Planner's comments:
I personally feel that Thorndon North is the best area in southern Essex, so
relished the opportunity to plan there. It was a great excuse to have multiple
opportunities to visit the area, update some parts of the maps and work out how
to give you the best bits to run through on your courses. It became clear that
the area north of the road (Harts Wood) was head high bracken, and I didn't want
to go into the extensive fields off to the east, so instead focused on getting
the appropriate distances and challenge into the courses using the central area
of the map. Hopefully the criss-crossing red lines weren't too confusing and the
course order was fairly clear. This event was the first to use a small new part
that has opened up from the badger-sett retreat and I also took the longer
courses into Little Warley common to offer some contrast to the woods. Thanks to
Janet for her controlling advice and feedback and to Paul for checking the
controls on the day. Thank you to all the competitors who said nice things to me
at the finish about the courses and a final thanks to the 5 people who took up
my challenge of a Black course - you made it worthwhile!
Anthony Squire
Controller’s Comments
I think Anthony produced some excellent courses particularly as this was the
first event he had planned. The organising team heard many encouraging comments
and I believe we had many satisfied customers. Anthony decided to keep the
courses in Thorndon Park itself and not to venture north of the road into Harts
Wood where the bracken is very high this year. This meant that most courses had
several crossovers which everyone appeared to manage well. Anthony succeeded in
avoiding repetitions so you had few, if any, feelings of “déjà vu”.
Roger Horton of WAOC would like to thank, we believe, John Clarke who stopped
and helped him. Roger sustained a serious eye injury and John had the foresight
to flag down a passing car and asked the motorist to drive Roger back to the car
park. It is always heartening to hear of runners stopping to help injured fellow
competitors.
The organisers would like to thank everyone involved. I am pleased to say after
being taken by ambulance to the A&E department at the University Hospital,
Basildon, Roger was transferred to a specialist unit at Southend where his
injury proved not to be as serious as first thought. Roger was allowed home
Sunday night. We all hope Roger makes a speedy recovery.
Because of this incident we had to close the Naughty Numbers course much earlier
than planned and I am sorry for any inconvenience.
Janet Biggs (chairman@orienteering-havoc.co.uk)
Stop Press
Roger Horton's injury is not as bad as originally feared, he is at home
recovering.
Lost Property
A dibber was handed in - please contact me - tonybiggs@btinternet.com