MTBOers Scatter at Bostock Reservoir

Tuesday, 8 September 2009

There was a great turn out to the MTBO State Series #6 event held at Bostock reservoir last weekend. 60 competitors braved the cold and windy conditions in native and Pine forest around the Reservoir which nowadays resembles more of a puddle than a significant body of water. It was apparently much different 33 years ago when one of the first ever MTBO events was held in the same location on February 29 1976. The event was referred to as a “Bicycle Orienteering Event”, given that Mountain Bikes were not even invented! According to a number of older competitors at Sunday’s event who were there in 1976, the spillway was a gushing torrent making the crossing very tricky; these days the spillway is dry and the water’s edge is the length of a footy field away! Have a look at the event instruction sheet; not that different to Sunday’s sheet other than the cost and who to direct ‘Whinges and Moans’ to!

Sunday’s event involved scatter courses which really had competitors thinking; so too did the two crossing points through a fence going across the middle of the map which called for careful route planning.

Peter Cusworth had a resounding victory on Course B, 10 minute clear of Richard Eisner in 2nd place. In her first MTBO ride since having a baby just two months ago, Caitlan Wade showed she’d lost little form coming in 3rd place just 5 minutes behind partner Richard. The Wade family also dominated course C: Keith Wade finished in 1hr 12min, despite knee and hip injuries that require surgery shortly which will put him out of MTBO racing for some time.

Another family effort – from the Hills – rounded out the course C placings with Father and Son combination Peter and Jason 2nd and 3rd respectively.  

Fresh from riding on the big stage at MTBO WOC in Israel, Tim Jackson won Course D convincingly.

Many thanks to the great team of Volunteers from MFR; everyone was able to have an official ride (apart from me, the course setter), going to show that even with 60 competitors these events are straight forward to run. Thanks also to the Landowners (DSE, Barwon Water and AKD Hardwoods) for permission, to Carolyn Jackson for putting on a great display of Adrian’s WOC medals and Maps and of course to all those brave souls that turned up to race and make it a great day.

Dion Keech

Pierre Brokner and Tom Lothian finish in front of a dry reservoir at Bostock