Great time yesterday at Stanmer Park at a low key, high fun club run-bike-run plus orienteering event.

And wow, was it windy and muddy out there! We started in the relative shelter of the Park, completing a short run through the woods. Coming in to transition we then had five minutes to study a map with points marked to find hidden clues - the furthest away notching up the highest points - plus a couple of short more technical trails which would be timed. The team of two or three amassing the most points from their timed runs, orienteering and time trials, would win.

Just before the start I provided some very basic mountain bike skills for those new to off-road riding. It was brilliant to see how quickly Marie, Will, Sue and Phoebe picked up the basics and - although still looking a bit nervous about the event to come - a little more confident and and at ease on their bikes.

Sue striding out through the woods and me clutching the route map

I was teamed up with Sue and what a great companion she was, showing awesome determination particularly as we got out onto the wild and windy Downs, battling against strong winds and very slippy muddy conditions.

Big congratulations to Phoebe, Mark and Mal who were the overall winning trio.

And big thanks to other club mates Kev and Chris, Isobel and everyone else involved in organising the event.