Symonds Yat Night Orienteering

Another Western Night League event, and with this one so close to home it has been on my plan for some time. One thing I didn’t plan for was the weather – lots of it! It hissed down for most of the 55 minutes I was out (I had to stop early I felt so cold & wet).

This was also the first outing for my new Silva L1 head torch with its 3 Watt LED. This was much brighter than the XP and I am sure will make a difference in better weather. I let Sue use the XP but with no previous experience of using it she managed to switch it to the dimmest setting and assuming the batteries were low she struggled on. Not my fault I thought but now realise as will all things, I really must be to blame.

I had trouble with one control – the description was I think stream veg boundary junction. My GPS trace shows me up and down that stream, and not seeing on any of the 3 passes I gave up on it. I was too cold and wet to mention it at the finish.

GPS also indicates my pace as in the walking zone for the most part. I did feel I was trying harder than that. I managed over 200 points but I guess this will not put me in the top half.

I was a bit nervous about including the map – but never mind here it is in all its glory.
Link to map

I tried to embed the map but ran into problems and ran out of time.

All good fun! Better than being at home watching TV.

Rhobel Fawr Fell Race

We have just got back home from this event, the last of the Welsh FRA championship. The event was about 6 miles and 1,900 ft of climb categorised as medium. Link to approximate map on Google Maps

I had an OK run, the legs just didn’t seem to have the same bounce as they did at Sugar Loaf last week. It took me 50 minutes to the top and 27:35 down. I would have hoped to get under 75 on a better day for me.

Sue was running well and came in 6 whole minutes ahead of me, winning her class and confirming her position as category winner in the championships. She also managed a course record for her age group – what a star.

The presentation took a bit of a while with I think 3 different championships plus the race itself to announce and give out prizes. Sue came away with 3 – a good result by any standards.

All this without rain – it stopped just as we started the race but it did give us a nice wet course.

Roll on the next race – Blorenge I think – though it is orienteering in the woods tomorrow.