Our next event will be held in the Tamar Valley on 28-03-2010
Full details can be found on the Events page
Due to an outbreak of Phytphthera (Sudden Oak Death), the Forestry Commission have cancelled all events in Cann Woods in order to contain the spread of the disease. The Newnham Park event was due to take place in both Cann Woods and Newnham itself - and with the loss of Cann Woods, we have decided to revert to one of the venues we had planned to use in the Summer Sweat series.
Tavistock Woodlands Estate, near Gunnislake, is a fantastic event location. It links a number of forested areas, with lanes, RUPPs and Open Countryside, all the while flanking the River Tamar.
Map Boards For Sale ....
A limited number of Map Boards will be available to purchase at the next event at the cost of £7 each. To reserve one, please email us.
Event Report from Round 2 of the Mud Series at Woodbury Common 31-01-10 ....
Round 2 of the ‘Mud’ series was held at Woodbury Common near Exmouth in conditions that were a complete contrast to the floods of November at Haldon! The day was crisp and cold. A heavy frost and the odd snow flurry made the area a winter wonderland in the morning and the car park was a mass of frozen craters!
Many competitors from the Haldon event turned out again to add points to their running league scores. Also there were new faces coming from further afield. The score format has proved very popular and the challenge of route choice and physical cycling adds a new dimension to mountain bike competition. Woodbury is surely a jewel in the crown in terms of riding and there was plenty of route choice to be had. Fast open tracks, single track through forest, narrow zigzagging board walks and usually plenty of big wet pools to ride through….for this event they were ice sheets though!
The Long Pairs class was the most popular with 25 pairs competing. There were 29 checkpoints in all with varying values but with a maximum score of 850 points if you got them all. No one did! Mark Pollard and Martin Walbank team Yamahammers took the top spot with 755 points and timed their finish to perfection with 7 seconds left! The first ladies Long pairs were the ‘Lenton Lovelys’ consisting of Katie Lenton and Hannah Lenton.
The Long Solo was the least subscribed with only 3 entries, but as it was at Haldon, it was Steve Edmunds who took the win with 28 out of the 29 controls, 840 points and time enough he reckoned to get the other one….perhaps next time Steve. By the way … Steve has no suspension on his bike…..
On the Short Pairs Michael Bennett and Paul Burman took an impressive win with 465 points after having taken a 2 minute (10 point) penalty, another 2 minutes and they would have run into the back of the hard chasing Matt Jepson and Janet Burroughes who took second place and first mixed pairs.
Stephen Medlock had a clear win on the Short Solo by some 90 points. First lady was Jill Green in 5th place and just ahead of her in 4th was Arthur Boyt from Cornwall who I know won’t mind me mentioning he is in his 8th Decade, good job Arthur!
Simon and Tom made up the Pryors who won the family class. Some great efforts by the youngsters today with hard ground to fall on and some technical riding. Great job by all of you.
Prizes were awarded for all class winners. Our thanks to Big Peaks Adventure Superstore and Cotswold Outdoors for their support in general and with the prizes. Also to Clinton Estates and the Pebble Heaths Trust for access on to the land.
Thanks to all those who came ….next stop Tamar Valley on the 28th March!
Event Report from Round 1 of the Mud Series at Haldon Forest 29-11-09 ....
Round One of the ‘Mud’ series kicked off at Haldon Forest Park in almost Biblical weather! High winds, flooding and trees down, all of which made for a lot of MUD! 86 competitors turned out to compete in the 5 classes ranging from short courses of 2 hours and long courses of 3 ½ hours and of course the 1 hour family class.
Registration and pre race planning and prep took place tucked away under various tents, shelters and car boots but once out on their bikes competitors had a massive area to explore collecting as many controls and associated points as possible within the time of the class they had entered. The A3 size 1;25000 map covered three forests, Bullers Hill, Harcombe and beyond, mainly on forest tracks and lanes. The competitors used planning, strategy and of course energy to battle against the elements.
The family class had 7 entries including one family that had a tow along fitted to the back of the bike for their son to join in. For the more extreme riders full suspension bikes and map boards were the order of the day. However it must be said that Steve Edmonds winner of the Long Solo class won on a bike with no such features!
There were 25 controls out in total but no one managed to clear them all within the time. A few individuals took large penalties for being back late without which they probably would have been nearer the top of their class. This is where the planning really comes in and where it is equally important to plan to your ability and fitness and choose a good route between the controls as well as being able to push hard around the map.
Other class winners worthy of note were Robert Brown who was 20 points clear on the Short Solo. Matt Jepson and Janet Burroughs had a comfortable win on the short pairs with 400 points. In the Long Pairs with 595 points Tim Morgan and Andrew Harvey put in an amazing effort.
Prizes were awarded for muddiest, sweatiest and for all class winners. Our thanks to Big Peaks Adventure Superstore and Cotswold Outdoors for their support in general and with the prizes.
Thanks to all those who came ….next stop Woodbury on the 31st January 2010!
Cotswold Outdoor Ltd and Big Peaks Adventure Superstore support Mud and Sweat…
We are pleased to announce that Big Peaks Adventure Superstore and Cotswold Outdoor Ltd are both on board with Mud and Sweat in 2010. They will be providing prizes for each class as well as Cotswold store discount vouchers for all competitors.
Bigpeaks specialise in the adrenalin sports of Cycling, Snowboarding, Surfing and Kayaking. Located in Linhay Business Park, Ashburton, Bigpeaks is the first superstore of its type in the UK. Cotswold Outdoor are a multi-award winning retailer with stores located nationwide offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of outdoor clothing and equipment in the UK. Local stores can be found at Darts Farm Shopping Village, Topsham, Exeter and at Drakes Circus, Plymouth.
Source 2 Sea 2009
After the success of 2008's event in West Wales, Source 2 Sea 2009 saw 12 teams of 6 people from Coca Cola compete in a 3 day event starting at the source of the Beaulieu River in the New Forest, Hampshire and finishing in the sea at Lepe Country Park. Glorious weather and a total of 9 stages over the course of the river saw the teams undertaking mountain biking, running, kayaking and problem solving throughout the event.
The theme was spies and numerous code breaking exercises had the teams running around the Beaulieu Motor Museum James Bond exhibition as well as carrying a Da Vinci style Cryptex as the team baton. Each stage had a physical and cerebral element to it as well as a separate stage for the teams support crew. Each team had a performance coach assigned to them and the whole journey provided learning and development for individuals and teams alike. For more information on this unique event go to www.source2sea.com
source2sea from Phil Way on Vimeo.
