Fat Tyre Navigator
Kintbury, 13th January 2007
Sometimes a Navigator becomes a battle of navigational wits, such is the case on a complex course like Shackleford, and sometimes it comes down to a test of strength, which should have been the case on a hilly and wet Kintbury course. Fate is a funny thing though, and this Navigator contest was decided by an innocuous litlle ten pointer barely a flat mile from the start and finish. At some point between setting out and competion day, Checkpoint 2 lost its orange visibility ribbon, (maybe to passing ramblers or kids, or possibly even in Friday and Saturdays high winds) and suddenly became the hardest box to find on the course. Some found it, many didn't but at only ten points most riders weren't too concerned to let it slip by.
However, it proved critcal in the closely fought battle for the top spot between Rick Fetherston and Nick Calkin, both now competing in Single Vets. They took on the course in opposite directions and finished only seconds apart, apart, but Nick found box 2 and Rick didn't, handing Nick a slender 10 point victory*. It was a great ride from both men in hard conditions and well deserved win for Nick, but a tough way to lose for his opponent. No doubt the luck will fal the other way sometime in the future though.
Ian Cartwright deserves a mention too for a strong 605 point ride that saw him third overall and astoshingly only third in his category too! Single Vets is certainly the hardest place to race in the Navigators these days!
John Platt and Dean Stacey tandemed up for Red Planet bikes again to claim another first in Mens Team, while Nick Dean took another Super Vets win. Iwona Szmyd (Bikes@Hillcreast) and Annie Marson both had good days, each racking up over 500 points, but it was Iwona who won the Womens category, again by a narrow ten points.
Garry Taylor won comfortably in Single Male, Chris Clark and Mike Richman teamed up late in the day to take the Vets Team category and Carl and Diane Baldwin won Mixed Team.
* To clear up the ruling in this case, where a box is either positioned wrongly or missing completely, we will award the points to anyone who reports that they couldn't find it. However, when the box is in the right place but has lost it's visibility marker (as here), we deem it would be unfair to those who did find it (and may have spent extra time looking), if we award the points to those who didn't, so no additional points were awarded.
Thanks to our sponsors for this seasons events. Red Planet Bikes were present as usual to help out and contribute some great prizes on the day, and new UK bike brand Pinnacle Bikes have put up a great series draw prize, in the shape of a £999 road bike! Your name goes into the draw just for entering the event, and for every Navigator you enter this season, you'll get anther entry in the draw too! Click here for full details and sign up for one of the events below to increase your chances of winning!
Forthcoming Navigators
Kintbury Navigator Results
Categories (Summary)
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