I really enjoyed mapping and planning. Thanks to Cathy Odell for drawing
the map. Sorry about the weather. The various blind alleys, fences, walls, and
lakes seemed to cause a few problems. Fast and furious park races really
emphasise the importance of planning ahead and looking closely at the map and
description. I enjoyed hearing your kind comments and tales of woe!
Steve
Whitehead.
Once again an "easy" event to control as Steve and Ann had everything
well in hand. A shame about the rain, but most people seemed to enjoy it. The
only hitch was a vandalized control on courses A & B, but it was repaired
so no one was affected.
Mike Ridealgh
Grateful thanks to York City Council and the Awards For All Lottery
Grant for Local Groups for all their help and support on Sunday May 26th, and
to the 25 control watchers who lurked inconspicuously in and around the City on
a very wet day. Especial mention to Cathy Nock who had one of her controls
vandalized, so she went to the market, bought some tape, and went and mended
it. Great stuff!
There were lots of other helpers who gave their time
willingly and generously to make it a good if somewhat damp experience for so
many. Thankyou. We'll do it again next year. Steve seems to have it partly
planned already, so save up your pennies for the parking meter and we look
forward to seeing you all again.
Ann Smith.
Jenny Whitehead (EBOR) took the women's title and Oli Johnson (Sheffield University) the men's in the York City Orienteering Trophy event. 'The courses were fantastic - it was real pressure orienteering with so many sneaky snickelway routes to watch out for round the city centre' remarked Johnson on finishing. The very first leg of the course caught him out slightly and he was down in 10th position at the first control, only taking the lead at number 15 (of 19). Whitehead meanwhile had an almost clean run until the very last control when she didn't notice that she had to run up a flight of steps to reach it.
Thanks to an 'Awards for All' lottery of almost £3,000 the event had a brand new map and used the new electronic punching system and was able to attract some of the top runners in the country.
On the Men's Open course, which had over 80 entries, Johnson won in 24.40 (for the 5.3km) just 23 seconds ahead of local star Matt Speake (British Junior Short Race Champion) who himself was only 7 seconds in front of 3rd placed Allan Bogle (Newcastle University). Meanwhile Whitehead won the Women's race, in 28.08 for 5.1km, by a clear margin of 5 minutes from EBOR's double British Junior Champion and Ireland international Aislinn Austin, with Becky Carlisle of Aire in 3rd.
EBOR's second York City Trophy was well attended despite yesterday's downpours. Orienteers travelled from afar with as many as 24 different clubs represented - from Interlopers and Forth Valley in Edinburgh to Thames Valley Orienteering Club.
The Men's veteran (over 50) class was won by Adrian Barnes of NATO (Newcastle) with Barrie Speake (Matt's dad) of EBOR in 2nd and Graham Todd, also EBOR, 3rd. The Women's veteran (over 50) class saw Frances Prendergast take 1st position less than a minute in front of Helen Gardner (both EBOR) with Glenys Ferguson of South Ribble in 3rd place.
Meanwhile, the Junior Classes saw yet more success for the local club with Laura Lancaster (EBOR) winning the Girls course in 22.38 for 3.5km and Neil Colbert (EBOR) 2nd in the Boys in 22.33. Ben Stevens of Aire won the Boys class in a fast time of 18.37 with younger brother George in 3rd place (32.40). Their sister Victoria took bronze in the Girls class with Rebecca Roberts of South Ribble just 24 seconds down on the leader in 2nd place. Highly promising junior Eborienteer Alice Leake, at five years younger than winner Laura Lancaster, finished in 4th position on the Girls course in a time of 28.48 - which would have been good enough to take 3rd place in the Boys!
The rain unfortunately seemed to put many local people off coming to try the sport although there were competitors from Fernville Running Club, Pocklington Running Club and the University of York Orienteering Club. We did gain a lot of interest from passers by and stunned shoppers in the centre of town. and it was nice to see the sunshine out for the prize giving! Planner Steve Whitehead is already thinking about next years race and hoping for better weather!!