Scottish Championships 2011

Here are some photos and a report from Susannah & Gordon MacMillan.
More photos from Ross here and Alan here

First of all,

Susannah

tells of her experiences at the Scottish Champs 2011
Day one, the individual:
After decorating the EckO tent with balloons to celebrate Julie and Iris’s joint Birthday – it was 50 combined!
And getting large cake and candle and matches in place, seeing off Jura, Louis and Gordon on their courses, cajole Iris to the finish, seeing them all safely in I, rather late in the day set off to do my course. Sixth sense told me to say to Gordon not to wait for me for the cake!.
A wise move as it turned out- would they have waited?
I panicked at the start and instead of reading the map, decided it was far too difficult to do that and had a horrible time relocating no less than 6 times.The most disconcerting feeling was half way round being able to hear my family at the finish cheering everyone in. When I did finally appear on the run in I was greeted by so many cheers and a hugh flotilla of EckO children to guide me to the finish. Yes, I really did feel like Ellen MacArthur arriving back from her circumnavigation of the globe.
It is I think, one of the best things about our club – the hugh cheering and support EckO folk give at the end of a run.
Day two, the relays:
We all loved joining in the relays and the fantastic setting at Drummond Castle. It was well organised to make it a very spectator friendly day. The mass starts were fun to see, especially the brake neck speed the juniors took off at!
I had a good run on my leg in the relay, not so much impenetrable forest with funny black lines which suited me. It was great to have a good run so soon after a bad one.
It was lovely to see so many EckO members do so well at the prize giving on Sunday. Once again enthusiasm was abound. We may still be a small club but we are definitely the loudest!

Gordon

now puts his slant on the Scottish Champs 2011
Orienteering – well it’s all a question of experience and confidence – ain’t it? And, these two attributes are in short supply at this end. Let’s face it – the trophy cupboard is not overflowing. The only award so far is a solitary wooden compass.

This was certainly not the first time that I would be armed with a map and compass, dispatched into dense forests and featureless bogs and return hours later having failed to complete the course. At least I was prepared - I understood what the deal was; and I knew that I could take it.

Imagine my surprise when I ran swift as an arrow to the first control. Then, after a brief thrash through a swamp I hit the second – bang on the nose. The third was a doddle; following a fence-line. Then up a track through the woods to number four. And so it continued, through focussed attention, pacing, and persistence I gradually made my way around the course and reached the end having not missed a control or broken a foot. A personal best – chew on that Susannah!

To my amazement I discovered that I can orienteer. This wonderful realisation dawned upon me like a smoked sausage supper. And I returned from the Scottish Championships with a warm glow deep down in my soul. Having attained this milestone in my personal development my full attention is now devoted to pasting Gordon Shearer. The chancer thinks he’s Tom Cruise just because he’s had a couple of good runs.