2024 NSORRA Season in Review

Ride Park Openings and Rec Rides

We had a relatively dry pre-season and were able to complete Work and Rides at all of our ride parks with the help of great volunteers from our NSORRA family. Thanks to the efforts of our new Trails Director, Stuart Buck, and his Triple S Cycle Works team (shout out to Steven Hussey for photos and videos!), along with NSORRA Trail coordinator, Susan Foote, we had regular rec rides at our Ride Parks in the Valley. It’s great to see increased use of these parks which are built and maintained by our members.

Return to Five Scrambles

The 2024 Race Committee decided it was time to get back to a five-scramble series, opening and closing the season in Craigmore which can pretty much stand up to any weather.

Knowing that a few racers missed out on awards last season because they missed one event, the Committee thought it would be a great idea to run five events but only count the top scores for four events. Well, that didn’t quite turn out as we expected…But more on that later.

large group of racers on the line at Craigmore hare scramble

#1 Craigmore Ride Park

The first race of the season was on May 25 at Craigmore. The park was in great shape and the course was set with extra challenges including a new start line which changed the flow of the event. Weather was on our side for early season camping and enjoying the outdoors. We had 111 racers registered; it was a good start to the season and great to see everyone back together.

#2 Mill Hill Ride Park

Race #2 was June 22 at Mill Hill. It was our first time back racing at this venue in five years. Race prep went well, and the trails were primed and fast. It was hot in the Valley, and Mill Hill brought the heat with 133 registered racers. That's a record for this location; people were stoked to get back racing at the Hill on a dusty, fast race course. Though Race Director, Dave Tobin, was away, a great team of volunteers stepped up to help out. A big shout out goes to Stewart Colquhoun, Steven Hussey and Mike Ritter along with Race co-Director Meagan Cairns. The vibes were great, and the race was a huge success.

Rider racing through the woods on their dirt bike

#3 Beaver Ride Park

Race #3 was at Beaver Ride Park on July 27, and again we had the weather on our side. The trails were in good shape, and we added a few extra sections to keep riders guessing. We hosted 119 racers at Beaver’s this year. This venue is really a gem in the making; it's better every time we return.

The race had its excitement with another crazy start that went wrong for a few people. Luckily, there were no major injuries but in the mid-day group, a bunch of excited racers found themselves on the afternoon loop by accident, providing them with a more challenging course than expected. Stuff happens - it's racing. Luckily, most riders who ended up on the Expert loop were just pumped they got to experience the long loop.

#4 South Alton Ride Park

Three youth hare scramblers on the trail

Race 4 was August 17 at South Alton. It was yet another Nova Scotia awesome weather weekend in the Valley. We had 104 registered racers and South Alton was in great shape, really quite dry. Richard and Steven Parkinson have been putting in a lot of work on the land and its showing. The race was really great, the course was fun, and the riders ate it up. The rock garden saw loads of action and we are happy to say it was just good old South Alton fun.

We made it a weekend with the Women in Moto event the next day at Mill Hill with 42 participants! Lots of fun with new t-shirts and 30 new NSORRA members!

Race director Dave Tobin walking between racers on the line

Race Director David Tobin walking between racers on the line

#5 Craigmore Ride Park

Our last event of the season was on September 28 at Craigmore Creek. We landed early and set to work, trying to out-do our season opener race with 105 registered racers. The race course was expanded and well thought out by our own Josh Kelly. The added sections and length to the courses really challenged the racers.

The trail was set but the weather came for us for the first time this season. The course started out extremely dry, but it rained down on us onsite, and on the travelers heading our way. Thankfully there were no pre-race mishaps from the downpours on the highway.

Unfortunately, we had a race-day mishap in the worst place possible, and the mid-day races had to be scratched because of the time needed for extraction. We are happy to report that the affected racer is okay. Though we hire first responders for every event, we always hope to NOT need their expertise and equipment, but in those moments that they are needed, they shine and are much appreciated. A shout out to first responders Grant Lingley and David Kaplan, as well as several NSORRA volunteers who stepped up to help out.

