KFO Compass Sport Trophy and SoSOL - Pitmedden Forest

Pitmedden Forest is a mix of plantation and open hill, and was a cold, but sunny, venue for the Scottish leg of the Compass Sport Trophy. I ran the Blue Mens course which was 6.8k with 260m of climb and 23 controls, and which took me 46 minutes. As in recent events, concentration was poor - with time loss at 7 through not reading the descriptions and near the end by being put off by unmapped paths.

1 Douglas Tullie RR M20 44:15
2 Martin Dean FVO M50 46:13
3 David Weir TAY M45 48:55
4 Robert Bloor INT M45 51:52
5 John Tullie RR M50 52:49

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

FVO Night Event - Barr Wood

Jon Cross planned one course which had 2 parts and which was 6.0k with 27 controls (- with a short option of 3.9k with 18 controls - by missing out part 2!) with pre-marked, waterproof maps and a mass start. Part 1 was split into 2 parts, in an attempt to reduce following. Controls were reflective tape - no punching! I had a great tussle with Will Hensman and Gary Longhurst, and despite making lots of mistakes; just managed to hold them off to win in a time of 46 minutes.

Results.

Part 1 map with course.



Part 2 map with course.



Part 1 map with my route.



Part 2 map with my route.

SROC National Event - Whitbarrow

South Cumbria is one of few places in the UK to offer wooded limestone terrain reminiscent of the Swiss Jura. Whitbarrow was terrific, offering physical and technical challenges. I ran M50L which was 6.8k with 175m of climb and 21 controls. I won the course in 50 minutes, but was beaten by 4 M45's who also ran the same course! Poor concentration led to misses at 12 and 16 - need to work at being a "concentration monster" - the description given to Daniel Hubmann of Switzerland in the latest edition of Orienteering Today!

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

LOC Short Race - Black Beck

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2007





This was Event 1 of the Cumbrian Short Race Series sposored by Rock + Run. Competitors were split between 2 areas - Stockbird Head and Black Beck. I ran the M40+ course (- in Black Beck) which was 3.8k with 16 controls. I took 29 minutes and finished 2nd, some 30 seconds behind Charlie Adams of SYO.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

ESOC SOL 1 - Baluain & Banvie Woods

It's been 7 years since I last orienteered at Baluain & Banvie Woods. Today was my first SOL as an M50, but since many of my rivals have moved up with me and the fact that the M45's ran the same course; it didn't seem much different to last years SOL's! Competition on the course was intense, primarily because the JM5L class had a very strong field - attracted by the event being an FCC race! The course was 7.5k with 260m of climb and 18 controls. I won M50L in 54 minutes, but was well beaten by Mark Nixon running M21S, Duncan Coombs and a host of others running JM5L, and John Noblett running M45L. I had a reasonable run, didn't make any significant mistakes but was a bit scrappy near the finish. Fortunately, I had finished running before the rain and wind arrived and was safely ensconced in the warmth and comfort of the nearby cafe when the bad weather struck!

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

FVO Night Event - Touch Estate

I planned one course which was 7.7k with 21 controls (- with a short option of 5.8k with 14 controls - by going from 7 - 15!) with pre-marked, waterproof maps and a mass start. The area containing controls 3, 4, 5, 17 and 18 was contour only - black and blue features removed! Controls were reflective tape - no punching! 21 people ran. Steve Nicholson just won the long from Will Hensman and Steve Barrett held off son Jack, to win the short.

Results.

Map with course.

STAG Boulder Bonanza - Allean

Allean is situated to the north west of Pitlochry and is a rocky area with lots of boulders. The Boulder Bonanza is a 60 minute score event with controls on every boulder and, as I found out afterwards, on boulderfields too. There were 79 controls and I got all those I'd marked on my map prior to the start (ca 70!) in 66 minutes. Great fun and with spring like weather, it made for a memorable day!

Video of me at Allean. Squeeking Active Ankles are audible!



Results.

Map with my course.

FVO Night Event - Abbey Craig

I planned one course which was 4.1k with 20 controls (with a short option by going from 7 - 11 and 14 - 18 which was 3.2k with 14 controls) with pre-marked maps and a mass start. Controls were reflective tape - no punching! 23 people ran. Steve Nicholson won the long and Abi and Louise Longhurst dead heated on the short.

Results.

Part 1 map with course.



Part 2 map with course.

NOR Single Dumpling Event - Sheringham Park and Weybourne Heath

Running in the same forest as the the previous night, I was struck by how much more runnable it seemed in daylight! The forest seemed far less brambly and generally much cleaner underfoot! M50L was 6.9k with 240m of climb and 19 controls, and took me 50 minutes. My time was enough for victory in my age class, but saw me "pipped" by two M45's - Michael Belshaw, BAOC and Andy Hyslop, WAROC. I was pleased with my run - my only mistake being missing the first control which was in a pit.

Results.
Splits.

Part 1 map with my course.



Part 2 map with my course.



Part 1 map with my route.



Part 2 map with my route.

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.