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JK Orienteering Festival 25 years on!

Sprint Race

Today’s race at Bicton College, Devon was a sprint format. Lots of controls in a short distance, complex navigation requiring constant decision making and a winning time of approximately 20 minutes. Sprint racing is relatively new to orienteering, only appearing about 10 years ago, loved by younger generations but many older orienteers are put off by it’s name and

 not seeing it as value for money. I’m glad to say this attitude seems to be changing judging by the huge numbers running today.
With the event in Devon I was sort of on home turf as I grew up in Taunton and we are staying with my parents for the weekend. Mum dug out a big photo of me taken at the 1985 JK where I was 2nd on M13B, scary to think it was 25 years ago…..

With a late start, looking at the finish times posted when I walked to the start, I knew I was in with a chance and luckily the rain held off whilst I was out (although my map was like a dishcloth when I picked it up). I started well and nailed the first 5 controls not going too fast, but lost perhaps a few seconds on the slippery boardwalks on number 6 . The run back across the fields to number 8 was very muddy and I struggled in trainers, wishing I’d packed some dobb spikes. Then we were into the complex layout of the college, lots of small buildings, hedges, walls, little alleyways and fences. Great fun! I spiked every control except number 10 where I lost about 5 seconds going in via another control on a tree and number 12 where I perhaps lost another 10-15 seconds getting confused by the complex path junction. We then had a great control in a court yard down some steps before turning for home. Coming into the last control I was on my own. Chris Poole did a great bit of commentary over the tannoy, talking about my foot injury and subsequent return to form and MTBO. Punching the finish I was in the lead 1 minute and 35 seconds up, a big margin in sprint racing. I was very happy. Unfortunatley for me, fellow ex-South West Junior Squaddie Julian Simpson, then came in 18 seconds ahead pushing me to 2nd, but I was still chuffed though looking at splitsbrowser its the two mistakes that cost me the win as I was leading till that control.

I really enjoyed the complex navigation in the college, probably some of the best sprint racing I have done, its a shame about the rain because everything else about the event was first class.

Coach Ada was worried about me seizing up after a sprint running race, so I had to get 30 minutes on the bike on the way home. I’m not sure he will approve of the monstrous hill on the way back over to Exeter but the run down the other side was nice. Traffic was heavy though, with everyone leaving the event and I was forced to bunny hop a pot hole on the road bike whilst someone overtook a bit close !

I decided several months ago not to run M35 all weekend as it will take too much out of my legs and put me at risk of injury, with the Swedish training camp next weekend and only two weeks to the first MTBO selection race, so a day off for me tomorrow, before running M35 short on Sunday and the relay for Chasers on Monday.

Results available at http://www.siresults.co.uk/2010/JK/

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New Draft Map Standards for MTBO

At the European training camp next weekend many of the maps will use the new draft MTBO mapping standards due for approval in May 2010. Only a  few differences as you might expect but the inclusion of the extra rideability track symbol and the new out of bounds symbol seem a good step forward.The former “slow riding” symbol has been replaced by 2 types of dashed lines, one representing 50-75%, the other shorter symbol for 25-50% speeds.

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Lost without a phone

Mobileease - iphone repair service.Ive been feeling a little out of touch but possibly a little liberated this week. I dropped my iPhone on Friday and broke the LCD (not a happy bunny). This caused all sorts of hassle over the weekend trying to organise 2 events, answering a touch screen phone I couldn’t see.
Its back now, and I was so impressed by the company that did it, I thought I’d give them a plug….
My phone was sent off on Monday lunchtime and appeared back with a new screen on Wednesday morning for approx half the cost I found anywhere else.
‘Mobileease – iphone repair service’

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Event Report – Rugeley and Cannock Chase MBO Score

Round 2 of the British Mountain Bike Orienteering Score League came to Cannock Chase. Although I was organising, fellow Chaser Neil Lawford kindly planned the courses and updated the map allowing me to compete locally for the first time in years.
With the clocks changing, a houseful of friends on Saturday night for my birthday and feeling generally tired after organising and planning the middle race the day before, I stood in ZipVits car park feeling decidedly ropey but I soon felt better after a quick warm up.
There was, again, lots of interest in my Corratec Bow, many taking in the fine curves of it’s frame and having a quick squirt round the car park.

After helping Neil set up it was time for me to get going. I decided I would hits the lane network north of Rugeley first with fresh legs and really get them spinning. I pumped up the tyres really hard, knowing I could handle anything on the chase like this and as I zoomed through Armitage and in to the lanes, the Pythons were howling on the smooth tarmac. It felt great. Although I tend to ride the road bike on some of the lanes, many were new to me, as were all the off road sections. I looped back towards Rugeley, flying, feeling I might be able to clear the course.

I made a small error at #173 when I went down the wrong side of the canal, losing me a couple of minutes but then came th cluster of 3 30 point controls all on bridleways in farmland north east of Little Heywood.

Essentially the map going into #151 from Coton needs some work and the bridleway is not obvious on the ground. I, like many, lost the track and ended up jumping ditches and fences trying to get back in the right place. I’m not sure how much time I lost but it was very slow riding on the edges of ploughed fields.  The going got worse on the way to #152 and the map round all the farms again needs some work and I lost time making sure I wasn’t straying onto private roads or footpaths. Coming back-out, again confused, I decided Id lost too much time and binned the last 30 pointer and headed for my comfort zone, Cannock Chase. Luckily I know this part really well so I didn’t really need to navigate, just head down and blat the hills.

I knew I was going to be late but desperately didn’t want to get later than 10 mins and start hemorrhaging all those hard won points. In the end I skidded to a halt at 3hours, 9 mins and 59 secs, phew !

I think those competitors entering the farm track section from the west probably had a slight advantage but I was very happy with my 3rd place.

Many thanks toZip Vit sport for hosting us in there car park and donating a gel to all the competitors and thanks to Neil for planning , enabling me to ride.

No GPS today so no idea how far I rode, full results on the Walton Chasers website

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Thank you to Eat Natural

Eat Natural Bars have been kindly supporting me for the last 18 months as I have transformed from lardy recreational biker to someone who now trains 6 days a week. It was my coach who originally suggested snacking on Eat Natural Bars instead of the usual rubbish you get from garages and service stations as they are readily available and lots better for you. Using the bars as a snack helped me to lose 10+ kilograms last year. After my first representation for Great Britain I approached them with a proposal and they have been supplying me with lots of bars since.
In a few days, when my current supply runs, out I will be announcing a new sponsor for 2010/11, but remember if you are in a garage and tempted by a “choccy-crispy-pork pie” stop, treat yourself to a even more yummy Eat Natural Bar instead.
Thanks Eat Natural

eat natural bars

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Helmets for every occasion

Whilst skiing this year it was very apparent that there has been a change in culture and at least half the adults are now wearing helmets. Of course Holly has to wear one by law, but it had just not occurred to wear one myself. I think the danger now is probably more being hit by another skier or boarder than hitting a stationary object. So putting budget before style in standard Stodge fashion, I now am the proud owner of a bright orange V5 helmet. Other than getting a bit hot and the sound being a little muffled I have found it comfortable and unobtrusive. It’s also a great place to fix a bullet video camera to!
So I now have helmets for canoeing, skiing, biking……  what next? Luckily I am allergic to horses 😉

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