First responder Grant Lingley on the bike

The afternoon routes had all of Josh's extras in place and did it SHOW; some riders were so challenged that we had to reroute them around the rock garden which ended up being a parking lot by mid-race. But after that, the race played out and the racers shined. Great end to a great season.

Volunteers for Timing and Scoring at Craigmore

NSORRA has great volunteers!

Thanks to our Volunteers!

The annual Soles In Motion-NSORRA Hare Scramble Series Awards event marked the end of the 2024 racing season. We couldn’t have done it without the many volunteers who stepped forward to plan the events, prepare the trails, string the tape, jump in for timing and scoring, sweeping and the many other tasks needed to run a successful race series.

We are sending a special shout out to race volunteers: Annette and Cecil Sawler, Steven Hussey, David Kaplan, Todd and Tanya Nauss, Adam Greeley, Rod Conrad, Jamie and Adam Campbell, Cody MacKenna, Grant Lingley, Andrea Kelly, Susan Foote, Shannon Patterson, Barbara and Barret Ayres and others who we could count on when we needed them.

Thank you all for giving back to the sport you love. WE APPRECIATE YOU!

Planning for 2025

Though the 2024 race season has come to an end, plans are being made for 2025. Expect some big announcements in the new year. If you are interested in joining the 2025 Race Committee, please reach out to Meagan Cairns at meagan.cairns@nsorra.ca. We are restructuring the way our events will be run and we need your help to make things happen.

See you in 2025!

David Tobin has been NSORRA’s Race Director since 2019. He stepped down as Race Director at the end of the 2024 season. Many thanks for your dedication to growing NSORRA racing, Dave!

Class	Place	Name	From	Bike
Peewee	3rd	Caleb Martin	Pleasantville, NS	Apollo
	2nd	Justin Kaplan	Windsor Forks, NS	Honda
	1st	Jake Young	Mount Uniacke, NS	Honda
School Kid	3rd	Ethan Ferraro	Lunenburg, NS	Honda
	2nd	Elijah Cooper	West Bay, NS	KTM
	1st	Evelyn Kelly	Lower Sackville, NS	Yamaha
Super Mini	3rd	Zachary Nauss	Chester, NS	Kawasaki
	2nd	Ryker Siteman	Bedford, NS	Husqvarna
	1st	JR Patterson	Seaforth, NS	TM
Junior	3rd	Jack Mallery	Cornhill, NB	GasGas
	2nd	Luke Curtis	Shubenacadie, NS	Yamaha
	1st	Dustin Butler	Brookfield, NS	Yamaha
Intermediate B	3rd	Ryder MacLean	Fall River	Sherco
	2nd	Calem Slaunwhite	Glen Haven, NS	Sherco
	1st	Steven Hussey	Lunenburg, NS	Husaberg & Husqvarna
Women	3rd	Susan Foote	Prospect, Kings Co.	Husqvarna
	2nd	Danielle Nowlan	Sackville, NS	Husqvarna
	1st	Shannon Patterson	Seaforth, NS	Beta
Sportsman	3rd	Jake Seaward	Kentville, NS	Yamaha
	2nd	Keaton Crouse	Crouses Settlement	KTM
	1st	Will Ross	Halifax, NS	Husqvarna
Intermediate A	3rd	Chris Thompson	Hubley, NS	Beta
	2nd	Jordan Madden	Newtown, NB	KTM
	1st	Tristan Cavanagh	Gaspereau, NS	Yamaha
Plus 50	3rd	Stewart Colquhoun	Halifax, NS	Beta
	2nd	Jason Penney	Hubley, NS	GasGas
	1st	Blake Davison	Canaan, NS	Yamaha
Expert	3rd	Devin Gray	Halifax, NS	Yamaha
	2nd	Caleb Lutes	Moncton, NB	Husqvarna
	1st	Kyle Ledwidge	Lakeview, NS	GasGas

Published: November 2024

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