Moors Valley Country Park, Saturday 2 March
Saturday morning - the MTBO event
Having put out the stakes on Friday afternoon Roger Moore, Madeleine and I set off at 8.00am on Saturday morning to put in place the boxes. By the time we returned at 9.00am other helpers were arriving and we were all set up and ready to go by 9.30am although the official start time was from 10.00am. For the first time and to keep the pressure off out invaluable computer team we decided for the MTBO event to use just the Splits Printer thus giving the competitors just the controls visited and the time taken. The Splits Printer was then downloaded into the computer later in the day for the full results to be obtained.
We were soon seeing a number of bikes arrive and it was good to see 36 entries on the day with at least 2 family groups taking part and several others attempting a MTBO event for the first time. Of these Lizzie Reynolds and her boyfriend Joe (who borrowed my bike) rode the course and thoroughly enjoyed their first experience of the sport scoring 200 points. Joe although a road cyclist really did say he would be back for more.
I was amazed that of the competitors 5 managed to collect all 19 controls within the hour the winner being Stuart Norman an M50 who completed the course in 50 minutes and 23 sceonds. Chris Turner who also collected all 19 controls then not only helped John Tilsley and myself to collect in the controls but then went on to compete both in the afternoon and night Foot O events. Well done to him.
The event of course would not have taken place without a small band of dedicated helpers and many thanks to them. Special thanks must also go to Madeleine and Deborah Mays who manned Registration and Download for well over 3 hours in the cold Go Ape shelter.
We are now looking to put on another MTBO event both in Moors Valley and North Ringwood Forest on Saturday 15th June. There will be 2 courses one in Moors Valley for families and beginners with a longer one taking in the more complex and physical area of North Ringwood for the experienced mountain biker.
Another successful event all round!
Trevor Bridle
Saturday afternoon - a learning curve on the Orange course
My daughter, Michaela, came to the Boxing Day Canter and made a right pig’s ear of it. She was cross with herself and determined to prove she could do better. Today I accompanied Michaela and Alex (my 4 year old grandson) around the Orange course – a learning experience for all of us!
On the way to 1 we revised taking a compass bearing – not essential on Orange but a good confidence boost. It seemed to sink in, maybe too well as at control 2 Michaela wanted to take the direct cross country route to 3 – nice for gazelles & M21s, a mite ambitious for dawdling 4 year olds & doddering M65s. When we reached the first path she decided the path route was preferable, doubtless due to hopping over wet ditches with variably soggy outcomes. But in that short time another light dawned – she realised it was easier to aim for a point than follow a wiggly compass trail (I’d headed for a large mapped thicket).
As we trotted along we went over colours, veg boundaries, symbols (really quite fast-paced learning) and on the approach to 2 it was she who spotted the control site and chose the route. Alex was of enormous help in making sure we didn’t make mistakes by going too fast. He also practised his numbers by counting the furrows he jumped and carefully checking each control digit. What a good boy!
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After that I was happy to let Michaela lead and I followed in case of errors, but she made none. We talked about scales, distances and pace-counting. As we got near 3 she knew when to slow down and identified the correct rhodo. There was another flash of illumination when I showed the control description indicated south side of thicket – she didn’t need telling why the kite wasn’t visible.
Serious support from me diminished. She was automatically orientating her map and folding it to make using map with compass easier. 4, 5 and 6 were found without difficulty and the two interesting legs 6-7 and 7-8 were confidently navigated. She also analysed her unfortunate Canter, realising that unfamiliarity with the scale (she’s used to OS maps) caused severe misjudgement of distance, and inexperience with a compass scuppered relocation.
Teachers sometimes talk of the great satisfaction of ‘light-bulb moments’, when the pupil’s face lights up and you know they’ve ‘got it’. I saw plenty of those as Michaela enjoyed a sharp, exhilarating learning curve. And Alex? He discovered jumping ditches is exciting, water is sometimes very wet, and sticks & feathers are vital bits of equipment.
A lovely day’s orienteering!
Mike Kite