Series Event #4
Pencarrow 30 Sep 2012

The ride from check-in at Burdans Gate to the start underneath the historic Pencarrow lighthouse was fast - 12 or 13 minutes. But with the course finishing back at the gate and a gale-force northerly, how much time should you allow for the return journey? That would determine how many controls round the lakes you could do.

In the end three open men and the winning vet man got ALL the controls with time to spare. But the rest of us had that difficult decision. Allow 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 40 minutes? After all that most made it on time including the 4 boys (well done) and only one rider took a lateness penalty.

Andrew McLellan won the day and the series in Open Men - he was first back in 2hrs16. Nicole Ranger scooped the thinly contested Open Women by just being there. Dave Rudge NEARLY got all the controls and leapfrogged Graeme Silcock in the Vet Men, the class with most competition. And Womens Vet leader Jenny Visser did JUST enough to stay ahead of Jo Holden, who picked up "best other" points for being the planner.

Some riders head to the Australian Champs in 3 weeks; others will have until 27 Jan to polish their mapboards for the Ak Attack.

Results

• Open Men
  1. Andrew McLennan WT&MC OM 480 (2-16-29)
  2. Nathan Gilling WOC 480 (2-16-30)
  3. Greg Thurlow WOC 480 (2-21-21)
• Junior Men
  1. Alan Teesdale and Dad WOC 80 (2-23-21)
  2. Simon Teesdale, Matthew Lynch and Sam Middleton WOC 180 (2-28-29)
• Open Women
  1. Nicole Ranger 210 (1-59-40)
• Vet Men
  1. Ant Bradshaw OHV 480 (2-09-26)
  2. Dave Rudge WOC 470 (2-26-47)
  3. Steve Meeres HVMBC 400 (2-13-10)
  4. Mike Fee OHV 400 (2-17-10)
  5. Graeme Silcock OHV 400 (2-28-14)
  6. M J Wood OHV 380 -M38 =342 (2-24-33)
  7. Jon Parker 320 -110L =210 (2-40-37)
• Vet Women
  1. Ket Bradshaw OHV 400 (2-28-00)
  2. Jenny Visser OHV 360 (2-17-10)
  3. Fiona Clendon 230 (2-09-00))

Twenty three riders enjoyed mostly fine conditions at the Tunnel Gully Round of the MTBO series. However, the tracks were still slippery and challenging in places. Everyone covered an interesting mix of singletrack, old logging roads and rail trail. Most of those with torches (and some without) managed to find the bonus control hidden in the tunnel. Andrew McLellan was the only riders to reach two bonus controls and rode well enough on the rest of the course to secure his second Open Mens win of the series. Jenny Visser scored a narrow win in the womens category. Course mapper, Graeme Silcock, was the fastest vet men, but once his score was adjusted to take account of his advantage, Dave Rudge was the winner of this particularly competitive class.

Results

Course 1

1. Andrew McLennan OM 01:55:02(2:06:02 – 11min bonus)
2. Greg Thurlow OM 02:02:30

Course 2

• Junior Men
  None today
• Open Women
  None today
• Vet Men
  1. Dave RudgeVM 01:15:52 (01:19:52 - 4min bonus)
  2. Glen Warner VM 01:16:15(01:20:15 – 4min bonus)
  3. Graeme Silcock VM 01:17:29(1:14:26 – 4min bonus + 7:03mapper)
  4. Mike Fee VM 01:20:23(1:24:23 – 4min bonus)
  5. Keith Wild VM 01:24:50
  6. Dirk Naish VM 01:28:45
  7. Geoffroy LamarcheVM 01:31:23
  8. David King VM 01:31:30
  9. Jim Sutherland VM 01:34:14 (1:38:14 – 4min bonus)
  10. Chris Sherwood VM 01:40:53(01:44:53 – 4min bonus)
  11. Paul Abbott VM 01:42:08(1:46:08 – 4min bonus)
  12. Andrew Flint VM 01:46:25
  13. Marco Renalli VM 01:50:27
• Vet Women
  1. Jenny Visser VW 01:33:24 (1:37:24 – 4 bonus)
  2. Jenny Cassie VW 01:37:14
  3. Jo Holden 01:38:52 (1:42:52 – 4 min bonus)
• Rec
  1. Brent & Nichol - missed last control

Course 3

• Recreational
  1. Paul Clarke 00:58:17
  2. Sam Middleton 01:25:26 (1:29:26 – 4min bonus)
  3. Fiona &RachelMiddleton – did a mix of course 2 & 3

A good sunny mostly windless winter’s day – perfect weather for a ride but the tracks were a bit muddy in places. All the courses took longer than the planner had intended – apologies for that. A number of people forgot things – Matt arrived without his MTB shoes, Jeremy without his helmet but the one that took the cake was David who had to drive back to Wellington for his front wheel.

