The last couple of weeks have seen me busily preparing for the National League Trailquest I organised this weekend. The specialist 1:30 thousand map of the Chase, originally developed by Peel Land Surveys needed extending into some new areas and lots of updating as the foresters have been busy doing what they do best: making lots of mess!
We had a major setback with our club laser printer on Friday whilst printing maps. A huge yellow 
stripe appeared on everything, so we made a decision to dive up to Altrincham to pick up the new laser we are purchasing off my employer. Unfortunately, this put me really behind with my control putting out. Holly and Cath kindly put out a few controls for me (Holly on her new Isla Bike, telling me the next day she pulled her first air on a rooty section), as did Neil (putting out controls, not pulling air), but this help still left me with 21 to put out. I ended up buying a weedy torch from a garage and took till 10pm to get them all into the forest.
Maps printed, everything in the car & it was a late night. Next morning I was at the Pine Cafe bright and early, the photographer was sorted, and competitors rolled up and started at minute intervals on their 3 or 2 hour challenge. I knew that we had 3 or 4 uber-fit individuals riding so designed the course as perhaps just clearable in good weather for the very best of them, however when the Whyte works rider Steve Heading turned up on a bike having ridden from home I realised it was unlikely he would do it. Steve is not really local, he lives in Matlock, and he rode home afterwards on a fully suspended knobbly tyred mountain bike: at least 45 miles each way plus the event – huge respect due!
The day was spoilt somewhat by one of the controls being vandalised and a couple of the older sportident boxes (used in case they went walkies) failing to register, but everyone seemed happy and I had some kind comments about the planning. Controls in (thanks to those who helped), Cath had to put up with me & Jimmy Taylor (Whyte rider) talking bikes and geeky tech toys whilst we ate our well deserved curry before loading up the car ready to run the timing at Sundays foot orienteering event.
I managed to get a brown course run on Sunday (see event report) after setting up download, though returned to find I had forgotten to plug in the power for the server laptop, which had caused a few issues – whoops – but sorting it out got me so cold I had to sit shivering in Cath’s car for 30 mins until I warmed up enough to be a useful help again.
So overall a great weekend, and very rewarding to see people enjooying the fruits of the past few weeks work, but now I’m a little tired – early night tonight!