Global Warming or is it just us?
Each Easter, Paul & I think long and hard about our plans. We never seem to get it right though!
This year I had a long weekend over Easter as it was so early. Easter Day should be on or after 21st March. That date is the Equinox, when we often have storms or, as in 2007, run out of water as the tidal range can be extreme. The JK was to be in SE England so we decided to drive down and compete over the weekend.
- 2007: Spain for rock climbing – or rather some running as it was wet & windy! Meanwhile, good weather back here!
- 2006: Go to the JK in Yorkshire – weather was OK, orienteering OK, but some of it a bit scrappy.
- 2005: Go to JK in Shropshire – have to drive half way across England to Day 1, cold and wet weather on the Sunday.
- 2004: go to Spanish Champs, inland from Alicante – snow! Good weather back here.
The format of the JK has changed over the years, but it has retained its reputation as an enjoyable event and a good introduction to the season. There is usually quite a large foreign entry. This year there was a Sprint race on Good Friday, two Individual days on the Saturday and Sunday with the Relay on the Monday. We decided not to enter the Sprint and to go to the training event instead to help us become used to the southern forests. Also, at that time, we were the only two EckO members heading for the JK so decided not staying for the relays (as 3 folk are required for the team).
Paul collected me from work on Thursday and we drove south that evening, spending the night at Oxford services. The Friday was bright & cold, but pleasant as we completed our journey.
The training area was at Hindleap Warren beside Forest Row. There were about 20 controls out and I planned a route around them. Paul decided to do the same loop and he executed it much better! I finished the ‘course’ in a real stomp! I had not been able to get into the map, made errors and the crowning bit was a small depression shown on the map at the foot of a 2 contour slope but on the ground it was at the top! A really good coffee shop was called for to restore my humour and fortunately we located one quickly.
It was then off to the Event Centre – an army cadet training camp. The campervan area was a long distance through the camp and out the other side. Were we the ‘untouchables’? We had booked an evening meal and were well fed. The Strains joined us, Sheila fresh from her success with winning W60 at the Sprint event. The organisers had set up an Internet café (bring your laptop, broadband connection provided) but had a few problems so Paul went along to help sort it out. Good move as it was warm in that room! Well, warm enough not to shiver but not warm enough to take off my beanie and Paramo jacket.
Saturday morning was cold. We had to be up at 6.30am as the event was over an hours drive away. We drove part of the way then had breakfast when the van was warm. Finding the event was the hardest bit of the day. The programme mentioned a road between two places, but I misread the map as to where one of the places was so we had a bit of a drive around. Once in the car park field, we got changed for running, put layers on top and braved the gale force winds and hail showers. It was a kilometre walk to the Assembly area so we took the beach tent to store the kit in while running. The walk to the starts was another 2.8km for Paul. The courses were great, lots of navigating and quite tricky areas. The forest was fast with very little undergrowth or brashings on the forest floor. There were some open areas and these were very exposed to the strong wind and hail. Both of us had reasonable runs and we topped the day off with a repeat visit to the coffee shop after having a ‘Wilf’s’ lunch at the event.
Saturday night’s entertainment was the British Orienteering AGM which did throw up a couple of controversial things. We spent the rest of the evening in the bar with Andy Dale who had travelled down by train. Forecast was even colder for that night and again we did not need the torch to find our way back to the van.
Frost on the inside of the windscreen on Sunday morning told us that it was even colder than the previous day. Again we drove a short distance to get the van a bit warmer and then had breakfast. This event was closer so we arrived in good time and were put at the front of a row in the car park field. Then the snow started – it was the real thing with large flakes, low visibility and really cold! There was no question – the O top went back into the box, the thermal came out as well as the Pertex jacket, Buff and thin gloves! I bought a new pair of O shoes so I could fit my dry socks inside them; it did work as I had warm feet during the competition.
The orienteering was OK, not quite as enjoyable as the Saturday, but the real killer was the run-in. Actually that is a total misnomer; it was 200m uphill and there was nothing gentle about the hill. All this into the teeth of the snow-storm.
It was great to have the van to change in. Once Paul arrived back we decided that as it was so early we would treat ourselves to Sunday lunch. Good plan, but we couldn’t execute it, we got stuck in the mud. Five people pushing had no effect. Paul went to see the parking marshalls and the ‘tow truck driver’ had gone for lunch. So, queue for a burger and get the stove out in the van to make coffee. Just about to light the stove and a Range Rover drew up, backed towards us and attached a tow line! Brilliant . . . until he too got bogged! We had to be towed a circuitous route out of the car park but did eventually reach hard standing. The reward – another visit to the coffee shop. We definitely helped the local economy!
It was then back to the Army Camp and lovely warm shower before attending a SportIdent clinic. One of the developers was over from Germany and Paul had been invited to this so I tagged along as well. I was prepared to sit quietly at the back but there was no need for that and it was not above my head. And we were given an SI9 series card for it! My safety string is already on mine. I now have a choice of two ‘superfast’ cards to use, but not every unit will read this SI9 card. I can use it at EckO events as we have the new units (except for download).
We left the Army Camp about 7.30pm to head north, stopping for a meal before hitting the M25. The roads were really quiet, very few trucks. We spent the night near Sedburgh, quite a lot of snow on the ground there. The journey was completed on Monday afternoon after a stop in Glasgow so Paul could buy his latest toy (another computer!).
The orienteering was good quality; we met many folks and had a sociable time BUT it was SO COLD!
However, I have discovered why we seem to have such a miserable time at Easter. The weather forecasters have carried out some tests and there is a greater statistical probability of having snow at Easter than there is of having snow at Christmas! So there, it is not just us and it probably isn’t global warming!
Results:
- Andy Dale: M40: Sprint Open – 9th (out of 145); Saturday & Sunday – 9th (out of 57)
- Paul Frost: M50: Saturday & Sunday – 98th (out of 130)
- Lynne Walker: W55: Saturday & Sunday – 11th (out of 47)
