From David West (MDN)
Despite the grey clouds, and the forecast of showers, the weather held off until all the controls had been collected and everything was packed away. And about 100 riders enjoyed (?!?) possibly the last ever MTBO event to be run at Astleys Tower (because National Parks have taken over responsibility from State Forests, and are planning to rehabilitate most of the tracks).
Organised and run as efficiently as always by Newcastle Orienteering Club, the indefatigable Denis Lyons set some cracking courses … judging by the number of riders with MP against their name at the end of the day (including yours truly), the courses cracked some riders! The Long course took riders up to Astleys Tower itself not once, but TWICE. How is that for torture?!
But the terrain conditions were in enormous contrast with the conditions when the National Championships were held here in November 2007. Lots of loose sand, very little mud, and hard-packed tracks (in between all the ruts deep enough to lose your bike in!). So at least you could ride most of the way rather than having to push.
In the Men’s Long category, Alex Randall, visiting from Victoria for some training before heading to Europe with the Australian team, took out the top spot in 99 minutes. Despite riding off the map on the way to the first control, Paul Darvodelsky flew over the sand (probably all that practice in Alice Springs last week) to come in just over a minute behind. Newcastle Club member Stu Adams followed them home to finish third in 106 minutes. Despite leaving the singlespeed at home and bringing out the gears, Marcel van Schie could only manage 5th place!!
Australian team member and Newcastle Club member Melanie Simpson was just pipped on the Women’s Long course by former Australian team member, Mary Fien.Third was Wendy Stevenson.
On the Men’s Medium course, regular Men’s winner Jim Anderson was relegated to third by excellent rides from two young Newcastle riders. Alex Massey scorched around the course in 68:52, followed home by Joshua Blatchford in 70:32. Well done guys – look forward to seeing you at more events!
The Women’s Medium was also closely fought, with Fiona Crane finishing on top in 93:59, and Gill Fowler close behind in 95:06. First Newcastle club member home was Nicole Haigh in third.
The Men’s Short course was a Newcastle clean sweep, with Glen Charlton in first, and Andrew Power in second. Hamish Mackie accompanied by his two young children recorded the third fastest time! Look out for those youngsters when they get a bit older.
Local newcomer to MTBO, Carol Pearce, took out the Women’s Short category, with Newcastle Club’s Nadine O’Dowd in second.Barbara Junghans finished a close third.
A great innovation for this event was the prizes generously donated by Cranks Bikes, NSW MTBO SuperSeries headline sponsor in 2008. Today, seven prizes were randomly allocated by lucky number draw. The lucky prizewinners were:
Eric Besuijen
Joshua Blatchford
Peter Orr
Andrew Power
Robert Prentice
Mark Simons
Sandra Thomas
A big thank you to Cranks Bikes, who have stores in Chatswood, North Sydney and Balmain, and who are the 2008 MTBO SuperSeries headline sponsor.
Thanks also go to the members of Newcastle Orienteering Club who made the event possible:
Course-setter: Denis Lyons
SportIdent: Geoff Todkill
Registration: Margaret Peel
Start: Denis Lyons, Keith Dove, Julia Preston, Russell Blatchford
Finish: Cheryle Todkill, Peter Charlton, Lisa Punzet
Control collection: Greg Scott, Denis Lyons, David West, Graeme McLeod
From Geoff Peel (NCN)
I would especially like to thank Geoff Todkill and my wonderfull wife Margaret both of whom took on extra work load due to my unavailability because of work commitments.
Results
Splits