NOR British Night Champioships - Sheringham Park and Weybourne Heath

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2007





It was good to return to Norfolk after an absence of 21 years! The last time I was there was for the JK in 1986, when I ran M21E in an area just east of Sheringham. Today, I ran M50L which was 6.4k with 210m of climb and 16 controls. I ran reasonably well, save for a few minor wobbles (- mostly in bramble patches!) and took 55 minutes, to record a narrow victory from Colin Dickson and Vince Joyce. It proved to be a good evening for FVO, with Stuart Thomson and Jon Cross winning their classes (M16 and M40L respectively); and former team mate, Nick Barrable, winning M21L.

Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

EUOC SoSOL - Holyrood and Meadowfield Parks

Holyrood and Meadowfield Parks includes Arthurs Seat in Edinburgh - an area I last ran on some 25 years ago when I competed in a fell race there and also the 7 Hills of Edinburgh race. I entered the Brown course which was 8.7k with a whopping 550m of climb and 27 controls. I took 72 minutes which gave me fourth place behind Steve Nicholson, Ben Hartman and Graeme Ackland. I was running with Steve for part of the course - he got away at 18 where I lost time - probably as a consequence of the previous leg which involved a savage climb. I also lost time at 20 - where I drifted too far east.

Results.
Splits.

Holyrood and Meadowfield Parks on Google Earth.



Map with my course.



Map with my route.

ESOC Sprint O - Dalmeny Estate

The ESOC Sprint O comprises two legs - a first race followed by a chasing sprint. This years venue was Dalmeny Estate - a mixtute of small woods, fields and parkland near South Queensferry on the south side of the Forth Estuary. I was running the long course, which had a first leg of 4.6k with 140m of climb and 11 controls. I took 29 minutes and finished 5th - was a bit scrappy into 1 and 2, and leaving 3; but was otherwise reasonably satisfied.

Leg 1 results.
Leg 1 splits.
RouteGadget.

Leg 1 map with my course.



Leg 1 map with my route.



Steve Nicholson who won the first leg did not start the second, so I started in 4th place. The course was 3.2k with 60m of climb and 9 controls. I dropped to 7th before the first crossing ca 100m north east of the start (- one runner who started 36 seconds behind had passed me by the crossing!) and was pleased to fight back to finish third overall.

Leg 2 results.
Leg 2 splits.
Overall results.
RouteGadget.

Leg 2 map with my course.



Leg 2 map with my route.



After the event we went to a lovely tea room in South Queensferry with other members of FVO and then went over the Forth Road Bridge to North Queensferry to look for the killer whales that have been in the estuary for the past few days. Got a distant view of one as it surfaced to the east of the Rail Bridge.

Killer whale in Forth Estuary.

FVO Night Event - Laigh Hills & Barbush, Dunblane

I ran the Long course which was 5.1k with 17 controls and great fun! It took me 36 minutes, 1 minute down on Will Hensman. I was pleased with my run, only losing time at the last control where I stopped short.

Results.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

MOR Colour Coded Event - Darnaway Forest North

Darnaway was first used for orienteering when it hosted the World Orienteering Championships individual race in 1976. The forest still provides excellent technical orienteering. The Brown course was 7.8k with 17 controls and took me 55 minutes - some minutes behind winner James Tullie. My race was okay, but I did lose time through poor concentration at some of the middle controls.

Me near the finish.



Andy Hyslop, WAROC, in open beech forest.



Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

FVO "Old Boys" Ski Trip - French Alps

Saturday, January 20, 2007 - Tignes and Val d'Isere





FVO "old boys" comprised myself, Steve Nicholson (- whose parents have a chalet in Villaroger - our base for the trip!), Fraser Purves and Dave Coustick. Our first day saw us ski the Espace Killy which covers Tignes and Val d'Isere. The weather was perfect - clear, sunny and warm; which allowed an outside lunch at a mountain restaurant above Val d'Isere. A big day was had, with lots of miles covered and lots of feet (metres?) descended!

Part of the Espace Killy piste map.





Sunday, January 21, 2007 - La Plagne





Steve went teleing at Sainte Foye, whilst Fraser, Dave and myself checked-out La Plagne, a part of the Paradiski area - me on teles, the others on alpine skis. We started from Montchavin, had lunch above Champagny and found some great snow on the Bellecote glacier in the afternoon. The day was rounded-off nicely in a tea room which served amazing apricot tart - tough luck Steve!

Part of the La Plagne piste map.





Monday and Tuesday, January 22 and 23, 2007 - Les Arcs





The last 2 days were spent at Les Arcs - the other part of the Paradiski area. Unfortunately lack of snow prevented us taking the lifts out of Villaroger, which necessitated a drive down to Bourg St Maurice each morning. Monday afternoon was spent on blades (- great fun!) with Steve and myself on teles for the rest of the time, and Fraser and Dave sticking with their alpine skis. The highlight was on Tuesday afternoon - a ski back to Villaroger down a "closed" run of partially ice covered meadow, followed by a short walk out. That night, much needed snow fell and was only to be enjoyed by Dave, who was moving on to Chamonix for some "steep and deep" skiing!

Part of the Les Arcs piste map.

FVO Night Event - Polmaise Wood

Polmaise Wood is on the western outskirts of Stirling, has a lot of indistinct paths and areas of rhododendron.

Approximately 25 runners set-off on a mass start for the tricky 4.0k course with 17 controls. Lots of route choice separated the runners reasonably early on, although I did have a good tussle with Ali Bryan-Jones (- who lives on the northern edge of the map!) around the latter part of the course. I took 46 minutes - some 12 minutes behind winner Steve Nicholson. Despite my slow time, I was not unhappy with my performance given a recent cold!

Results.

Map with course.


Map with my route.

Slides from a training run near Comrie