Spring Trail Quest Series Round 1
[Saul, Downpatrick]
On Sunday 27 March 2011 Round 1 of the Spring Trail Quests took place from the event headquarters at Paddy's Barn in Saul just outside Downpatrick. The same venue had played host to one of the Winter Trail Quests back in January 2010. The two round Spring Trail Quest Series is being organised by Dromara Cycling Club and Maryland Wheelers with the profits from both events being donated to the David McCall Foundation.
With the clocks changing and mild weather over the previous few days it was one of the first events of the year where shorts and short sleeved jerseys started to appear. Spring was in the air! The turn out was smaller than at the Winter series, mainly due to other event clashes, but the regulars were there early eager to take part in these highly enjoyable mountain bike orienteering events. The organisers had spent three weeks setting up 33 markers across a wide expanse of South Down from the Quoile to Ardglass to Strangford. Teams of up to 3 riders could take part in either the 3½ hour or 2 hour event trying to locate and record as many markers as possible and then return to base before the cut off time.
There are numerous quiet roads, bridle ways and paths networked across this part of the country and the teams experienced some great vistas in the sunshine. There were some problems with punctures on the lanes with 15 out of the 17 teams having to stop and repair at least one puncture and one team had five to repair. Thankfully the markers were as easy to find as the thorns!
Solo rider Bobby Smith from the North West Orienteering club was the most successful scoring 420 out of a possible 660 points. Three teams tied on second place, Team Purple, Eddie and Brendan from Newry Wheelers, Team The Losers, Dennis and Alan from Dromara Cycling Club and solo rider Paul McArthur from the Lagan Valley Orienteers all scored 380 points. Team Bikedock Belles was just behind with 350 points with solo rider Paddy Harrower achieving 330 points. There was only one team who took part in the 2 hour event and that was father and son team Brian and Andrew McBurney.
Not all teams made it back to base under their own steam after running out of spare tubes a couple of riders had to be taxied back to Paddy's Barn. The staff in the Barn provided tea, coffee and sandwiches as the riders sat around the tables recalled tales of their cycling advertures.
Many thanks to Stephen and Niall for setting up the event and to the staff at Paddy's Barn for feeding us afterwards.
The next round will be held on Sunday 10 April 2011 from headquarters at Hillsborough Village Centre. See our website for more details (www.dromaracc.co.uk).
Photos and report by Martin Grimley
