Successes
It was SROC’s Street League event on Wednesday night that accounted for almost all of SELOC members’ orienteering activity over the last 7 days. On a wet night with a cool breeze bringing in the sea air, 10 members made it to Lytham St. Anne’s for the second round in this winter’s League. Good to see even more out for their first run of the winter than we had at Lancaster two weeks earlier.
In fact, quite a few enjoyed it so much they stayed out longer than their allotted time and attracted a good crop of penalty points! Tony Varley and Mark Seddon clocked up the most, but despite the flat terrain making for speedy running, many others found that they’d misjudged the final stages back to base on the 1:15,000 scale map. Best result of the night was Matt Driver’s 3rd place, nicely judged at 26 seconds inside the time although Josie Greenhalgh (running with Darren Baker of DEE) wouldn’t have been far behind him if they’d avoided 101 penalty points. Too many to list everyone’s result, but worth noting that Paul Turner is up in 3rd place in the League after these first 2 races, though still a long way to go.
For those tempted to give this format a go, the next event is on Wednesday 21 November and very convenient, in Helmshore. Details are on SROC’s website, but it is organised by our own Steve Wilson. With everything else under control, his main task now is to order the pies so let him know by Saturday 17th if you’re coming along and want to eat, drink and socialise afterwards. The event is also part of the SELOC club league, so what more reasons do you need to take part?
On Sunday, Michael Hood was at SYO’s Treeton Woods event near Rotherham and produced an excellent 6th place on a popular Green course – he’s clearly going to be in good form for the coming night season. Steve Round was at LOC’s Holme Fell event, near Coniston. In some very technical terrain a problem on leg 8 seems to have occupied him for a good 35 minutes, but at least that meant the heavy showers of early morning had cleared to a beautiful Lakeland afternoon by the time he finished!
Upcoming Events
This coming weekend of 17/18 November we have the British Schools Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn. Stephen Richards is planning this and could do with help on the Sunday, so please get in touch with him if you are able to provide some. All those school children take a bit of looking after! Then on Wednesday night is the Street League event in Helmshore, as noted above.
For anyone who doubts that winter is approaching fast we have the first event in the 2018/19 North West Night League (again sponsored by Bright Bike Lights) on Saturday 24 November. SROC’s event at Low Wood, near Kendal kicks off the season. Earlier that day, MDOC have a Park& Urban format at Chorlton while PFO stage their Club Champs with a score event at Peel Park, Accrington, to which other clubs are invited.
Sunday 25 November has a regional event near Harrogate from CLARO or another Cumbrian Galoppen event put on by WCOC at Leap’s Beck, near Ennerdale. Later that week it is MDOC’s turn to stage their Street League – Altrincham on Tuesday night (29th) for those interested.
Club League is now up and running – scores after 3 events were in a recent Weekly News. As already mentioned, next event in this series of varied events is part of SROC Street League in Helmshore on Wednesday 21 November.