Croeso 2008 - South Wales

Croeso 2008 was based around Tredegar in South Wales, and comprised 6 races with your best 4 results to count. The areas were mostly open, some on complex limestone terrain with lots of negative features and others taking advantage of the areas industrial (coal mining) heritage and the complex spoil heaps that have been left behind.



SUNDAY, AUGUST 03, 2008
Day 1 - Merthyr Common

This was limestone terrain and an area I had run on before during a Veterans Home International. Unfortunately, that previous visit didn't help and I got totally lost going to number 2, taking 20 minutes to relocate.

M50L was 7.5k with 170m of climb and 15 controls, and took me 73:21.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





MONDAY, AUGUST O4, 2008
Day 2 - Blorenge

Blorenge is a hill overlooking Abergavenny and provided a physical and in places, technical challenge.

M50L was 6.0k with 120m of climb and 11 controls, and took me 52:35.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





TUESDAY, AUGUST 05, 2008
Day 3 - Pwll Du

The weather was atrocious, but the good terrain and planning, and the ever cheerful event organisers; made for an enjoyable day.

M50L was 6.5k with 140m of climb and 19 controls, and took me 49:31.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





THURSDAY, AUGUST 07, 2008
Day 4 - Wentwood (West)

This was the only event to be held in woodland - an area that had a fearsome reputation for brambles in the past! Fortunately, the brambles were no longer a significant feature of the area which allowed fast running through open woodland.

M50L was 6.8k with 320m of climb and 18 controls, and took me 55:03.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





FRIDAY, AUGUST 08, 2008
Day 5 - Mynydd y Garn

This was a lovely area of open land on limestone, with lots of depressions.

M50L was 8.5k with 210m of climb and 20 controls, and took me 53:22.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





SATURDAY, AUGUST 09, 2008
Day 6 - Clydach Terrace

The weather was even worse than on Day 3, but the area was terrific - varied and detailed! I set off very cautiously in the complex area after the start and was caught 2 minutes by Joachim Friessnig from Austria at number 4, afterwhich we had a good race against each other to the finish. Found the map very hard to read (even with my magnifier) and feel that a larger scale map could have been justified given the complexity of the area.

M50L was 6.3k with 150m of climb and 18 controls, and took me 54:25.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Overall results.

Map with my route.

British Orienteering Squad - Turnhouse Hill Race

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008

Photograph from Scottish Hill Runners.



This race was organised by the British Orienteering Squad to raise funds and was 5k with 350m of climb.

Scottish Hill Racing described the route as follows: Start where the Turnhouse track leaves the reservoir road - 229631. Follow the markers along the main Turnhouse path over the hillocks and to the wall corner - Checkpoint - 222630. Turn left and contour along the wall follow the wall as it climbs the re-entrant then follow markers through the woods (217626) and onto the spur, join and contour along the fence and drop into a small re-entrant - Checkpoint 214623. Climb the re-entrant and continue to the summit of Turnhouse Hill - Checkpoint 213626. Follow the main path north along the ridge, then bear left following markers off the north end of the spur and descend to Burton 's Gold Medal Biscuits - Checkpoint 215636. Follow paths and markers right on an undulating contour back to the wall corner - Checkpoint 222630. Finish down the main path to the start point.

Orienteer Murray Strain won the race in a new record time and I finished 8th (first veteran) in 29:10.

Results.

Map of route (from Scottish Hill Racing website).

Ochil Hill Runners - Maddy Moss Hill Race

Photo by Chris Upson.



This race was organised by Ochil Hill Runners and was 10k long with 710m of ascent.

Scottsh Hill Racing describes the Maddy Moss Race as "Possibly the best, and generally the longest time-wise, of the mid-week Bog and Burn races. The race starts up a near vertical grass slope adorned with gorse bushes, before breaking onto a runnable path and a short rocky descent to a burn crossing. The ascent up the nose of The Law is largely hands on knees, with only short sections of shuffle running. The route then opens out across the grassy tops of Ben Cleuch and Andrew Gannel Hill, before dropping into a narrow trod high above Gannel Burn where overtaking is virtually impossible. The final section of downhill is frighteningly fast and tricky before the near vertical plummet to the finish."

I had a good climb and reached The Law in circa 12th place, but lost several places on the descent from Andrew Gannell Hill to finish in 57:43 in 15th place and 1st M50. There was a good turnout of orienteers, with Murray Strain finishing 3rd and Douglas Tullie 4th.

Results.

Profile of route.



Map of route.

Strathearn Harriers - The Famous Grouse Crieff 10k

Robert Gilroy and David Morwood - photo by David Bauchup.



