Race Report – Foxley MTBO

Sundays event organised by Harlequins Orienteering Club’s Colin Palmer was held in the private forested estate of Foxley, about 5 miles West of Hereford. The skies were blue and the sun shining brightly as I queued on the Worcester ring road with lots of people trying to get into a car boot sale.

So, a little late I arrived to find the event in full swing.

I had intended to get lots of people practicing their E punching and then competing in the Stodge Blog Sportident Punching Challenge (more about that another time) but I just had time to set it up before warming up and getting my head together ready to race.

The sun filtering through the trees and the relaxed atmosphere at the start / finish with ‘Colins’s kitchen’ complete with tablecloth was in stark contrast to the course which promised 25 km & 700 metres of climb with several areas of free order  controls (Hungarian style) – gulp !

I started strongly, riding fast to the first control, but I think it might have been better to take the road option and spend more time concentrating on planning ahead on the first free order section. Opting to ride downhill off track through the controls 42 and 43 I missed taking in 41 first, which, in hindsight, was a mistake, but there were lots of route variations available. Coming up out of the free order section there followed a tough section of uphill riding with variable surfaces and some fallen trees. Ben Plowman put in some fantastic times for these legs, showing his strength and technical riding skills. We then headed back down on some fantastically fast descents on single tracks and wide grassy rides, enjoying the private nature of the forest to really let rip (24mph recorded for me) but were then punished for our enjoyment after a few controls  by a huge climb back up to the ridge for number 57. I felt I rode this section very well and the splits show me consistently on or ahead of the pace which I am pleased with. It is again showing the concentration on strength this winter is paying off on the hills. Going into the second free order section I was leading, 20 seconds up on Ben and 5 minutes clear Andrew Windrum.

Disaster then struck for me. I had just overtaken a couple of people and managed to miss a track junction on the way to 61 losing about 1.5 minutes until I realised what I had done. Looking back, I should have stopped and had a proper look at the map. I then lost nearly another 2 minutes on the way to the next 2 controls picking daft route choices panicking trying to make up time. I started to get things back together again only to blow another minute on the way to number 50, even after double checking a track junction.  The map wasn’t great in that area but I can’t blame it, no one else cocked up quite so spectacularly on those 4 controls, some mental mistake preparation needed, me thinks, before my next race.

I then got back into the groove and set a few more fastest splits but there was more muppetry to come. Turning over the map for the final time I didn’t see the long route out and back to number 67 and promptly lost a load of climb going half way to number 68….

Luckily I rode cleanly to the end to take 3^rd place after that, but it is frustrating to know I lost so much time on those 5 controls and is just not good enough at this level.

On the plus side I was very happy with the way I was riding and particularly my strength on the hills.

Ben Plowman had his best MTBO result to date with a great ride, his experience of joining his local orienteering club, SYO, and attending club training sessions seem to be paying off.

After a warm down and a stretch in the sun, most people had left for home so I didn’t have time for the usual banter but I did go back out and pull in a few controls at a relaxed pace, enjoying the views through the forest and the wildlife before packing the car for the return journey. The area was very good for MTBO, perhaps a little too much climb for some, but Colin got the winning time right.

I think, looking back (and I know Colin and I spoke about the rideability and the various types of tracks in this working forest before the event), that the wide grass rides should be marked as open yellow rather than paths next time and perhaps he should also add some fallen tree symbols, but for a first MTBO map of a new area, planned and organised by one man, it was great. I look forward to returning to this area next year if Colin can secure permissions again, and thanks to Harlequins for taking the plunge and putting on an MTBO.

Results available here….