Birches Valley 2004

Controllers Comments.

I was half way round checking the controls when the sun burnt its way through the morning mist and the world turned sunny and warm. Fantastic, I thought. We were lucky in that only one control was vandalized, and that was at 8.30am. It was half vandalized when I went to check it, and completely vandalized when someone else went to look for the missing box. Fortunately, all the parts were scattered near the control site.

Dorothy put a lot of work in to this event and rose to each challenge set for her. Well done, Dorothy. Andy Goode ran a smooth organising team, and did well to overcome the problem with the extremely soggy car park. Well done to Andy, too.

To the lad on the light green with the rogue description sheet, we can only apologise. It appears it was left over from the last event and got mingled with the correct set. It's a new one on me.

You caught me out on the road route. If I'd spotted it before the event I would have made it out of bounds. Ah well.

Thanks for all your good comments. We aim to please.

Andy Yeates

Planners Comments

I think Hednesford Hills has matured as an orienteering area. There seems more variety of vegetation and ground cover and the fencing doesn’t make much difference to getting around. Cars are restricted in the Raceway area with the Museum site being the main access. It also seems less prone to vandalism – or were we just lucky?

During the event I found a good vantage point near the raceway overlooking the spur area and discovered many were finding it “challenging.” That of course was after weeks of planning. What a sigh of relief when the maps went to be printed. Not that that is the end, with plenty to do on the day. Many thanks to those who put out or collected controls. Many of the 278 competitors seemed to enjoy their runs so that makes it worthwhile.

Dorothy Wilson.

Organisers Comments.
So, remind me again, what does the event organizer do? The Team Leaders are now so efficient at setting up their parts of the organization of the day and making the event run smoothly.

My thanks to all the Team Leaders and especially to the Car Parking team – who didn’t have a car park, but a large boggy field threatening to turn into a mud bath at the slightest opportunity. You parked everyone wonderfully in every possible space along the access road.

Overall, the sun was shining, we had 276 entrants and I did hear the comment that the area was getting better as a venue (although unfortunately you can’t congratulate the organizer for that one!) and nobody appeared to be bothered with the grazing animals.

As a first timer for this role, I would encourage anyone else to have a go, I’m back to the start team where I belong.

Thanks

Andy Goode

Colour Times

Blue - 82.56

Brown - 81.55

Green - 60.50

Lt Green - 75.09

Orange - 60.61

Red - 74.11

Yellow - 20.44

White - 32.27