Purple Thistle 08 - Day 2 - Creag Mhic Chailein

Creag Mhic Chailein is part (oak) wood and part open, with a wealth of contour detail to provide a stern technical challenge and lots of climb and bracken to provide an even sterner physical test!

I ran the Mighty Thistle course which was 12.4k with 23 controls - there were to be 24 controls, but number 19 was within an area of new deer fencing and so was removed from the course. Douglas Tullie recorded the fastest time of the day of a little more than 95 minutes, closely followed by other runners from Edinburgh University.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

Purple Thistle 08 - Day 1 - Kerrera

Photo by Brooner.



The Purple Thistle event adopts a "barebones" approach in that it focuses (as should be the case!) on the things that matter - finding a good area, making a good map and planning a good course!

This years Purple Thistle was based on Oban on the west coast of Scotland, with Day 1 involving a short boat trip to the beautiful Isle of Kerrera. The event used the southern part of the island which offered open, but technical and physical orienteering, and fantastic views of the surrounding hills and islands.

I ran the Mighty Thistle which was the longest course - 11.1k with 23 controls and a fair amount of climb. Scott Fraser won it in an impressive time of just under 80 minutes.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

FVO Evening Event - Dumyat

Steve Barrett planned tonights event on Dumyat, near Stirling. I ran the Green (longest) course which was 5.4k with 200m of climb and 7 controls, had a clean run and took 40:09; ca 30 seconds slower than Jamie Stevenson (of FVO) and 2 minutes behind Ross McLennan.

Results.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

Carnerthy Hill Running Club - Caerketton Hill Race

Carnethy Hill Running Club
organise the Caerketton Hill race, a short 2.4k with 240m of climb. Scottish Hill Racing describe it thus: "The race starts with a steep uphill grass slope to the stile, followed by an even steeper bank of blaeberries. Once on the first top there is only the briefest section of proper running to the higher Caerketton summit and back before you hurtle back down to the stile and finishing straight."

I set off a bit too fast and struggled for much of the climb. Even on the flatter section (between the summmits)my legs felt tired, possibly from last weeks 6 Days; but on a positive note the descent went better than expected with only a couple of people passing me - and and I stayed on my feet!

Al Anthony won from Muuray Strain, and I finished 12th in 15:24.

The race was also the last of the Bog and Burn races - with your best 4 results (from 10 races) counting.

Results.
Results from Bog and Burn series.

Map of route (from Scottish Hill Racing website).

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.