Results

Course 1

1. Andrew McLennan OM 02:17:40
2. Simon KennettOM 02:32:06
3. Nathan GillingOM 02:34:45
4. Malcolm McGechieOM 02:55:40

Course 2

• Junior Men
  1. Matt Turner JM Forgot his MTB Shoes and DNF due to lack of traction
• Open Women
  None today
• Vet Men
  1. David King VM 01:56:50
  2. Dave Rudge VM 02:15:42
  3. Marco Renalli VM 02:16:35
  4. Keith Wild VM 02:18:35
  5. Dirk Naish VM 02:30:47
  6. Nick Lowe VM 02:35:15
  7. Mike Fee VM 02:38:53
  8. Jim Sutherland VM 02:39:00
  9. John UnwinVM 02:43:30
  10. Mark Faircloth VM 03:07:55
  11. Andy MorseVM 03:07:55
  12. Paul Clarke VM 03:25:15
  13. Howard Symmes VM 03:28:00
  14. Brian HallimanVM DNF
  15. Gavin Scott VM DNF
• Vet Women
  1. Jenny Cossey VW 03:04:50
• Rec
  1. Jeremy SeniorDNF

Course 3

• Recreational
  1. Bill Edwards 00:43:06
  2. Michael Rudge01:05:15
  3. Phil Pickering 01:11:10
  4. Fiona Dowling 01:11:17
  5. Sam Middleton DNF
  6. Fiona Middleton DNF
  7. Gail Ives DNF
  8. Julia Fraser DNF Did a bit of course 2 and most of course 3

A very successful event thanks to Ant. Great turn out and the sun shone. Minor result update 26 Jun.

Results

Course 1

1. Liam Drew OM 01:45:04
2. Malcolm McGechie OM 01:51:40
3. Ian Paintin OM 01:54:39
4. Nathan Gilling OM 02:00:20
5. Rachel Drew OW 02:19:00
6. Jon Parker and Bill Thomson 02:50:55
7. Pat Hogan OM DNF
8. Ian McCabe OM DNF

Course 2

• Junior Men
  1. Matt Turner JM 02:06:40
  2. Ben Faircloth JM 02:09:40
• Open Women
  1. Marion Castle OW 02:04:00
  2. Nicole Ranger VW 02:22:40
• Vet Men
  1. Dave Rudge VM 01:28:00
  2. David King VM 01:30:20
  3. Graeme Silcock VM 01:34:29
  4. Marco Renalli VM 01:36:52
  5. Mike Fee VM 01:44:59
  6. John Unwin VM 02:01:30
  7. Steve Hutchison VM 02:04:00
  8. Mark Faircloth VM 02:09:40
  9. Andrew Flint VM 02:10:10
  10. Nick Lowe VM 02:14:00
  11. Dick Dinsdale VM 02:14:28
  12. Tony Brindle VM 02:16:49
  13. Paul Clark VM DNF
• Vet Women
  1. Mary McBride VW 01:51:01
  2. Jenny Visser VW 01:58:46
  3. Jo Holden VW 01:59:39
• Rec
  1. Colin Rolfe runner 02:02:13
  2. Helen McKendrey Jude Ellis and Sue Gemmell 02:24:00

Course 3

1. Michael Rudge 00:15:00
2. Rachel Baker and Ashley Chin 00:16:10
3. Paul Clarke 00:17:25
4. Simon Teesdale and Vana Bainbridge 00:17:35
5. Sarah Underwood RecW 00:19:58
6. Paul Teesdale and Alan Teesdale 00:26:40

High winds and rain were predicted but this didn't stop 40 riders from riding the tracks at Tawatawa Reserve, and former landfill off Happy Valley Rd. It was great to see so many mums and dads out there with their child on a trailer cycle or biking together. One family of four did the whole course returning wet but still keen for the next MTBO event on 24 June at Wrights Hill.

