Reeth  Mtb Challenge – 2006 report by Graham Heath

Once again some of Yorkshires toughest men took on the mighty challenge of the Reeth weekend. Due to good weather in previous years it was decided to move the dates further back in order to deter any faint hearted competitors.
          This had the immediate effect of reducing the field by one long time participant under the name of Mike‘iron’Dixon.  Mike with his fearsome reputation at cracking at the slightest hint of wet/cold weather decided (or at least his Wife did) that this years challenge was just too tough. Mike had been showing signs of  a developing weak will in the previous years, even getting Nigel Baldwin to bail him out in last years first event (drinking quadruple jack Daniels!). Anyway the excuses were made and Mike went off shopping to Sainsbury’s like his wife told him to. This left five hardy YRC challengers; Mike Kershaw, Steve Gregory, Russell Hepton, Nigel Baldwin, and Graham Heath. The first event started at 7 o’clock on the Friday night with a briefing in a Pub in Catterick. After taking on board much needed fluids we then progressed to Reeth for some even more much needed fluids in the comfort of the Black Bull. In an attempt to stave off any dehydration the following day we continued to consume large amounts of fluids until the early hours. After several of the bar staff begged us to let them go home we decided to retire to rest our bodies for the following days cycle ride.
          The next day the second leg of the challenge started with a wind so strong that it was bending the flagpole in the market place at 45 degrees, this accompanied by hail and rain that was putting dents in the car roofs parked outside. We all set off taking heart from the knowledge that if Mike Dixon had have been with us he would have cracked straight away , so at least he wouldn’t be holding us up as he had on previous years. Once we reached the tops the wind and hail was so strong that we needed to pedal just to get down the hills as well as up them! After 4 hours a quick show of hands had us returning to the pub, where we lost another two competitors. Russ Hepton and Nigel Baldwin were beaten men and left in tears wondering if they would ever manage to get the right training in to compete in such an difficult event. That nights event included the eating of extremely hot curries in a nearby Thai restaurant. It must have been something that we ate because we had to retire early that night much to the amusement of the previous nights bar staff!  Sunday showed an improvement in the weather and we managed a quick 3 hours before Mike (no brakes) Kershaw won the final sprint down a long 1 in 4 into the pub car park in Grinton. True to form Mike was gracious enough to wait for us outside the pub so as not to show off by getting to the bar first (a trick he plays with great professionalism!).
So that was the end of the 2006 event, who knows what 2007 holds, even Mike Dixon may return. If your up for a challenge why not join us.

Saturday morning - just want you need with a bad head  60 mph winds and rain!

Steve Gregory, Nigel Baldwin, Russ Hepton, Mike Kershaw take a breather after Graham Heath had hammered them up the last mountain!