BADO - Harewood
On Saturday I attended a first aid course - to complete the final part of my Level Two British Orienteering qualification. I have been trying to attend such a course for a while, but the potential courses have, before this one, clashed with other commitments.
On Sunday it was off to Harewood for the first round of the Compass Sport Cup. This year Wimborne had slightly fewer member than last year and, so, were running in the Trophy competition (as opposed to the Cup competition). Harewood seems to be an area slowly being overrun by brambles - meaning the through or round route choices were quite important. While the wind was whistling up the car park field, once into the forest it was nicely sheltered.
I ran fairly well and mostly navigated well. I spent 30 seconds looking for number three - just did not see the control at the bottom of the depression. I lost concentration at number eleven and ran straight past my control, thinking that I had another path to cross before getting to it, and lost a minute or so running back when I realised what I had done. Going to fourteen I got caught in the brambles - missing the track through them that many found.
Overall I seem to have got round the course faster than expected. Certainly being less than 35 minutes (65%) behind a top Finnish international is a good result.
At the end of the event Wimborne Orienteers held an EGM. At this we approved the new constitution, which incorporates a few changed that are required for achieving Clubmark status.
