Orienteering, Back Beck - Sunday 9th February 2014

Russ has often invited me to take part in an orienteering event (he's into this and even joined a club !! ) but, up until now, the timing has never worked. But today it does and so four of us, Russ, Kath, Jacob and I, head over to Bouth in the South Lakes to compete.  

The weather is reasonable but forecast to be very windy on the fells, this makes today's choice even better, relatively low level and very wooded.  As three out of the four of us have never orienteered before we decide to unofficially pair up; Russ and Kath, me and Jacob (we paired up in the Helm orienteering event last summer and won....so no pressure then !). 

We all choice the 'Blue' course, the second longest and second most technical. The intricacy and detail of the map is way beyond what I am use to and the scale takes some getting use to. But once we did at the start we soon get the hang of it and find the first control easily enough. However, it then goes wrong, very wrong, and we (or should I say I) struggle to locate the second control and end up being misplaced, unsure where we are and where we need to go......Jacob puts us right !

Russ and Mum, who we had overtaken at the first control are now clearly ahead but we concentrate on our own race. All goes well. We navigate and run well but it is still tricky, the enclosed wooded terrain makes it even tougher.

A slight blip between controls 8 and 9 but then we run and navigate well and catch up Russ and Kath at control 11, them arriving there from the opposite direction to us. We then pull away, benefiting from not having worked a 10 hour night shift (!!!!) and locate the few controls very successfully.

We finish in a time of 77:17, well down the field but a good first effort for us both. Russ and Kath finish soon after us, again having a good race with the occasional navigation issue. 

A good day out, well organised and will be back for more.

Results:

http://www.lakeland-orienteering.org.uk/uploads/cobaltresults/2014/1392094800_7126467593fa657c071f37ead97cb427.html