SOC Trailquest 2002

As everyone seemed to enjoy last year's Trailquest, I thought I would repeat the event this year. We again used the permanent course in Hamsterley Forest. Some of the signs are missing and the maps leave a lot to be desired but beggars can't be choosers. It was not only pleasing to see an entry of eleven but also that the entry was made up of a variety of ages, abilities and experience.

Nic had to be the favourite having recently teamed up with Judith to achieve a very creditable fourth in the Peak District Polaris Challenge. The Polaris being a Trailquest just like ours except instead of two hours you cycle for seven hours then get up the next day for another five hours In the saddle!!

Dave and Duncan tried to lull the opposition into a false sense of security by using the old "we're obviously novices cause we've had to hire bikes for the day" ploy. On hearing Nic's Polaris achievements Kev and Andy panicked and decided to enter as a team. Mick brought along Annie for support. Mike was confident enough to enter as an individual, having driven all the way to Hamsterley from Ripon without getting lost.

You may remember reading last month about Liz and daughters Lucy and Laura making their road ride debut on my beginner's ride. Well, they found cycling around the roads of Wensleydale to be so easy they thought they would give off-road cycling a try. Laura was so confident she was keen to enter as an individual but Liz and Lucy thought they would be lost without her (literally) and so they entered as a family.

Having given them all a crash course in trailquesting, it was off to the Visitor's Centre to purchase maps. Everyone set off at one minute intervals, all except Mick and Annie who I forgot about until 1 min. 48 secs. had elapsed! Luckily they're not members yet, so won't be reading this. Entrants had two hours to find as many of the control points as they could, these being marked on the map. Although mountain biking skills and fitness are important, equally so are navigational skills and choosing the most efficient route. But no one was taking it that serious anyway, or so they said.

Having time to kill before they all returned, I had a tootle round the forest. I stumbled across the Smith Family who, despite having no previous mountain biking experience, seemed to be doing very well. Only mishap so far was Lucy had fallen off but luckily a bush had broken her fall. Time for me to return to the finishing point.

Probably the hardest and most important aspect of trailquesting is making sure you make full use of your two hours without exceeding the time limit or you sustain severe penalty points. So I was very impressed when everyone managed to return with only a few minutes to spare. Everyone that is apart from Nic who obviously thought she was still on the Polaris and had another five hours to go. While we all waited for Nic to return, Lucy and Laura, worried about their current third position, were keeping a close eye on the watch and regularly coming up with estimates of Nic's score as she accumulated more and more penalty points as the minutes ticked away. Nic arrived back in the nick of time to secure third place just ahead of the girls.

Prizes were presented in the cafe, with Mike winning overall first place. Kev and Andy won the trophy for best male team, Nic best female. Liz, Lucy and Laura won the family award. Annie and Mick were awarded with this year's trophy for the highest placed mixed team. Dave and Duncan were chuffed to win the award for the highest placed team that included a cyclist sporting a beard.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

SOC Trailquest 2002

Dave Neesam