New Copse & Perrywood, Sun 3 November 2013

It is always a joy to run in the New Forest and when an opportunity arises I try to make every effort to attend.  An added incentive is when a black course is offered.  More time spent running through the beautiful and varied terrain.  The November Classic 2013 was such an event where a black course offered good running and orienteering in the New Forest.

The heavy rain I experienced over the Cranborne Chase on the way to the event eased on arrival at New Copse/Perrywood and the sun broke through revealing a glorious day, the portents were good. After arrival, registration, a quick check of kit and a warm up I was ready for the off.

Protecting a tender ankle I set off tentatively and cautiously negotiated the brashings that were prevalent around the start hoping they would soon thin out as promised in the final details.  Focus is everything in orienteering and any little niggle or injury can be distracting.  However the black course started with many close controls which helped focus the mind. No time to worry unduly about aches and pains or indeed look at the course and plan ahead.  It was very much one control to another.  Runners were charging about all over the place and this distraction needed ignoring as well.

Throughout the black course there was always the direct route or options to run on tracks or rides.  Often it is difficult to plan ones route ahead of time since very much depends on the runability encountered on each section, hence last minute, instant decisions need to be made. Lots of information is assessed in this quick decision making period such as injuries, fatigue and difficulty of navigation as well as runnability of terrain. Sometimes the sensible decision is over-ridden by just bone-headed stubbornness; ‘I am here to navigate, not run on tracks‘.  I think it is fair to say that on this run I used a bit of all the above and sometimes took the direct route and sometimes the more circuitous path route. Both have a place in orienteering but which is faster is never really clear.

Navigation on the first section was quite hard with several features quite hard to spot, namely hides and some clearings. North of the railway the navigation was less challenging than the south with longer legs and more rides to use if required.  Despite the navigation being easier it was North of the Railway where I lost most time. Being followed closely by a runner and then proffering a salutation to other forest users I managed to lose concentration on an ‘easy’ navigation leg.  The result was frustration and annoyance and several minutes lost.  Had I not lost those minutes then I would have had respectability in the final results. 

However it is not about the results but about successful navigation, enjoying the flora and fauna and feeling physically well.  All in all it was a good day; great weather, enjoyable course and a good challenge.  As always one left frustrated by the errors but spiritually lifted after a grand day out in inspiring terrain.

Thanks as always to the volunteers, organisers, planners and controller for making it all possible.

Chris Turner

Part of the Black course. Only Black, Brown & Short Brown journeyed north of the railway.

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