results available at http://www.walton-chasers.co.uk/results/2011/newyearmbo/index.html

Over 40 competitors made the journey on New Years Eve to the village of Great Heywood on the Northern edge of Cannock Chase for what will now become an annual event for Walton Chasers. The Farm Shop located on an intersection of Lanes, Bridleways and Canals made for the perfect event centre and many riders were tempted to take home a treat or two afterwards. Although the pre entry was quite low, many entered on the day, including a few who were new or returning to the sport. The Canal tow paths, OOBs to seniors, were perfect to get junior competitors out onto Cannock Chase and enabled 3 families with 8 year olds and even a trailer to take part. The two hour option also attracted larger numbers than usual, the shorter format perhaps being more suitable for orienteers who aren’t hard core bikers. There was reward for those who ventured out without mudguards, the organisers awarding spot prizes of wine to the most covered participants at the finish. In the end the result went down to the wire with that last finisher, Chris McSweeny taking the win by a large margin, his combined navigation and fitness bringing him ahead of joint 2nd place riders Patrick Higgins and local Mark Jeavons. First pair were Alan Hartley and Sarah Bruce. The 2 hour event was won by Neil Lawford ahead of Ian Turner with first Lady being Joanna Thompson in her first MBO Score event. Thanks to Cath, Holly and Kelvin for their help putting out controls and to the Farm Shop for hosting the event. It is the intention going forward to make this event an annual occurrence so get it in the diary for next year.

After seven races, no changes at the top, but Dave and Kelvin are not far behind Jon who can be drawn with, but not beaten.  We have a new leader in the Ladies race – Cath Williams.  Two races left……

Jon is leading the league with 3 races to go BUT can Kelvin or Dave manage to tie…..?
We await the next thrilling episode.  Next race:  Stodgell’s house on 22nd December.

Results here http://www.walton-chasers.co.uk/results/2011/Beaudesert/index.html

Routegadget here www.walton.routegadget.co.uk/walton/reitti.cgi

Splitsbrowser here http://www.splitsbrowser.org.uk/splitsgraph.php?eventId=5223

Winsplits here http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=classes&databaseId=19382

On behalf of the club, a big “Thank You” to Alistair Powell, who stepped down as team leader for the Start team today after several years of leading from the front. Ali will be leaving Chasers at the end of the year, & we wish him the best of luck (but not too much!!) at his next club.

 
Organisers Comments:
Thank you to all who attended and enjoyed courses planned by Kevin Waters and Controlled by Sue Bicknell. Their teamwork, dedication to detail and continual focus on delivering quality courses required remote starts and finishes. These provided logistical challenges for the organisation machine but hope you appreciated the walk/run warm up as your course unfolded during the competition. 

I would like to apologise to those who arrived early without the assistance of signage and hope it didn’t detract from your event experience. Unfortunately a few gremlins beyond our control crept in. The location is notoriously difficult to sign with a plethora of confusing national signs, numerous route choices, dead ends and a history of locals finding it amusing to play games with temporary directions.  

I must thank Beaudesert Camp Warden Nigel Thacker and his team for their help and significant contribution in making your visit a pleasure, providing impeccable toilet facilities, and a registration area giving warmth and shelter from the brisk biting wind. I hope our final details and associated map helped in finding your away around this rambling site. 

Podium Catering (an up and coming midlands based company providing catering facilities to outdoor events) filled competitors with wonderful home made food, soup, cakes and a selection of hot drinks that gave an inner warmth on a very cold day.  I thank them for turning up despite the wind forecast that may have been enough for those with a lesser passion to cancel. 

Having an event spread over such a large area made it necessary for us to retain tight control over competitors leaving and returning from the competition area. Having clear and check boxes adjacent to the download enabled us to do just that, which is especially important at this time of year when daylight is at a premium.  As a cross check we also use a paper system and to our dismay many of those returning late had not put a car registration number or mobile on their registration form. During the heat of mass registrations such forms sneak through the net occasionally, I am sure we are not alone in this scenario  (it is something we will have to revisit again as a club).  

However on behalf of all event organisers I do ask the small minority to ensure they include these details at every event. It is so good to know beyond doubt that those outstanding on the course database are really out because their vehicle can be identified in the car park.  If required to instigate a search we then have total confidence it is for a real person and if necessary have no concerns on call upon additional emergency resources too.

Thank you again to all who attended and the silent, willing helpers who tirelessly turn out time and again to make events possible. 

Philip Green

Lost Property: 
1 mobile phone
1 pair of target dry waterproof trousers in a zip bag.