Official’s comments
Organiser – Paul Wallace-Stock (SN)
Phew, what a day. Entries through the roof, M3 closed but glorious sunshine and the evident enjoyment of those who took part made it all worthwhile.
One thing to come out of the increased use of online entries is that individuals need to take care when entering, There were a number of occasions when the class, SI number, course had to be changed as a result of incorrect entry. We will all need to be more careful when entering.
I hope that everyone had an enjoyable run in an area, which I believe is one of the most interesting and enjoyable orienteering areas in the South of England despite the determined efforts of English Nature to destroy it! My thanks to the Members of SN for their unstinting support.
Finally I would like to thank the Gentleman, for that is what he was, who disrupted his run to help a lady who had been bitten by a dog, she was very grateful for your concern and hope that your break in concentration did not cause too many problems.
One obviously very loved beanie Badger looking to return home.
One left glove searching for a missing right glove, hoping for a lasting relationship.
Please contact the Organiser for return.
Planner – Steve Keyes (SN)
The
courses were short, parts changed colour due to the forestry clearing work, and
a few circles would have benefited from
cut-outs. My apologies, I hope these didn’t distract from the enjoyment
factor too much.
Thank
you to Paul & Allan for the excellent organising and controlling. On the
day the sun sure did shine...Hope you enjoyed it.
Controller – Alan Farrington (BAOC)
It seems
my lot never to get to run competitively on Ash as the
last 3 events I have attended here have all been as controller.
This is a
pity as it is a great area to run on, that said I enjoyed the chance to wander
the area and delve into some of the more obscure parts. I remember Ash of old, my first time was the Harvester
Relays way back when, where Hugh Drummond planned some stunning courses, I well
remember standing on top of the ridge watching lights go in all directions from
the mass start. Then there was that
memorable event in the snow when it was about the only sporting event to happen
and where I spent 4 hours parking cars in Keogh barracks and then spent hours
on the M21L, punching the penultimate control as the planner brought it back
in.
Fortunately
this event was the complete opposite, superb weather for December and Steve had
planned courses where I did not need to make any control changes. It is unfortunate that EN are turning so much
of Ash back to pure heathland as that means removing
trees which makes navigation and running far easier and combined with the new
fences it makes relocation simpler. It does though offer more of a challenge to
the planner and I think Steve did well to put in lots of variety to keep you on
your toes.
It was
also disturbing to find the foresters still cutting trees at 0945hrs with their
huge bonfire smoking away; fortunately they agreed to stop at 1000hrs.
Allan
Farrington