After ten hard fought rounds of the Fenwick's Midlands Winter Series, just five league points separated series winner Ian Cartwright from runner-up Andrew Waller, a difference of just 0.1%.

Series Victor Ian Cartwright With His Trophy

Going into the Bicycle Battlefield event, the final round, Andrew lead the series after three consecutive victories but already had six counting events to his name, the maximum allowed. This meant Andrew needed to significantly improve the worst of the six results to improve his overall league score, while for Ian, this event was the last of the six results he could count.

The promised rain failed to materialise and in near perfect cycling conditions Andrew Waller was the first of the league challengers to set off. He returned six minutes inside the three hours allowed to score 405 points from 21 control visits and take the lead in the event.

Eleven minutes later Chris Porter arrived, and having scored 409 after squeezing in an extra control visit and picking up a one point lateness penalty. Another seven minutes passed before Ian Cartwright returned, bang on time, haven ridden a well planned route that was executed to perfection, raising the bar to 420 points, gained from just 20 control visits.

Ian looked like he had sealed victory with his performance, but that was before the 2006-07 series winner Dave Nichols made his mark. Dave, who was lying second overall before the event, showed he is coming into top form, scoring 435 after running five minutes over time.

Bicycle Battlefield Victor Tim McDowell

Ian had stayed at the top for eleven minutes and a further eleven minutes was all Dave lasted before Tim McDowell blasted into the Bosworth Water Park. Totally spent after his efforts, Tim had managed scored 445 and get back on time. This superb ride, gave Tim his second victory in the series and proves he is one of the up and coming stars of Trailquesting.

No one else could better the scores of any of these riders and so they went on to make up the top five. Iwona Szmyd was first woman with 375, good enough for eighth place overall.

After all the riders had returned the complex job of calculating the final league got underway and the computer spat out the final placings revealing Ian Cartwright's victory over Andrew Waller by the narrowest of margins. Dave Nichols was a very close third with 5660, just 59 points behind Andrew, and Tim McDowell's victory was good enough to secure him fourth overall. Consistent performers Allun Evans and Nick Pomfrett, rounded up the top six.

Our thanks to go to organiser Mark Green, who put on a great event, from a superb venue, at very short notice after volunteering to step in when the Warwickshire Fire & Rescue event had to be cancelled. This was the second event he had organised in two months and his dedication ensured the series ended with the finale it deserved.

Event Results    Fenwick's Midlands Winter Series League

Just as the winter series ends, it's time to start preparing again, as Sunday 11th May sees the start of the 2008 Midlands Summer Series, with the second running of the Red Kite Chiltern Challenge.

One Of The Many Great Chilterns Trails

This year sees a completely new course, headquartered at Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. All controls will be off-road with quiet lanes to link the network of bridleways up, and we can expect a fast course with little mud unless there is significant rainfall before the event.

The top prize in the event will be a brand new Marin Pioneer Trail bike, which will be raffled between the top three riders in each category, providing you stay for the the draw or ask someone else to wait on your behalf. There will be plenty of food & drink, plus Torq bars & gels available and small village shop for list minute supplies.

So get your entry in early to be there and see the fantastic Chilterns area at its best with great views, challenging climbs and fast technical descents organiser Nick Calkin has in store for us.

Event Details

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© Alun Piggott

A Trailquest is an orienteering event, ridden on a Mountain Bike, and is currently the fastest growing branch of cycling, on or off-road, in the UK. Competitors come from all age ranges and both sexes, and it is not always the fittest riders that win as planning and navigation are just as important.

To find out what Trailquesting is all about read our guide.