This is the first time I have done this race, which was superbly organised by Strathearn Harriers. It follows a lovely route (with 350m of climb) to the west of Crieff (- one I train on reasonably often) and was memorable for pipers giving encouragement at strategic locations such as the top of Laggan Hill and near the monument at Trowan. I went off fairly hard and struggled on the climb soon after we left the road after 1k. I then had a better middle section, where the route is more undulating and on small paths; but was hanging on over the final 2k. Was pleased to finish 6th in a time of 37:42 and was even more pleased to receive a bottle from the sponsors! The post race sandwiches and cakes were a further highlight and helped make for a really enjoyable day.

Results.

Map of route.

World Masters Orienteering Championships - Portugal

The World Masters Orienteering Championships took place from 28th June to 5th July and was based on Marinha Grande in Portugal. The organisation was excellent, the areas, maps and courses first rate; and the hospitality and weather wonderful - a really great weeks orienteering!



SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2008 - Sprint Qualifying Race - Leiria



Leiria is an old town, with some courses visiting the hilltop castle. I ran in heat 2 of M50 which was 2.1k with 45m of climb and 15 controls, and finished 5th in 14:23.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008 - Sprint Final Race - Praia da Vieira



Praia da Vieira is on the coast and was a superb choice for the final - new town, forested dunes, open dunes and old town! I ran in the M50 A final which was 2.3k with 65m of climb and 21 controls, and finished 4th in 14:55. James Crawford ran a great race to record a British victory!

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





TUESDAY, JULY 01, 2008 - Model Event - Pedreanes

I ran ca4k with 10 controls to get a feel for the long event areas and for how they were mapped.

Map with my route.





WEDNESDAY, JULY 02, 2008 - Long Qualifying Race 1 - Pataias

I ran in heat 1 of M50 which was 7.2k with 205m of climb and 17 controls, and finished 4th in 49:42.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





THURSDAY, JULY 03, 2008 - Long Qualifying Race 2 - Pataias



I ran in heat 1 of M50 which was 7.2k with 175m of climb and 20 controls, had a good run save for being hesitant into 7, and finished 3rd in 42:59.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.





SATURDAY, JULY 05, 2008 - Long Final Race - Pedrogao

Photo by Nick Barrable of Compass Sport.



Unfortunately for me, this was the warmest day of the Championships and with a late start; I suffered in the heat! I ran in the M50 A final which was 8.4k with 275m of climb and 23 controls, and finished 11th in 63:26.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my route.

Hill Races - Ben Sheann and Eildon 2 Hills

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 - Ben Sheann

Steve Barrett, FVO, approaching the finish. Photo by Chris Upson.



This was my first hill race for many years and a consequence of e mails advertising them (from FVO Coach, Jason Inman) and of FVO colleagues participation in other races. The Scottish Hill Racing website described Ben Sheann (near Strathyre) as: "A micro classic. A small race with a big feel. The race climbs steeply through the forest to the prominent summit of An Sidhean. After the summit, follow a loop around some boggy, tussocky ground before launching back into the forest for the final exciting descent. Expect midge hell."

This was the 6th race of this years Bog and Burn Series and attracted a strong field, including a large contingent of Forth Valley Orienteers, for the 4k course with 426m of climb. The race was won by Prasad Prasad, with junior orienteer Jamie Stevenson finishing a very credible second. I had a good climb, but lost ca 8 places on the descent to finish 18th in a time of 29:47. Afterwards, the predicted "midge hell" became reality!

Results.

Map of route.



SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008 - Eildon 2 Hills



This race was organised by Gala Harriers and starts and finishes in the Borders town of Melrose. I've run it once before - back in 1985, and have also orienteered on the area several times. The race was 7.2k with 460m of climb and I finished 7th (1st Super Vet) in 33:25. Lost a bit of time with my choice of route off both summits, but descended better (apart from down a long flight of steps) than at Ben Sheann! Was pushed hard all the way by John Tullie who finished 8th.

Results.

Map (old orienteering map) of route.

KFO SOL 3 - Devilla Forest

Kingdom of Fife Orienteers organised the third Scottish Orienteering League event of the year in Devilla Forest. I ran M50L which was 7.1k with 180m of climb and 16 controls. I took 50:38 but was well behind John Tullie who posted a very impressive 46 minutes.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

FVO Evening Event - Barr Wood

Barr Wood was used for one of the recent World Schools events. Tonight, I ran the Green course which was 4.4k with 15 controls. Had difficulty finding number 2.

Results.

Map with course.



Map with my route.