AUTUMN TRAIL CHALLENGE RACES
3rd October 2004 from the Hawker Centre.
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 Surrey, which will be part of the Orienteering World Cup Races taking place that week.
Andy Robinson