Planner & Organisers Report

This was the first time that I had planned an event of any kind, but I was confident of a positive result as I had been provided with a master map of the area from an event organised some years ago by Dave ????  My own surveying revealed that several of the points on the original map were not there or had transformed into some other feature, so to a large extent I had to devise alternative routes.  I had envisaged two courses, but it was suggested to me (thank you Jon) that I could have three by simply adding the controls of the other two courses together.  Indeed this seemed to be effective on the day with many choosing to run the longer option. 
I soon found the difficulties in mapping a point from the ground onto a blank map.  Taking two compass bearings and plotting their intersection isn't easy on site in the wind with the sun setting, on your bike.  Recording the angles to plot accurately at home seemed far too sensible to even envisage at the time.  There was one control which refused even to allow me to plot its position.  Every time I returned to it to check the bearing I seemed to miss it!  As it was, on the day there was some dispute over the position of a couple of controls.  Have people not heard of continental drift?
I would like to thank Hallie for his advice, maps, and time before the event and mulled wine after.

Marcus Misson

Controllers Report

This was the first time that I had controlled an event of any kind, but I was confident my job would be easy due to the willingness of WAOC members to volunteer readily, tolerate good humourly and, afterwards tease gently. In this I was not far wrong.  Indeed, I was not too sure what a controller had to do as the planner and organiser seemed to take it all upon their shoulders.
I put the controls out in the morning and was a little concerned that one or two may have been topographically inaccurate, but as a firm believer in the merits of running around in ever increasing circles as the ultimate method of control location I considered now would be as good an occasion as any to convince others of the strength of its case.
I was most impressed with the turnout, no doubt the cold snap which froze a good deal of the muddier, wetter areas also convinced some of you to get out of bed early. I would like to think that some of you now respect the area a little better - one runner returned early requesting that he could have another start time as he did not take his compass along initially. His request was granted and I think he had a good run in the end. Bear in mind Portholme is (probably) the largest meadow of its kind in England and features do have a habit of disappearing. In fact there was discussion after the event regarding mapping it properly and using it as a step counting / compass bearing navigation training area.
Finally, all of you beware of a senior member of the club, who although accompanied by a member of her family at the start, was noted running in a totally different direction (one might even say to another control!) to the younger member of her brood.  You have been warned. 

Marcus Misson

Pos.  Name               Club      Class      Time
----  ------------------ --------- ------     -----
 1    A. Fox             WAOC      W(u10)     66:47
 2    M. Atherton        IND       ?          69:05 missing 4,5,14

Pos.  Name               Club      Class      Time
----  ------------------ --------- ------     -----
 1    Jamie Taylor       WAOC      M12        42:34
 2    S. Dudley          WCH       W+21       45:55
 3    Graham Louth       WAOC      M35        47:50
 4    Edward Louth       WAOC      M12        48:50
 5    John Wickersham    WAOC      M55        67:18
 6    John Beadle        WAOC      M50        48.53 missing 3,6

Pos.  Name               Club      Class      Time
----  ------------------ --------- ------     -----
 1    Adrian Taylor      WAOC      M45        34:20
 2    Rolf Crook         WAOC      M21        36:52
 3    Tony Bishop        WAOC      M55        44:39
 4    Lindsey Freeman    WAOC      W45        48:55
 5    Hally Hardie       WAOC      M60        57:15
 6    M. Collins         WAOC      M35        59:25
 7    S. Lang            IND       M21        60:42
 8    P. Aliker          WAOC      M50        68:02
 9    U+R Oxburgh        WAOC      W100/2     72:50
10    Mike Bickle        WAOC      M50        75:00