan was faced with the growing quandary of ever increasing competition for the series trophy demanding ever more challenging routes. 2009 series winner Mike Toyn, a Wheelbase/Cannondale Team rider was in superb form, having recorded a 6 hour 36 minute time on the Fred Whitton Challenge, and achieving the highest score on the previous weekend's Selside Trailquest event.
Last years route encompassed lanes in and around the Levens valley area. This year the route was extended east to include the climb over The Helm, the aim being to visit as many of the 30 controls (all sited on wooden fingerposts). Depending on map reading skill, the optimum route was about 32 miles, climbing 380 metres: a challenge for any rider.
Top honours for covering all 30 controls and hence gaining 300 points within the allotted 2 hour time limit went to Mike Toyn, who had 4 mins 28 seconds to spare, Alan Hartley, with 4 mins 15 seconds and Dave Hefffernan, still recovering from a nasty cycling accident, with 30 seconds to spare.
Last years' womens solo champion Anne Plant carried on where she left off with another class win and 280 points, closely followed by Jo Cleary.
Bryony Halcrow topped the Juniors Class on 206 points and Steve and Jake and Mason won the Generation Pairs class...all 3 of them, as did Mike Brooks, Andy Beck and Andy Douglas in the Adult Pairs / 3s Class.
Lanequest attract riders of all ages and abilities, and this event was no exception. Whilst the competition to "Cut The Cake "in July at Wilfs Staveley is as keen as ever, Tuesday's finish saw many smiling faces after a thankfully rain free tootle around the leafy lanes.
The next Lakeland Lanequest of the 2010 series of six, is on Tuesday 8th June starting from The Longlands Inn, Tewittfield, SD 520 737. 2miles North of Carnforth Lanequests are 2 hour bike orienteering events on country roads, suitable for all bikes, and with a choice of classes to enter; they are ideal for leisure and also more competitive cyclists alike. Starts are from 5.30 – 7pm, a pre-marked, A4 colour OS map around 1:50,000 is provided, but don’t forget your helmet, food is also available after all events. More details, results and entry form, visit: www.wheelbase.co.uk or email: carolmcneill@tiscali.co.uk Tel: 01229 861507
Results here. http://heffs.org.uk/Lanequest/2010/Event1.html
Photo Shows Mike Toyn at the start.