SWOC Veteran Home International Relays - Mynydd Llangatwg

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2006



Mynydd Llangatwg was open hillside, with tussocky grass and lots of depressions. I ran the second leg (of 4) for Scotland 3, which was the long course - 6.0k with 140m of climb and 16 controls. I set off in 18th place, just in front of Clive Hallett of England and Richard Barrett of Wales. The lead changed several times, but I opened up a small gap at 11 which I missed, but less badly than the others! Clive caught and passed me again going into 15, but I managed to get back past him on the climb to the last control and then hold on until the finish. I took 34 minutes and brought my team up to 10th place. Overall, Scotland were runners up to England in the relays, with Scotland 3 finishing in 6th place.

Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.


Map with my route.

TINTO Twin Day Event - Firpark

I last ran at Firpark in 1995 when I ran M21 and nearly managed 5 minute k's. Today, I ran M45L which was 7.5k with 75m of climb and 24 controls. I took 44 minutes (6 minute k's!) and finished third, just behind John Tullie and Blair Young, and not much in front of Donald Petrie and Evgueni Chepelin - close competition! I ran well, only losing time at 10 - which seemed to be nearer the wall (to the north west) than I thought it would be. Otherwise, really enjoyed the area, especially the last part of the course which had lots of controls and changes of direction, in really nice pine forest.

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.


Map with my route.

TINTO Twin Night Event - Stone Hill

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2006




Stone Hill is mostly dense plantation with lots of brashings. I ran M45L which was 4.7k with 80m of climb and 11 controls. I took 46 minutes which I was reasonably happy with. Lost a bit of time at 4 by not being able to pick up the vegetation change (semi open to fight) which was to be my route to the control. At 8, I (like everybody else!) found the ride stopped, so groped through the fight, got poked in the eye and eventually relocated on the garden fence. Dave Robertson did the sensible thing and turned round and went via the finish!

Results.
WinSplits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.


Map with my route.

MAROC SOL 7 - Cambus O'May

I ran M45L which was 5.6k with 220m of climb and 19 controls. I took 52 minutes which I was reasonably happy with - could have been a few minutes quicker if I'd got 8 and 15 cleanly!

Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.


Map with my route.

MAROC Scottish Night Championships - Potarch

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2006



Potarch by day.


I ran the M45L course which was 4.7k with 105m of climb and 14 controls. I took 53 minutes and finished a disappointing 5th. I made the mistake of thinking that I would have to run very fast to do well on such a short course. I forgot to remember that it's more important to run in the right direction and lost significant time at 6, 7 and 13!

A performance I'd rather forget!

Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.


Map with my route.

RR East of Scotland Orienteering Championships - Fauldshope and Bowhill

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2006



Bowhill House near Selkirk.


Bowhill was at its autumnal best - dry, sunny and leaves of every colour! I ran the brown course which was 7.7k with 320m of climb and 18 controls. I took 63minutes which gave me second place to Ben Hartman of INT. I lost a bit of time at number 1 by having to go around some slow run which proved to be impenetrable. Also lost 2 minutes to Ben on the third leg, despite taking similar routes - only difference was Ben was running faster than me and followed the small path in the open!

Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.


Map with my route.

BAOC Compass Sport Trophy Final - Greenham and Crookham Common

Greenham Common as seen on Google Earth.



Greenham Common is well know for cruise missiles and peace camps. It was the venue of this years Compass Sport Final - the "cup" for big clubs and "trophy" for small clubs. FVO were in the trophy competition with CLARO, ERYRI, GO, SARUM, SOS, SBOC and TAY; and narrowly lost out to SARUM.

I ran the blue (trophy) course which was 8.2k, with 75m of climb and 16 controls. I took 43 minutes and was reasonably happy with my run, save for being hesitant into number 1 and having to deviate around a flooded marsh between 7 and 8.

Approaching the finish.



Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.

BASOC Colour Coded Event - Deishar

I ran the brown course which was 8.1k, with 230m of climb and 22 controls. Deishar is a fantastic area (one of the best in Britain!), is really well mapped and was very well planned; ingredients which, together with good weather, made for an excellent day!

I had a clean run and took 65 minutes, some 10 minutes slower than Mark Nixon of EUOC, who continues to show tremendous form.

Video of event on You Tube.

Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.



SATURDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2006
GRAMP Training - Loch Vaa



I was one of a number of Scottish Veterans who joined Grampian Orienteers training at Loch Vaa in Speyside.

Morning training:
- Window course - 2.9k with 5 controls
- Contour only course - 1.3k with 5 controls
- Line event - 1.5k

Afternoon training:
- Control picking - 1.7k with 7 controls
- Contour only course - 1.4k with 4 controls

Map with window course.



Map of contour only course (morning).



Map of contour only course (afternoon).

MAROC Colour Coded Event - Pannanich

Pannanich as seen on Google Earth.


Deeside was very wet making Pannanich even tougher going than usual! I ran the brown (longest) course which was 7.0k with 220m of climb and 14 controls, and which took me 72 minutes - a time I was reasonably happy with, especially given recent illness! I lost a bit of time through hesitancies in some places (mostly from misinterpreting black features which had been printed so that they looked more significant than they really were) and from small misses near controls 7, 8 and 12 - all towards the end of the course when I was tired!

Results.
Splits.

Map with my course.


Map with my route.

MOR Colour Coded Event - Achlean

It was good to return to Achlean - even though it was only a week since last running there! I ran the brown (longest) course which was 8.6k with 21 controls. I had a clean run and took 67 minutes, finishing third. Ben Hartman took 65 minutes and Mark Nixon took an incredible 53 minutes!

Results.
Splits.
RouteGadget.

Map with my course.



Map with my route.