Sunday 6th September
2009
Planning and setting courses for an orienteering event in an
Isle of Wight woodland is a rewarding experience, especially working alongside
such a reliable controller.
Steve checked all the mapped features that had potential for
control points in the northern half of the wood, while I carried out a similar
exercise in the southern half. During this initial visit to Combley Great Wood
two Golden-ringed dragonflies, with their stunning black and golden markings,
patrolled the ditches and Œindistinct marsh¹ just along the forest track, south
of the small public car park. The hazels fringing the track were laden with
unripe nuts and attracted down two red squirrels, feeding just above head
height.
Each of the knolls on the orienteering map of the wood
turned out to be an active badger sett, the surrounding Œbroken ground¹ created
by the foraging of the animals around the tunnel entrances. The small path that
users of the wood had created since the map had been last surveyed in 2001
passed an unmarked badger sett on the eastern edge of the wood and a number of
maturing holly trees that will need to feature on the next update. However,
this small path following the eastern boundary fence was added to the map by
Pete¹s impressive mapping programme in time for the event, and gave an
alternative route choice to those on the Green course and a 700m uninterrupted
run between controls. Tony Howsam full took advantage of this and completed the
Green course in a winning time of 49 minutes.
A little early in the season for the great diversity of
fungi that appears in this semi-natural ancient woodland, but alongside one of
the two wrecked cars used as control points, three impressive clumps of bracket
fungus towered up out of a decaying log.
Placing controls the day before an event is always a risky
business but we carefully chose the positions set back from any paths and on
the day all controls remained in place.
Despite heavy rain during the week the ground did not turn
into the sticky morass that we feared and on the day conditions were near
perfect, and the courses seem to have been enjoyed by all. Following an early
warm up putting out the String course Vanessa Allen led the field on the Orange
course taking just 36 minutes to get round. Pressure to get to another
engagement concentrated Ian Ralph¹s mind as he powered round the Light Green
course with a winning time of 47 minutes. Well done to Beth Elliot who achieved
the fastest time on the Yellow course with 23 minutes. Young Patrick Douglas (aged 5) may consider
progressing to the Yellow course with his remarkable time of 11 minutes on the
String course!
Thanks to all who assisted, including Christine & Chris
at registration, Kevin and Vanessa for putting out the String, Pete and his
helpers for winding it in, Ian, Anne and Sam for setting up the start, and Anne
and Carol for helping with the signage. Lastly, thanks to Steve for manning the
start and for all the help putting out and collecting in the kites.
Keith Marston - Planner Steve
Taverner - Controller