LOCAL Black Mountain Bike Orienteering (MBO) riders are celebrating after a super successful 2016.

MBO events are predominantly off-road and the use of Mountain Bikes is the preferred bicycle choice with some hardier riders opting for cyclo-cross machines. Riders use an issued Ordnance Survey mapping to navigate around a set area with 20 to 30 control sites of varying point value positioned alongside bridleways, byways or forestry trails.

Depending on the event, between two and seven hours, riders visit as many control sites as possible in order to maximise the points total, making route choice and navigational skills a high priority.

The winner is the competitor with the highest score, however penalties are deducted for returning late. Control sites are normally identified by red/white/orange markers, each of which carries an electronic punch, to provide proof of visit.

As well as an understandably strong performance in the local Black Mountains MBO league, 2016 saw local riders do well all around the country.

At the National Championship Week end held on Exmoor in the Summer, Gary Davies from near Cardiff was second overall, closely followed by Siôn James from Crickhowell and Richard Hayes originally from Llanthony was in fourth position. John Morgan from near Llanthony won the M50 Class and was fifth overall. To round off the successes Teifion Best from Abergavenny won the Y18 class.

Since then Mark Morgan from near Llanthony was fourth overall in the British Mountain Bike Orienteering League and Teifion Best continued his run of good form by winning the Y18 class. Regular Black Mountains MBO rider Gill Stott from near Monmouth was crowned W50 champion.

To mark the end of a great year for local Black Mountains riders, Mark Morgan went on the steal the honours from riders over the Border and was awarded the top spot in the Midlands League.