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Wolesley Park & Abrahams Valley 12th March 2006 Regional Event |
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Wolesley Park & Abrahams Valley 12th March 2006 Regional Event |
Results.
Controllers Comments.
I’m sure you all enjoyed Neil’s courses. Neil was also of course Planners Comments The area used is currently the best part of the Chase and part of the aim was to make the best use of it, whilst presenting courses with route choice and challenge. From the general comments I heard I judge that most people felt that the aims were met, although as someone said to me ‘the Chase is always fast – but only if you are fit’ Times taken for most courses were roughly what I had hoped for. M21L was perhaps the exception but with many of the top competitors away at other events, including BUSA in The event would not have happened without all of the Chasers who volunteered to put out and bring in the controls. On such a cold day the latter was particularly welcome. Neil Lawford Organisers Comments. What a close shave! With 2” of snow in Telford and much of the western half of the UK blanketed, the first call of the day at 7.10 a.m. arrived….’ Was the event on? We have 6” of snow here!’ Sheepishly looking out of the bedroom to see no snow, no frost and no rain I breathed a sigh of relief, but it was a tense morning waiting to see if the predicted 4-8cms of snow for the area would arrive and turn an interesting car park field into a real challenge. The biting wind and flurries did not deter the 500 or so who did arrive and take part on this superb area. I cannot thank warmly enough Peter Till, the landowner, for his fantastic support and the openness in which he approached his first contact with orienteers. He loudly praised the fantastic teamwork of Chasers in our organisation before and on the day. ‘You’d never know there had been over 200 vehicles in the field was his comment at the end of the day.’ As an example of his willingness to support our event at 8.30 the field leading to the start still had over 100 sheep and lambs in it and was yet to be taped! True to his word he appeared at 8.30 to move them for us! They were back there before dusk! Team leaders, Rod Niven Registration), Tom Roach (Start and finish), Clive Handy (Parking), Iain Stamp and Claire Aldridge (Entries) and Mark Stodgell (Results, and EOD) all deserve huge thanks for their organisation and leadership. Neil Lawford produced some challenging courses on first class terrain admirably supported by his willing team of control placers and collectors all ensured things ran smoothly on the day. Thanks to Barry McGowan for controlling efficiently and having to direct me very little in the run up to the event. Finally thank you to all of the competitors for responding to our requests to exercise care on this new site - no trespasses, no dogs and amazingly very little litter – I picked up about 15 control descriptions and that was all! Well done everyone. Lost property: to reclaim from Keith Ellery 01889 584025 keith.ellery@ntlworld.com 1 e-card being despatched to Arden School for Jessica Dipper 1 green hat Steve Green NOC - please contact me for your BOF card! A small number of competitors yet to pay – if this is you could you make payment ASAP to Iain Stamp (as per original entry forms) payable to Walton Chasers. Keith Ellery
responsible for the map and printing. The map was updated to about 14 days
before the event with the reversion to heathland by felling in the south of
the area.
Wolseley Park is a lovely area, dating back to medieval times, and some of
the old stag oaks may go back that far. Apparently there used to be a race
course on the top! Many of you crossed Abraham’s Valley and some reached
Sherbrook Valley. Neil was careful to ensure all controls were in runnable
forest or open and give you some interesting route options around the young
trees.
All 85 control posts went out on the Friday and Saturday with the SI units
being attached on the Sunday morning by a team of about 8 who then checked
others placing. It all worked on the day. The WCH organisation worked well
and I was impressed by the courses available to view on the web straight
away after the event.
We were lucky with the weather and I expect you were seeing the areas at
their best. Other cancellations allowed a respectable entry which had been
modest at the official closing date.
Barry McGowan HOC