Long O 2007

Did somebody say tussocks?!

My initial reservations for holding the event the day after Devon's, thinking numbers would inevitably be down were unfounded and we actually had about 85 overall- some running both events as part of the 'Two Moors Challenge'

When I first looked to hold the event on this area (I have used it many times for KIMM training in the past mainly due to its footing!), I had intended using an enhanced OS map. Typically Bill dismissed this and said he would survey and produce a suitable O map, which he did single-handedly from scratch within about six months- some feat considering the remoteness of the area.

a veritable one man orienteering event, all from a man in his 70s

Given the limitations of time and budget, I think the results of his efforts were far more than I anticipated. In addition to producing the base map, he also did the course overlay work, printed the finished maps, ran the event software on the day and even found time to put out and check controls- a veritable one man orienteering event (all this from a man in his 70s!) On your behalf I thank him enormously.

Together with Bill, many other stalwarts of the club assisted either behind the scenes, or on the day itself: Lennox and Judy (oh! and Ted apparently) in the kitchen, Roger at the manned control, Sue at the start, Rosie, the controller, for practical advice when necessary and knowing when to back off also when required, and finally Mike for assisting with collecting controls. Again thanks to you all for giving up your day. Lastly my thanks to Alan Bailey of the Pinkery Centre for use of the facility. I'm sure you will agree it made a great event centre.

And so to the courses themselves: to say the area is entirely rough open is a bit of an understatement. It really was a lottery as to what you would find: you may have been battling through tussock grass up to you waist unknowing that there was an unseen perfectly useable track 10m to your side. That however was part of the fun of this event. The limitations imposed by the scale and basic nature of the map meant that only large features could be mapped and subsequently used as control sites. We made the courses slightly longer than normal to reflect the 'relative' flatness of the terrain.

Global warming assisted you greatly, the fine visibility making navigation simple- it was still amusing however seeing the crocodile of runners heading for the large memorial stone on the skyline near the manned control rather than reading their maps and going to the actual standing stone in question!

Congratulations to the overall winners of this and the two moors challenge events. I hope you all enjoyed your runs and look forward to seeing you again.

Andy Rimes