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Controllers Comments.

This was my first attempt at controlling. I hope this was not too obvious and you found no glaring errors. I immediately apologise, and take responsibility, for the error on the printing of the change over control( 151) on the blue and brown courses. Despite looking at the final drafts of maps, and checking all printed ones, I did not pick this up until I checked the controls on the morning. Andy Yates, who put out the control, had also spotted it, and I hope our note and instructions at the start meant that it did not cost you any time. I went to the site early on and people seemed to be flowing through with no problems.

My job was made very easy by the efforts of Mike Thompson and Dorothy Wilson. Mikes organisation meant that I had only to concentrate on the courses. Dorothy produced some good courses on an area that has its limitations. Winning times on the longer courses were always going to be on the quick side, but we did not want to put you around 3 loops, nor risk too many controls in the top section of the map. This has been prone to vandalism in the past (but fortunately not on Sunday). The bracken had died down a lot in the past 3 weeks as well, but the spread of times suggested that we were right to stick within the BOF guidelines on course length.

Bob Dredge WCH

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Planners Comments

Ten years ago I planned my first event on Shoal Hill. Looking at the old set of maps I realise how things have changed in that time, not only the appearance of the area but the way in which, using computer programmes, courses are planned and maps printed. What’s more, it doesn’t stop there because with e-punching there are si stations to programme as well.

The reclamation of the quarry area has opened up the north of the area and if you had time to look there is a beautiul view over the lake to the Wrekin beyond. The courses were at the shortest end of the range, but another circuit could have become just boring. The shorter courses were restricted mainly to the heathland - the path network in the woodland can be very confusing even to more experienced orienteers. Fortunately, there were only a few areas with bracken and these were easily avoided. It was disconcerting a few days before the event when a few trees were cut down, tag tapes included and someone ‘tidied up’ some other little pieces of white tape but on the day they resisted anything larger! The weather was good too, showing the area off to its best so I hope that you enjoyed your orienteering.

Dorothy Wilson WCH

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Organisers Comments.


I jokingly asked my daughter to write my Organisers comments for me. This is what I got back.

“Thank you for coming to my event at Shoal Hill. I think the event was very successful and there were some nice comments about the organising and planning. I would like to thank all the separate teams that helped on the day which meant that I got to spend the whole day standing in a field doing nothing”.

It is amazing just how many phone calls are made and how much time is spent in organising an event. It is wholly rewarding when all the teams come together and without any fuss or bother simply get on with their tasks in a truly professional manner. I cannot thank everybody enough for making the day run so smoothly. I did not hear one complaint all day.

The one area out of my control, the weather, was also kind to us with sunshine throughout the day.

Thanks to Bluetooth technology our SI team had the results up on the WCH website, via a mobile phone link, before many competitors had left the car park field.

I hope you all enjoyed your day and OD had a successful Club Champs. 300 competitors and not a single piece of litter left on the car park, thank you.

Thanks again to all the ‘volunteers’ for making my day, standing in a field doing nothing, a real pleasure.

Mike Thompson WCH