Sunday 12th September 2010
If it's Combley it must be
September. Mr and Mrs Brown kindly allow us to use their field in between the
summer break and their October lambing season and before the field gets too
boggy.
Combley is still quite wooded in September, providing a challenge for both the planner and competitors. Experienced orienteers can usually find their way through the thicker areas of the forest, but it is expected that some competitors will struggle. The planner needs to attempt to get people away from the paths but still give an opportunity to complete the course without serious difficulty.
Combley
was quiet during the planning visits , with just the mewing call of the
buzzards to disturb the peace. However on Saturday evening everything changed
as the nearby Bestival burst into life and the woods echoed to a mix of modern and 60's golden oldies!
Saturday's
rain turned into a pleasant Sunday and a reasonable number of people turned up
for the event. The planner had set a handicap course of 4.4k but it was
disappointing that only five competitors tried this. Many of the elite runners
( and Dan Williams!) were unable to attend, which meant that the handicap event
didn't give the range of results that was hoped for. Congratulations to the
early starting Andrew Barrington-White who came first off a handicap of ten
minutes, closely followed by Martin Boyce.
As
there was no light green course the orange was very popular, and it has to be
said, more like a light green course in difficulty. The Bishops made light work
of it in a good time, but many competitors struggled. Most did finis, but times
approaching and in excess of two hours were not uncommon.
Emma
Curran (W12) won the Yellow course and Harry Elliott finished ahead of his
sister Sophia on the String.
Many
thanks to Nikky and the boys who wound up and collected in the string course,
Anne for helping at the start and the two Chris's at Registration