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AUTUMN
TRAIL CHALLENGE RACES
After a
couple of years of staging summer evening 10km races, this was SLOW’s most ambitious event yet of this nature. The half
marathon distance and a Sunday morning with a clear gap in the orienteering
calendar was always going to get our biggest turnout
yet. So thank you all for coming and it was a bit of a shame the weather
forecast prevented numbers being even higher, as the promised driving rain did
not arrive until later in the day.
Our
marshals as ever did a fantastic job from getting you entered, setting out the
course, giving you drinks and guiding you on your way. I would also like to
thank Debbie and Michelle at the Hawker Centre for being so accommodating - I
trust you were able to repay them in kind at the bar after your run.
Now,
how come you lot let a super-vet win the big race? What’s wrong with you? Of
course Neville’s quite happy about it and we’re all pleased for him. Besides
being a very experienced orienteer, Neville has a considerable turn of speed; I
should know - I had to chase him on last leg of this year’s British Relays - I
never stood a chance. The sprint for 2nd place was the most
thrilling race of the day, with the only orienteer in the four man group, Darrell
High, showing the best finishing kick.
With
all the experienced female navigators opting for the 12km, the ladies prize was
looking wide open. So congratulations to Maria David who happily attributed her
success to following the right people - she has this race format well sussed.
The
12km soon became a head-to-head between two of the region’s best veteran orienteers, and it was again decided on the sprint with
Southdown’s Pete Chapman holding off Nick Green of the Moles. Having already
said that the best female navigators were in this race, it was something of an
upset to see it won by local runner Chris Glew (only
orienteering experience – some Trail Challenge races this summer) by a huge
five minutes from the race favourite, Alison High.
At
least the 6km race didn’t go to a veteran. Hawker Centre member Tim Pegler put a lifetime’s local knowledge to good use to get
a clear win. Knowing the gap in the fence from 2 to 3 gained at most 30
seconds, but that led to the key move shortly afterwards of avoiding turning
into the nursery, a fate that I gather befell quite a few of you on all
courses. Supervet Jenny Collyer
was first lady.
On the
junior orienteering courses there were a few star performances. Top award to
Ellis Farmery and Alastair McNab for running all 3 courses (after my own heart.. etc). Meanwhile Holly Clemens yet again won her course.
WHAT
NEXT? (you ask – said he hopefully)
Well
you can probably find all sorts of orienteering by surfing the web, but the
next Trail Challenge is on 3rd January (that’s a bank holiday
Monday) from the Windmill on Wimbledon Common. That’s the first of a series
leading up to a final on 7th May at Peaslake
in
