MOTTISTONE REPORT 15^th MAY 2005

Despite initial weather forecasts of a wet day we were blessed with warm sunshine, though this was not enough to overcome the West Wight factor and Walk the Wight which kept the turnout below 50. As I anticipated a lower turnout I decided to opt for a score course instead of Orange, Light Green and Green which would mean less work for me and avoid the situation where you would have a few competitors spread over many courses. It also gives opportunity to those of you who usually enter the easier courses to tackle more challenging control sites while gauging your performance against the more experienced and fitter competitors. I placed many controls on contour features such as re-entrants & spurs as the open areas of Mottistone Common show these up and with the exception of the very complex (some would say to complex) Headon Warren, these are sadly lacking in most Island Forests. The Yellow might have been slightly tougher than usual though all the controls were on or very near paths/fences. However on No. 3 maybe I should have included on the description that the depression was on a tumuli. Still there were no retirements. Lastly I hope nobody minded the run to the start triangle & the finish being off the map but it did mean I could control everything form the car park and avoid taking all the start/finish equipment up the hill. Thanks to my wife Sharon for helping with the start/finish, my dad Brian and niece Melanie for planning the string & Special White.

Trevor Ould - Planner

The day started with an alarm call at 5.30am, this was the signal to get moving to Mottistone NT Car Park. With a hasty drive through to Calbourne & up to Mottistone Down &along Strawberry Lane sharing the road with young rabbits darting here and there, and also admiring the wonderful views in this vicinity. Unlocking the gates at 710am I proceeded to unload the car and prepare the varioubits and pieces for the courses. At this time I was joined by Sharon and Trevor. While Trevor went off to prepare the Yellow & Score courses, Sharon and I set off with a reel of string, control markers & punches for the String and White courses. Everything was going fine for 1/2K the string was flowing swiftly from the reel then it suddenly stopped. We patiently tried to free the string but after half an hour things were getting to panic stage. With time running out a joint decision was made to cut small lengths of string off the reel to mark the course. With a spare ball of orange string the mission was complete. Trevor and Sharon hastily set up the start/finish just in time to see the first competitors arriving. I was designated to go to the start triangle for the Yellow & Score competitors to ensure they were in the right area to start, and an excuse to chat to WightO members.

The first competitors through were the Brighstone Scouts made up of 3 teams pf four lads and lasses each. I can speak for the String and White courses that everybody enjoyed themselves running between the bluebells on delightful paths and the finding of the control at the pond by a thicket. But not so good to the first controls all being up hill. The reduced numbers were due to the Walk the Wight event, but they did make a nice sight trailing across Westover Down in procession and being blessed with a beautiful sunny day made it all worthwhile.

Brain Ould - Plannerπs Father !