Event 9 of the 2019 Series, Forest of Dean North East, covered included some new areas starting from Drybrook on the western side of the map. Whilst planning it was tricky at times trying to link up the new woodlands to create a free flow through the areas but apart from one small wood this was achieved. Luckily a farmer gave permission to use a footpath along a stream edge for 200m enabling riders to exit Flaxley Woods from the eastern end. The hard pack tracks, close network of minor roads and soft/muddy forest tracks gave riders a wide choice of routes around the area reflected in the variety of approaches competitors took.

The Forestry Commission England capped the event to 50 which we adhered to with 48 entries on the day. The event was sold out two weeks before the date and with a higher cap we could have taken 10 more comfortably.

Whilst setting up the controls the day before I discovered that a landowner had locked gates along a bridle track. I moved the control to 300m further up the slope to the gate at the road and amended the map. This did not seem to affect riders and may have made it easier for them to get round as the track had become very muddy.

The weather leading up to the event had been wet resulting in some muddy sections especially in Chestnut Wood where boar had turned up tracks. The track conditions slowed some riders though highly muddy tracks were marked.

No riders cleared the course. I had tried to plan a course which would be difficult to clear in an effort to encourage higher ability competitors to decide which controls/areas to target. Will Dixon(M21) won with a score of 423/500 points. Top female rider was Iwona Szmyd (W40) with 378. The most popular route for the top ten finishers was going north first then south. Four new riders in pairs were given an introduction to MBO before going out and came back with good reports and wanting to do more.

As normal we owe a big thank you to those that helped out; Mark & John Morgan, Andy & Tim Stott, Simon Gittins, Harry Kingston & Naomi Malkin who stayed behind to collect CPs. Thanks to Amanda & Verda for the normal high standard catering despite the challenging conditions! And also a big thank you to everyone for the donation to SARA, £103 was collected for this very worthy local rescue service.

Yet another very successful day and see you all at the next event in Gilwern next month.