Southdowns Orienteers Forums

Broadstone Warren Regional (Sun 30 Nov ‘08)

2008-12-01T12:59:32Z

Nice course 2 Ed - well thought out and a good amount of variety. The terrain seemed to be generally quite runnable - not as slow as an early winter event might be in some areas. My only slight negative on the planning front might be the lack of any particularly long legs (I suppose that the strong path network would make route choice and execution too trivial once you get to a certain leg length).
I was a bit frightened by the climb stated on the final details for the courses, but in the end it didn’t feel like I was orienteering to the top of everest!

Unfortunately, I picked up a minor running injury (calf strain) a few days before the event, so I couldn’t put as much physical effort into the course as it really was asking for to be competitive. The navigational problem solving, however, was very satisfying and lots of (my) mistakes were made. You did have to think and concentrate quite hard - just how it should be for a regional event!

The organisational side of things seemed pretty good too. A well equipped assembly area (including the Ultrasport “O” equipment shop and a hot food trailer), with all the important stuff in close proximity. Bridgets efforts on this front produced a nice set-up.

The weather could’ve been a bit kinder and possibly resulted in a dip in entry-on-the-day participants. Broadstone and, in particular, Ashdown Forest can be spectacularly attractive on a bright sunny winters day, but that’s out of the control of anyone involved with the organisation of an orienteering event!

Many thanks for the event: Ed Cox (Planner), Bridget Hooper (Organiser), Mike Elliot (Controller) in particular, but also all those other who contributed to an enjoyable days orienteering.

Peter

Southdowner

2008-11-25T11:01:07Z

The latest issue of Southdowner is out, and will be available for collection at the Broadstone Warren Regional event.
Please collect your copy to reduce the bill for postage.
P.S. it looks great.

Rewell Woods

2008-11-16T13:44:07Z

This is just a message to say thanks to the chap that lent me a compass after mine was discovered pointing every which way but North at the start! It would have been a tough day without it.

I left it on your car, I hope you found it. Thanks again. Sorry that I can’t remember your name!

Ian

Venice

2008-11-18T20:17:41Z

Good result for Ruth Rhodes in her first visit to this unique event, 9th place, in the top half of the field.

Didn’t see any other Southdowners there. Best British results were Mary Williams, ESOC, 1st in W55 and Martin Ward, SYO, 2nd in M40. Results.

This post is really just an excuse for a caption competition for this picture…

South East Veterans’ Ladies’ Champion

2008-11-18T08:30:27Z

Many congratulations to Chris Jepson for winning the SE Ladies’ Vererans’ title at White Downs, near Dorking on Sunday. This was Chris’s second success in this event having first won it exactly 10 years ago. Well done!

British Schools

2008-11-17T15:27:10Z

Congratulations to all the SO juniors competing at the British Schools championships yesterday at Hawley and Hornley.

Boys Yr11 Jonathan Crickmore champion
Boys Yr8 Nick Jarvis silver medal
girls Yr13 Bryony Crickmore bronze medal

Lucy Thraves, Rachel Collins, Matthew Leitch, Edward Lines, all finished in the top 10 in their classes.

also competing were Alex Lines, Tom Jarvis, Euan and keiran Marsh

Grovelling apologies if I have missed someone!

Mince Pies Needed !

2008-11-16T17:47:28Z

As is traditional at the last SOG before Christmas, after the SOG at Monk’s Forest on 13th December, we will be having mince pies and mulled wine !

Would you be willing to make (or buy) 12 mince pies for this event? If so, please let me know, either by email ali at fourbyfour dot demon dot co dot uk or by message below or pm me.

Many thanks !
Ali

Ali Weller
SO Chairman

Bye!

2008-11-14T10:56:44Z

Hi all.

I have moved to Nottingham. Found a new job up here, and after the long walk all along Britain, well, it was time to work again.

I will not be able to run for SO so often as before, and I am going to miss that a lot. But, saying just that would be missing most of the picture:

I arrived to Horsham almost 5 years ago to work in a small pharmaceutical company- after a year working in Brewing Research International (no, we did not get any free beer) in Nutfield, near Redhill. Professionally, the experience was fantastic. Apart from that, I loved Horsham from the very beginning. It is obviously a very pretty town, with just the right atmosphere for my taste, and never too far from the fields and the public footpaths where to go for a run in company of foxes, rabbits and deers.

After a few months in Horsham I discovered Orienteering and found Southdowns. All those Saturday mornings were almost like the centre of the week for me, the moment where my mind would dwell, waiting always for the next weekend to check that, yes, you´ve been beaten by a 12 years old, again.

SO orienteering was a very important part of my life in a very happy time of it.

I remember my first race, Plumpton school. I won the orange. I was so excited! I also remember the second one, a green. 90 minutes to finish it. I learned one or two things in there. And still learning…

Train, bike, bus, bike; then lifts from Anna and Peter and the Bridge family (thank you very much for that!), then my “new” car…

I always ran giving 100%. Analyze the race, plot the results in Excel, Route Gadget…. Ran to win. Never did… well almost… and that was a big surprise! I still don`t know what happened there. Coming from mediocre to beating the unbeatable ones was most unexpected. I`ve been thinking about it… maybe a bit of luck with my first blue win, mentally lifted form there, then learning a few route choice basics… anyway, it happened and I am still enjoying it . And I can´t believe it yet!

On my way up here I´ve seen there are forests too, so I guess it will not be so difficult to find a place to continue running.

And that is all for now. It has been a real pleasure to meet you all and I hope everything goes ok.

Take care and see you soon.

Carlos

PS: Hi Neil, still available for interclub competitions. I promise to keep fit.

Quiz update!

2008-11-12T09:23:57Z

An update to the quiz details, which is to be held on the 13th December.

Hurst Scout Hut is on Brown Twins Road off the end of Trinity Road
Hurstpierpoint and it has a car park GridRef 165 285

The rest of the details remain as per the original information.

See you there.

Saunders entries are now open

2008-11-11T10:59:15Z

http://www.slmm.org.uk/index.htm

it’s in the Lakes as usual, and on the 4th and 5th of July: given all the fuss about the OMM this year (which was in the Lakes) then there may be a larger-than-usual rush to do the Saunders.
See you there - if you want to beat me, enter Harter.