SELOC Orienteering Club

Course Results

Class Results

Course Splits

Organiser Comments (Stephen Round)

This was our first urban event and took place in an unusal setting where we gained a captive audience but had to fit in around the cycling, running and walking events which combined well to give a genuine Festival feel to the day. Although we initially thought the area was fairly run-of-the-mill, Mark Seddon's courses exploited it to the full while Andrew Stimson's labyrinth quite literally added further twists. The established orienteers taking part seem to have thoroughly enjoyed it as a result, judging by comments received, but this was only our secondary objective and we weren't quite as successful in our primary goal of attracting runners to try our sport despite adopting their culture with a simple structure, prizes on offer etc.. However, the number of orienteering names on the prize list for the 5k race means we can only have impressed with our athletic abilities and maybe that's the first step to making a mark.

Thanks are due

• to the indefatigable team of SElOC helpers, without whom none of this would have taken place;
• to Ian Gilliver for his unfussed but reliable controlling and support;
• to our sponsors Hilly Socks and Express Banners ;
• to Steve Vernon of BOF for advice and support.

Steve Round - Organiser

Controllers Comments (Ian Gilliver)

"Thanks to SELOC for inviting me to control their inaugural Horwich Sprint Races.

I've been impressed by several things.

I think Stephen Round as Event Organiser has been excellent, amongst other things providing the key liaison point between the orienteering event and the Horwich Festival, guiding the planners through the necessary constraints imposed on the event, and mobilising a team of SELOC club helpers who stuck to their tasks throughout a long day. Of particular note, the way those volunteers combined to clear the labyrinth barriers and help the contractor load his truck was brilliant.

I'm no expert on labyrinths, but I think Andrew Stimson's design was exceptional, its asymmetry providing so many challenges to competitors.

I think Andrew's and Mark Seddon's courses made very good use of the map, constrained as they were within a small area, and avoiding conflict with the road racers.

It's a shame that the orienteering didn't attract more competitors, given the amount of effort that everyone contributed, and the high quality of the resulting event.

Well done SELOC!"