Mike writes:

I started orienteering on 12 March 1995. Sue Painter, outdoor education instructor, had been enthusing about an event at Bere Wood organised by Weymouth Orienteers. It was a Sunday, nothing vital to do, so I went along with the family out of mild curiosity. I couldn’t have imagined the impact! I was totally, instantly hooked, knowing I’d found something very special for me. True, my enthusiasm wavered once at Burnworthy, but then a lot of people’s hearts sank at Burnworthy (often the people did too). I’ve never looked back.

In those early years I orienteered with Andrew, my teenage son. We enjoyed many memorable trips including the 1998 JK at Dolgellau, where we awoke on Sunday to find our tent and car under thick snow (and our courses were cancelled, too); also the Lakes 5 Days, where we watched the unrescued remnants of the event field scudding down the Langdale valley following heavy rain! Andrew now lives in Reading, is married and soon to be a dad himself. 

Since 2001, Mary and I have orienteered afar - her first taste was a murky Orange course at King's Tor but such daunting Dartmoor experiences in dense fog failed to put her off. We live in Bridport and so have grown to quite enjoy the massive slopes of the Quantocks and the nastier bits of the Blackdowns. (Actually, that’s all of the Blackdowns...)

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Very best wishes, Mike and Mary