Event Details
![](https://www.bmbo.org.uk/images/event/0f40f2ca526b566d72464ad3efe7386a.jpg)
Club: | Dark & White |
Event Name: | D&W Winter 09/10 - Central Peak District (re-scheduled from 10th January) |
Date: | 11/04/10 |
Format: | MBO Score |
Mapping: | Ordnance Survey |
Time Limit: | 3 hours |
National League: | - |
League: | D+W Winter MBO Score 09/10 (Round 8 of 8) |
Electronic Punch: | SportIdent |
Event Report
What a fantastic day for the last Dark & White trailquest of the 2009/10 Winter series and what a difference a couple of months can make. This event was originally cancelled back January due to the snow and ice, but today Spring had definitely sprung.
The only fly in the ointment is that I’m suffering from full blown “man flu” and can’t ride. But less of my woes and back to the job in hand, trailquest number 8. There was a good turnout for the re-arranged event and the car park quickly filled. Everyone was chatting and catching up before setting off, so much so that several riders took an age to get to the start!
Studying the area map showed it was going to be a tough one; all the riding was to the west of Grindleford including Sir William Hill, Shatton Moor and consequently the surrounding valley floors. This was confirmed by pained and puzzled looks as riders picked up the competition map. It was a beauty, no obvious route choice and some really awkward controls that just looked like a huge amount of effort to collect the points, clearing up would take a superhuman endeavour.
As I was not riding I got in the car with a camera and headed out to record some of the action. First port of call was checkpoint 8 by Offerton Hall, what a cracking spot and the track up across Offerton Moor to Shatton looked like a fantastic ride in either direction. It was warm and sheltered and the riders who went past were certainly working hard for their 20 points.
Then it was up to Abney and the singletrack road to Shatton Moor. There was plenty of action up here, on the way up there were riders in front and behind the car and several riders had to squeeze past me on the way down - thanks for not scratching the car and being patient, for those that I held up, sorry I know you were in a rush!
It was up here it became obvious that there was loads of route choice with riders coming from every possible direction, some doubling back on themselves after collecting the 25 points up by the Shatton mast. But who can blame them it was worth the ride just for the fantastic views especially as the road up from Abney had been full of snow only a month earlier. I certainly hung around much longer than intended; even the cool easterly wind could not get rid of me. The journey back down to Abney was just as fraught as the drive up with a rider hot on my heels and several more trying to squeeze past on the way up, sorry again!
After Abney it was past the local gliding club, I bet they had fantastic views but I’m much happier with my feet closer to the ground. What sort of fool relies on the wind, something they can’t see to keep them in the air in a flimsy fibre glass box with wings?!
The view from Hucklow Edge did not disappoint and it was very difficult to resist the pull of the Barrel Pub and a pint. But a fire engine with its lights flashing brought me back to reality, I hope it’s not one of those gliders ....
The final call before heading back to Grindleford was Sir William Hill, great if you where heading down to the finish but pretty brutal if you where heading straight up there from the start.
Back at the finish everyone really seemed to have enjoyed themselves there were nearly as many routes as riders and everyone was trying to figure out which had been the best one. There was great interest as each set of interim results went up. Down in the valley bottom it was beautiful and warm and I’m sure people hung around longer than planned soaking up the early spring sunshine with the tea and biscuits. Top scorer was Will Simmons with 306; he managed to get round all but 2 of the checkpoints a great effort. Top lady was Karen McDonald with 233 points for all the results (overall and splits) got to http://www.darkandwhite.co.uk/results-cross-country-fell-races.asp.
For those of you who only saw the countryside going past in a blur there are a few photographs here on the Dark and White photo gallery http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/DWChallengeEvents.
Hope you have all enjoyed the Winter series which has certainly been rather eventful this year. We hope to see you for the six event Summer league evening series which kicks off on Wednesday 5th May from the main car park in Castleton/Hope Valley. If you can’t make the Summer series then we have the next round of the Cotswold Outdoor sponsored DW4 Adventure Race on Sunday 9th May which is based from The Longshaw Estate above Hathersage. To the rest of you thanks for making it a great series and we look forward to renewing acquaintances in the Autumn, in the meantime keep fit and have a great Summer from all of us here at Dark & White.