Another cold morning, but this time getting out of the car it seemed "proper cold", even though the thermometer was saying 6 degrees. The cause: a bitter northerly wind cutting across Carsington water, the reservoir where the 2nd round of the 2010/11 Dark and White Winter MBO Score/Trailquest was centred.

After meeting the guys from Purple Harry and generally trying to decide whether or not to wear my over shoes I eventually got going (I wish I had worn them, it took two hours post event for my feet to warm up!)

The map seemed to cover a big area, and a first glance it seemed unlikely that anyone would clear the course. I also noticed some fairly high scores locally round the reservoir so decided to ‘Hoover’ up those whilst considering my options.

The path along the Eastern shore of the water is really quite hilly and I was surprised to see I had used up well over 30 mins of the 3 hours having lapped it as I cruised down past the fantastic Crinckle Cranckle wall in Hopton before the first big climb of the day up to number 22.

I had decided to leave the two controls near Wirksworth, unsure of the number on contours buried beneath the detail of the town and by this time had also decided to leave out number 15, the soggy conditions putting me off a couple of kilometres of fields and possible mud plugging.

I made a silly mistake on the way to 10, not realising that I could get from the old railway line back on to the track the control was on, so needlessly climbed over the top. I used the old tunnel on the way back though!

The climb up to number 18 took us through the aptly named Ible. It contained one of those farms where the farmer carefully parks all of his old machinery just where it breaks down, ready to mend at a later date but somehow never does and it passes to the next generation, slowly melting into the mud. The road through the farm was also covered in a fine slurry of cow manure. Nice….

Then came for me route choice issues, which order to take the controls in the North West Corner?

I eventually went for a route with lots of ins and outs. Lots of discussion afterwards came to no conclusion except that I probably should have binned the control down in Parwich and got number 7 instead. After a very scary descent picking my way though slower riders on the way out of 12, I got stuck into a gamble to get 6 and 8 on the way home. I knew I was going to be late, it was eventually just a case of keeping the power on and trying not to be too late. The final climb on the main road up past the dish at Hognaston was horrendous, quads burning in the cold headwind. Luckily it was flat out downhill into the finish after cresting the top and I was surprised to be only 7 or so minutes late, making the extra dash for number 6 worthwhile.

Its good to see this years Dark and White events so well attended and particularly good to see quite a few more female riders now giving it a go.

When I left I was lying 3rd but with a few big guns still not in I expect to drop a couple of places, my control order in the later part of the course costing me time.

Another good event from Dark and White, now its time to clean my bike with the new toys from Purple Harry!

results now available here….