A beautiful day brought loads of "brownies" out to Lower Hutt where Matthew Turner (year 11 at school) had set controls between the Melling and Kennedy-Good bridges. There was a nice little 1km warm-up, and pretty much everyone did the 5.5km loop with the optional extension into Belmont Domain. For some that was a looong way, we're proud of you all!

Nice to see so many new people, thanks for passing on the word everyone. Next time we have some hills which won't suit the very little ones, what I would recommend for them is foot orienteering. They always have a range of courses with the "white" one having similar navigation to this and usually about 2km long. If you can manage "Koru" at Makara Peak then you'll be fine at the next MTBO.

Results

Course 1, 1km around the Croquet Greens

• Oliver Flint
• Ben, Richard and coach
• Sophie McKendry and mum
• Nicole Ranger
• Keith Wild (on foot)
• Alan Teesdale and dad
• Alan Teesdale and dad backwards
• John and E Thomson
• Harvey Lawn family (guess 4)
• Bruce and Ellie Morrison
• Grace and Darren Kingi
• Kieran and Oliver Edwards and Olaf Baker
• Larissa Edwards and mum
• Adam and Rachel Baker and mum

Course 2A, 5.5km Round the Bridges

1. Ben, Richard and coach nt
2. Kieran and Oliver Edwards and Olaf Baker 53-00
3. Kiki Gray and coach 65-00
4. Tony Gardner +3 70-45
5. Sophie McKendry and mum 74-00
6. Andy Day +1? 76-45
7. Larissa Edwards and Mum nt
8. Adam and Rachel Baker and Mum nt
9. Harvey Lawn family (guess 4) nt

Course 2B, 6km including Belmont Domain

1. Rob Molloy 31-00
2. Nicole Ranger 31-30
3. Jess, Brian and Elina Astridge pillion 37-00
4. Bruce and Ellie Morrison 43-00
5. Keith Wild (on foot) 46-30
6. John and E Thomson 48-50
7. Grace and Darren Kingi 48-50
8. Oliver and Andy Flint 49-00
9. Cassie, Jay and coach? 63-00

Rain rummaged round the ranges but Upper Hutt stayed dry and 30 people from 3yrs to 3-score-and-more rode the riverbank trails and the 6 separately-named parks. Not counting Totara Park which is a suburb and doesn't have a park by that name.

Several were distracted by swings and things. These were more likely to be those with 29ers. We're talking 29cm here not inches. Obviously a trendy technology that will soon become the norm.

Points for style to Adam Baker (we think) whose bike out-glittered all others. Points for age go to Caitlin Gribble at one end and Gavin Scott at the other. Orienteering: a sport for life.

Results

Course 1, 1km California Park

• Caitlin Gribble 3yo, coach Martin
• Alison Power, coach William
• Bill Edwards, Susan Edwards, Yvette Baker keeping an eye on various
• Kieran Edwards
• Oliver Edwards
• Larissa Edwards
• Olaf Baker
• Rachel Baker
• Adam Baker
• Matthew Turner
• Hamish Mackie, coach Steve?
• Teresa and Melissa Warner, coach Glen
• Grace Kingi, coach Darren

Course 2A, 2.5km Harcourt Park

1. Kieran Edwards nt
2. Oliver Edwards nt
3. Olaf Baker nt

Course 2B, 6km Round the Bridges

1. Alison Power, coach Dad 72-00
2. Sam Pickering, coach Phil 75-00
3. Grace Kingi, coach Darren nt

Course 2C, 8km River Trail Extension

1. Matthew Turner 52-00
2. Nathan Frost +2 59-25
3. Geraldine Back, about an hour
4. Teresa and Melissa Warner, coach Glen, 85-00 incl C1
5. Oliver Flint coach Andy 73-00
6. Hamish Mackie, coach Steve? nt
7. Bill Edwards nt
8. Gavin Scott, 45-10, mp

Course planner Access by kind permission of Wellington Regional Council, Upper Hutt City Council, and the Totara Park Scout Group. Participants 30, starts 44.