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.

FVO Evening Event - Minewoods

Tonights event was organised by Brad and Beccy. I ran the long course which was 4.2k with 13 controls, and which took me 33:42.

Results.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

Scottish Relay Championships - Tullochroisk

The Scottish Relays took place in the same area used for yesterdays individual. The Mens Open was won by South Yorkshire Orienteers and the Womens Open was won by Forth Valley Orienteers - with Janine Inman (above) on last leg. I ran last leg (3.4k with 185m of climb and 13 controls) in the Handicap 9 relay with Simon Patton and Steve Barrett, and brought FVO home in second place behind Clydeside Orienteers.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

Scottish Individual Championships - Tullochroisk

This years Scottish Championships took place at Tullochroisk, near Aberfeldy. I ran the M50L course which was 6.0k with 300m of climb and 17 controls, and finished third behind John Tullie (pictured above, who won and who was first M50L at this years JK) and Donald Petrie.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

INVOC District Event - Rogie

Rogie was used for the World Championships Middle Qualification race in 1999 and is a really good, if tough, forest. I ran the Brown course which was 8.0k with 375m of climb and 21 controls.

Results.
Splits.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

ECKO Evening Event - Ardnaskie

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008

Ardnaskie is on the southern shore of Loch Etive, near Oban and is the western part of the Airds Park orienteering map. It was as rough and tough as ever - much more woody than the map suggests; but on a glorious sunny evening was well worth the journey. I ran the Blue course which was 6.7k with 15 controls. It was good to see Alan Partridge orienteering again after an absence of nearly 30 years - a top cross country and road runner in days gone by, he could "ruffle a few feathers" in the M50, or possibly M55, ranks if he competes seriously again!

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

FVO SOL 2 - Touch Estate

This was the second Scottish Orienteering League race of 2008 and was, thanks to Roger Goddard's planning, technically challenging throughout. I ran M50L which was 6.9k with 195m of climb and 20 controls.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

Scottish Sprint Championships - Stirling Old Town

Stirling hosted todays Scottish Sprint Championships which took place on the streets and in the woods which surround the castle. Jon Cross planned an excellent course which was 3.0k with 155m of climb and 23 controls.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

MOR Local Event - Uath Lochan Central

The event flier advertised technical courses "with a twist." This involved a single main course of 6.9k with 16 controls, with those on the long course able to miss one control of their choice, those on the medium three(?) controls of their choice, and so on. I did the long course, but chose not to miss any controls.

Results with splits.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

TAY Local Event - Norman's Law

Norman's Law is a small, but interesting, hill on the south side of the Tay estuary, to the east of Perth. I ran the Blue (longest) course which was 5.8k with 240m of climb and 19 controls, and which took me 41:21.

Results.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

BASOC Middle Distance Championships - Deishar

BASOC stalwart Callum Scott is an enthusiast for middle distance races and planned todays event in the birch woods of Deishar in Speyside. The course was 4.9k with 100m of climb and 16 controls, and took me 28:16.

Results.
Splits.

Map with course.



Map with my route.