Page 168 - AGC_Journal 2018(FINAL)_Neat

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Orienteering

Exercise Cumbria

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By Warrant Offi cer Class One Stu Greening | Photos: Andy Johnson

There is always one United Kingdom multi-day orienteering festival
held annually and 2018 saw 29 members of the Corps Orienteering
Team participate in the 7th Lakes Five Day International Orienteering
Festival in the beautiful Lake District.

The Gathering

Friday 27th July 2018 saw the Team assembling at
Warcop Training Camp in preparation for the impending
competition. Warcop, we found, had its own mini- Stu
climate which the heatwave had somehow bypassed, Greening’s
Shoe of
making us believe all the news regarding the ‘hottest Shame
summer since 1976’ was more fake news.
The Quickening
The Resting
At Silver Howe, the Team busily prepared for the long
steep walk to the Start, glancing across the Grasmere Wednesday saw the much awaited rest day, with some
Show Field wishing that they had opted for the Egg heading to a local Spa and the remaining Orienteering
and Spoon Race instead. With the atrocious weather Olympians heading to Ulverston for the Urban event.
conditions, the organisers made the wearing of Fred Boardman managed a credible 13th on the Men’s
waterproofs compulsory, an unheard experience for any Blue course, with only 6½ minutes separating him
seasoned orienteer. The key for the day’s orienteering from the overall winner. Elaine O’Hara was 12th on the
was ‘straight is great’ but making the best of contouring, Women’s Blue course and was our top female of the day.
where possible, but continually maintaining ‘contact’
with the map. The novices, namely Laura Bettison; Lloyd The Tanning
Green and Kirsty McDermott all managed to make the all
important Light Green Course Standard Time, with Andy Thursday saw us at Askham Fell, with the sun fi nally
Waghorn and Tony Coulter not far off . No mean feat for making an appearance on what would be our longest
those competing in an international level competition courses at the Championships, with us running across
for the fi rst time. It was also a close call as to whom the open heathland and subjected to the ultraviolet rays
epic run of the day would go to; John Ackey, Alex Thakuri throughout. Six of the nine novices beat the Course
or Graham Coath. Standard Time, with star of the day going to Sujan
Gurung. On the Championship Classes, for the ladies
Angle Tarn Pikes and Whinlatter Gold time for Lyndsey Jones, Silver time for Elaine O’Hara
and Karen Baker; and for the Alpha Males Gold time for
Days two and three saw us competing at Angle Tarn Calvin Routledge, Silver time for Fred Boardman; Graham
Pikes, very similar terrain to Day One, and then at Coath and myself (fi nally).
Whinlatter, with the latter being closer to the type of
Forestry Commission land we were used too. At Angle The Shortening
Tarn Pikes our top novice of the day, Laura Bettison,
managing to beat the Course Standard Time. On the Final day. Dale Park and Short Courses. The end in sight.
Class Courses, a Championship time for both Calvin With map scales set at 1:7,500 and controls coming at
Routledge (M21L) and Diane Mitson (W40L), and Silver you thick and fast, this tested even the more experienced
times for Tommy Harper (M45L), Fred Boardman runners. On the Light Green, John Ackey led the novices
(M40L), Karen Baker (W45L) and Elaine O’Hara (W35L). with a stunning run, and only Calvin Routledge and
Whinlatter saw the novices led by Laura Bettison (again) Lyndsey Jones managing a Silver time in the Class
and Valentine Mumba close behind, both managing the categories. Overall results for the week showed a good
Course Standard Time. For the ladies, Silver time went to John Ackey improvement throughout the Team, with very credible
Karen Baker (W45L) and Lisa Butterworth (W35S), but a and Andy and notable placings for Elaine O’Hara (8th W35L) and
Waghorn
bad day at the offi ce for the gents, with Calvin Routledge confi rm John Ackey Lisa Butterworth (6th W35S) and for the boys, Calvin
(M21L) slipping down to a Silver time and poor me (M50S) which way is and Sujan Routledge (9th M21L), Chris Reid (6th M40S) and Brett
missing out on Silver time by a mere second, mainly due North Gurung Green (8th M45S). Throughout the week the courses,
to running in the ‘Shoes of Shame’. terrain and the weather had tested us all.

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