INT Local Event - Tullochgribban

An injury to my calf in November has seriously curtailed my training and racing in the last few weeks. Fortunately, it now seems to be getting better and, after some easy running on paths over Christmas, I decided to test it out (somewhat cautiously!) in the terrain.

I entered the Interlopers Local Event at Tullochgribban - a new orienteering area in Speyside. I had intended running the Blue course (Course 1, except controls 10 - 15, and then Course 2), but my calf felt okay as I progressed round the course, so ended-up running the Brown course (Course 1, followed by Course 2) which was 8.6k with 27 controls and which took me 68:26. Ali McLeod of INVOC won in a very impressive 51 minutes.

Results.

Course 1 map.



Course 2 map.



Course 1 map with my route.



Course 2 map with my route.

ESOC ESOA Individual Championships - Penicuik Estate

The day dawned bright and, with a fresh fall of snow on the ground, meant I had to get out and do something - even after a late night following Forth Valley Orienteers Dinner Dance the previous evening! I opted to go to this years East of Scotland Orienteering Association Championships, organised by Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club at Penicuik Estate, south of Edinburgh. I ran the Blue course which was 6.4k with 235m of climb and 15 controls, and then spent the rest of the afternoon in a very pleasant coffee shop in Edinburgh with some members of Interlopers.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

FVO Club Championships 2008 - Barr Wood

Steve Barrett planned todays courses. I was running in the Veteran Mens class which meant running the Blue course which was 5.4k with 140m of climb and 16 controls. I was thinking more about my calf (following an injury sustained whilst running in a cross country race last weekend) than where I should be going, and had a bad run. Tonight is the Club Dinner Dance (at the Stirling Highland Hotel) - always a great occasion with lots of Highland dancing!

Results.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

LOC District Event - Birkett Common and Wharton Fell

This was my second visit to Birkett Common and Wharton Fell - the first being in the summer of 2002 for the Lakes 5 Day. The weather today was far from summery, being cool and windy, with squally showers. Despite that, the area is a pleasant place to orienteer and with a well planned course, made for an enjoyable event.

I ran the Brown (longest) course which was 8.7k with 275m of climb and 18 controls, and which took me 62:46.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

TINTO Twin Weekend - Lanark Racecourse and Country Park and Rachan and Dreva Hill

The TINTO Twin Weekend takes place every year on the weekend after the clocks go back at the end of October and comprises a Night Event on Saturday and a Day Event on Sunday. This year the format was different from normal with both events being score events - where controls are given a points value and can be visited in any order within a certain time. A late return results in penalty points being deducted.



SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2008

TINTO Twin Night Event - Lanark Racecourse and Country Park

The venue was varied and included some woodland, fields and sports pitches. A nearby firework display made for a colourful, and at times noisy, night sky!

I ran M50/Course 2 which had a 40 minute time limit and 23 controls, and got 20 controls in 38:36. The traditional TINTO Twin Weekend post night race soup was served in the nearby Rugby Club house, was tasty as always and allowed for post race analysis and socialising.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.





SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2008

TINTO Twin Day (Scottish Score) Event - Rachan and Dreva Hill

Rachan and Dreva Hill was at its autumnal best with cool, clear skies, snow on the nearby hills and the summer bracken dying back. I ran M50/Course 2 which had a 60 minute time limit and 22 controls, and got all 22 controls in 54:39.

On the way to the last control. Photo from Tinto Orienteering Club website.



Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Overall results.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

FVO Night Event - Touch Estate

I organised the first of Forth Valley Orienteers Night Events for 2008-2009. The area, Touch Estate, is just West of Stirling and attracted local runners, as well as runners from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The course was compromised by cattle and shooting, but I planned a long course of 6.2k with 17 controls - with a short option of 4.1k with 11 controls by going from controls 1 to 8.

As usual, there was a mass start, premarked maps (on waterproof paper) and electronic punching! Ross McLennan won the long, just holding off junior Jack Barrett; whilst another junior Abi Longhurst won the short. Read Ross's report of the race on his Attackpoint training diary here.

A big thanks to Steve and Fraser for collecting-in controls.

Results.
WinSplits.

Map with course.

ESOC SOL 7 - Craig a Barns

This was the last Scottish Orienteering League race of the year and was organised by Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club. The venue, Craig a Barns, has a reputation as one of the best areas in Scotland and for being technical, rough and tough! Todays courses didn't disappoint and posed a number of challenges for competitors.

I ran M50L which was 6.9k with 245m of climb and 14 controls, and took 59:57.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

BASOC District Event Inshriach North and INT SOL 6 Inshriach South

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2008

BASOC District Event - Inshriach North



I ran the Brown course which was 7.8k with 280m of climb and 17 controls. I was wearing new shoes which rubbed my right heel for most of the course, resulting in poor concentration and a disappointing run.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.



SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008

INT SOL 6 - Inshriach South





This was the penultimate Scottish Orienteering League race of 2008. I ran M50L which was 6.8k with 160m of climb and 20 controls. I wore my old shoes and my heel was fine, but like yesterday my concentration was poor and I made lots of small mistakes.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

Veterans Home International - Northern Ireland

The Veterans Home International includes representative teams from each of the four nations - Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland, and takes place every autumn.

It covers classes M/W35-M/W60 inclusive, with 2 runners representing each country in each class.

This years VHI took place in Northern Ireland (alongside the Northern Ireland Orienteering Championships), with the individual taking place on an open sand dune area on the north coast and the relays taking place in a wooded plantation just north of Belfast.



SATURDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2008

Veterans Home International Individual - Magilligan East

Magilligan is an area of open sand dunes to the west of Coleraine and is very complex in places. I had run there in the British Championships in 2002, so had a good idea what to expect.

This time I ran the M50 course which was 6.3k with 17 controls. I took 45:40 and finished second behind fellow Scot John Tullie. The Scottish team produced a number good results which gave them a narrow lead over the English after the first days competition.

Results.
Splits.

Map with course.



Map with my route.





SUNDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2008

Veterans Home International Relay - Woodburn Forest South

Woodburn Forest was runnable in places, but "bramble hell" in others!

I ran third (of four) legs and was sent out in the lead after solid performances by John Tullie and Ann Haley. My course was 4.6k course with 13 controls and despite losing a bit of time on a couple of legs whilst trying to avoid brambles, I handed over to Lorna Eades in the lead, a position she held.

English teams packed well to secure overall victory in the relays, but could not make up the points defecit from the individual race; which meant Scotland recorded victory over the two days.

Results.
RouteGadget.

Overall VHI results.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

INVOC SOL 5 - Anagach

Anagach, in Speyside, was the venue for the fifth (of seven) race of the Scottish Orienteering League series. As always, it was superb, offering technical orienteering through open, if sometimes heathery, pine forest.

I ran M50L which was 6.8k with 230m of climb and 19 controls.

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with course.



Map with my route.

BL Regional Event - Swindale N

Swindale is in the north eastern Lake District, is an easy drive down the motorway and offers excellent orienteering on open fell. The weather was dry, which given how wet it's been in Scotland this summer, was an added bonus!

I ran M50L which was 7.3k with 230m of climb and 15 controls.

Results.
Splits.

Map with course.



Map with my route.