Lynne's Summer Blog 06, part 1
I have been meaning to write something for the EckO web site for some time, but have been too busy orienteering! That’s what it felt like for a while, but I have now just had a month with no orienteering – just some lovely sea kayaking in the Outer Hebrides (windy at times, great tides and scenery!), a week in west Pembrokeshire (never been to that part of Wales, enjoyed some sea kayaking along the coast and a jet boat trip to see the tides we were too scared to paddle – it was spring tides after all!). Needless to say, my research for the perfect coffee shop was developed further! On Saturday 5th August, Paul & I will be in the Lakes and working out what to do so that we successfully complete our orienteering courses for the week of the Lakes 5.
March to June 2006 was a fairly intensive orienteering time. We went to many competitions – more details later – helped to organise events, prepared for the 11 person relay, had an EckO AGM and Committee Meeting, begun liaison with the Forestry Commission about a permanent course and Paul did a lot on the web site, including getting the Route Gadget working.
Orienteering events have taken me to many different places over the last 6 months. I have visited parts of the country I would not have been to otherwise; I have helped the local economy in nearly all parts, and yes, you can now get a decent cup of coffee nearly everywhere!
Some events have been large. At the start of April, we went to the British Champs in west Sussex. Mud marked this event out from the others. The day was dry but the Assembly field was ankle deep in mud. The tracks and rides in the forest were calf deep in mud. The courses were good and the changes in direction kept you thinking hard.
Over Easter weekend, we went to the JK, which was held in Yorkshire. Luxury accommodation this time, a Travel Lodge for two nights, and only one night in the ‘tin tent’. Day 1 was on Ilkley Moor; careful navigation paid off. Apart from the first control, I was happy with my run and I really enjoyed all contours! On Day 2, my course was short enough to fit into the more interesting part of the area; a reasonable run this time. Paul had some very green, rather boring bits before he was allowed into the better parts.
The Scottish Champs were at the end of May at Glen Dye on Deeside. As I had planned there for the 6 Day event in 2005, I was keen to compete. It was a lovely course, lots of changes of direction but I did find it physical – lifting your legs constantly over the brashings and undergrowth.
These large events have an atmosphere about them. There are lots of club tents around the Assembly areas; you meet many folk you know and don’t see all that much of; the equipment shops mean that you browse around and there is usually Wilf’s to supply your food requirements. There is an air of anticipation and excitement as the results are displayed. In the forest, you have to concentrate on your business as there are people heading in all sorts of directions and the control you can see could easily not be the one you want. This emphasizes the need to go as fast as possible, but have a navigationally sound run.
Contrasting with the large events have been the small club events, graded C4 and C5. These are usually colour-coded and have a more informal air about them. In April, between the British and the JK, we went to Dorset for a week. Well, after consulting the Fixture List, it is only a little further along to go into Devon and attend one of their events. This took place on a hill just outside Sidmouth. Local knowledge would have helped, as the undergrowth was horrible in places! Views were good though and we found a good coffee shop!
EckO put on their Spring Series in April and May. There was a huge variety of areas – and weather! Glenbranter stands out for the deluge during the event. Was this the one the kids enjoyed most, as they made their way through the mud along the taped route? Dunstaffnage stands out for me; a long drive from work and a dark grey very threatening sky over the Firth of Lorne. Quite a few local people came along and enjoyed the courses and how we escaped the rain I do not know! These events are very satisfying to put on as we are providing a variety of people with the chance to sample a very enjoyable sport and their enthusiasm is great to see.
There have also been the SOL Regional events in Scotland. This year, they have been quite geographically spread from Dalbeattie in the SW to Hawick (Teviothead) in the SE, Comrie (Mill of Fortune) in Perthshire, Greenock (Dunrod Hill) (yes, a local one!) and our very own SOL 4 (Creag Mhic) near Taynuilt. The terrain has been varied from open hillside (Teviothead and Dunrod Hill) to forestry plantation (Dalbeattie) to mainly broadleaf wood (Mill of Fortune). I don’t feel as if I have been orienteering well at these events, it just has not been flowing well and my fitness has been shocking! However, as the events are a series, it is always interesting to look at the results and see who else had had a ‘senior moment’ that day!
As well as attending the SOL events, we have usually taken the opportunity to have a weekend away. This has meant that we have now cycled at all of the 7 Stanes areas (tying up Ae with Dalbeattie, and Newcastleton with Teviothead). Before the event at Mill of Fortune, there was a Veteran’s training day at Kinnoull Hill near Perth. The event at Teviothead also had the Harvester Relay twinned with it; this is a relay that starts at the darkening and continues through the night with the last legs being run in daylight (of the next day). Paul volunteered to help with the computing side (as he is not keen to test his eyesight at night) and I got run with a Clyde team. It was great – quite a change to do a night event in June rather than the depths of winter! Going out again in daylight for the SOL the next day was easier but the legs were complaining!
It feels as if EckO is coming of age this year with all the activity we are putting on. SOL 4 was a large event and quite a ‘baptism of fire’ for Niall and Ross. They coped admirably, especially with the car parking problems from the heavy rain. We had a lovely day out on the area in January helping Ross tape sites – the views out to the west were amazing. I collected controls from an area I had never been in and enjoyed that, even although we had had a very long day. It was good to hear all the positive comments the competitors had about the event and a little bit of mud hardly seemed to register with them!
EckO are also hosting the 11 person relay. We took the decision to hold it on the same weekend as a SOL, so that people could make a weekend of it. This means that we are using an area a long way from home – Achlean, on the west side of Glen Feshie. I went over to the area after the Scottish champs and had an enjoyable day taping the sites for Paul. It was so much less physical than Glen Dye had been the previous day! Again, club members will be approached to help out on the day; hopefully anyone who wants it will get a run.
So, the last 6 months have been busy. This unique sport has taken me to many parts of the country, I have met up with many friends, the health of the nation’s coffee shops is being monitored and I have acquired a few more computer skills! How lucky can you be!
There is a lot more to look forward to over the rest of the year as well.
Thanks for reading these ramblings!
Lynne Walker (and Paul Frost)
