An encouraging entry of 7 crews turned out to tacke the first half-nighter of the season despite the Jubilee week celebrations.

A route of 68 miles started just off the A361 near West Down with Novices having tulips for this section, which one or two crews spent some time plotting in the pub car park! Crews then went down the narrow Trimstone road and then into Woolacombe, and back to the 5-road junction at Willingcott. From here, up Spreacombe valley, through North Buckland, across the A361 to Control 2.

For the next section, Novices then had a route copy to take them through Boode and Patsford to Control 3. More plotting was required from here to Control 4 at Martinhoe, which was reached via Bugford, Kentisbury and Hunters Inn, and then out on to Exmoor, travelling south to Control 5 at Brayford. The final section took the crews towards Swimbridge, before refuge and results were to be found at the finish at Roundswell Wimpy!

The expert class was won by Alan Lock and Graham Roberts, making a welcome return to NDMC competition after a long absence. Indeed, they were the only crew to tackle the expert navigation.

A closely fought battle in the Novice section saw Ben and Jason Byrom finish equal first with Martin Moore and Bob France, while Robert Cocker and Arthur Cole finished equal third with Russ and Gareth Drayton. A puncture on the final section cost Scott Jonas and Chris Perry, leaving them in fifth place, with Paul Huxtable and Gill Northcott bringing up the rear.

As always, grateful thanks to the marshals - Fred and Sheila Partridge, Dave Newland, Andy Ballantyne and Stu Wood.

Derek Drayton

Results:
1st Expert	Alan Lock/Graham Roberts
1st= Novice	Ben & Jason Byrom
1st= Novice	Martin Moore/Bob France
3rd= Novice	Robert Cocker/Arthur Cole
3rd= Novice	Russ & GarethDrayton
5th Novice	Scott Jonas/Chris Perry
6th Novice	Paul Huxtable/Gill Northcott