This year’s JK was a very memorable one, and for all the right reasons – excellent and varied areas, smooth organisation, challenging courses and real Scottish spring weather.
The Friday Sprint took place in Perth. Courses started in a park, before moving into the almost entirely pedestrianised city centre. Despite the 1500 competitors taking part, it never felt too hectic and it was possible to concentrate on the orienteering rather than avoiding other competitors – a testament to good planning and controlling (the latter thanks to BL member Keith).
Top 5 BL results came from Owain 5th in M35, Karen 3rd in W40 and Christine K 5th in W70
For Saturday’s Middle and Sunday’s Long the venue was the vast Rannoch Forest on the south side of Loch Rannoch. It’s everything you expect of a Scottish forest –few paths, detailed contours, steep slopes, tough going underfoot and areas of very open forest interspersed with sections of dense conifers. Both days used the same large assembly area with plenty of space for club tents overlooking the run-in which created a great atmosphere (Thank you to Christine and Keith for bringing the BL feather and tent.) The Middle used the more runnable and detailed part of the forest and courses, as they should, had plenty of controls and changes of direction. At the Long the focus was on long legs and route choice (which isn’t to say finding controls wasn’t still tricky). The weather needs a mention too – not only did Storm Dave sweep across on Saturday night but Sunday gave us very heavy, squally snow showers. Everyone had a tale of where they were when the snow struck, be it holding down the tent in the assembly area, battling driving snow on the way to the start or shivering on the start line.
Top 5 combined Middle/Long results were:
Owain, 1st in M35S, Jane 5th in W55S, Stella 3rd in W70L and Christine K 5th in W70L
The Relay on Monday was close to Rannoch Forest, but offered an entirely different type of terrain with open moorland, beautiful birch woodland and sheep-grazing land all with the backdrop of a snow-covered Schiehallion. The lying snow caused the organisers a few problems with parking and also required a last-minute change to the event layout (though I don’t think many people were sad to find that the finish on the top of a hill had been replaced with a gently downhill run-in).
The snow quickly melted, the wind of the previous days dropped and we were left with a sunny spring day. Courses were short and fast but with some tricky controls to catch out anyone who stopped concentrating. BL member Andy was the controller, and his valiant work checking controls in a blizzard on Saturday were rewarded with many positive comments.
BL had four teams (once we had recruited Andy from CLOK and Jeff “volunteered” to run twice), The top result came from the team of Natalie. Christine G and Karen who won the W165+ class having led all the way.
Next year’s JK is in south east England and promises a very different experience, certainly no 3000 foot mountains in the background, but snow can never be ruled out.
Links to Results and Routegadget
Border Liners Orienteering Club 