Daniel

Results and Split Times
WinSplits
Routegadget & Splitsbrowser

Organiser’s Comments

What a treat to return to Houghen Plantation on such a beautiful day.  I thoroughly enjoyed the main organisational role on the day of standing around chatting to people, made possible of course by all the people who so willingly gave their time to help – thank you all for volunteering so readily and once again making our events happen.  Even the parking turned out to not be quite as challenging as we feared squeezing for the record a total of 75 cars into what looked like quite a small space a few days ago.  Biggest thanks of all to our Planner Steve Nobbs for some splendid courses, and Alan for overseeing the whole event as Controller.  He also had a mammoth job in even just obtaining the land permission as this small area is split into about five different parcels of land each requiring separate discussion and negotiation!  See you at Pretty Corner next month.

Nicky Nicholls.

Planner’s Comments

The map has changed fairly drastically since our last event here in 2013. I have planned here before and was surprised that earth walls and depressions have disappeared in places, felling has happened, and in fact I initially struggled to find control sites in the top half of the map. What made it worse, due to the high rainfall in the autumn, the streams were very full. I did initially have courses crossing the stream in the north, but after a rainy December, decided that this could not be the case. You would probably need a dingy to cross this in places! Also another potential control location was under water, so it was a change of plan. Furthermore, the woods to the north across the road are currently being felled, and a complete mudbath, so this area could not really be used. So I hope you enjoyed some of the nice bits of the forest that I choose, and some of the driest, and did not find too many groggy wet areas.

Many thanks to Alan for updating the map as we went along, and inputting the courses, and advising as necessary. Thanks also to Rob Frost (who initially updated the map), who gave up his run to check and wake up all the controls this early frosty morning.

Steve Nobbs.

Results and Split Times
WinSplits
Routegadget & Splitsbrowser

Organiser’s Comments

How can I thank my helpers from today enough?  For various reasons we were struggling to find helpers, and Daniel, on SI, worked with very little help and no breaks from setup to packup.  Alan kindly brought all the equipment over, helped set up, helped pack up and even waited for the last controls to be collected.  Several other people did double shifts, fitting their run in between.  But all of you are stars, and I must ask other NOR members who didn’t help today, to make an effort to help at least once a year, otherwise the club won’t be able to function.

For everyone’s sake, I’m glad the weather stayed nice so you could all enjoy this lovely area which is currently under threat.  Thank you all for coming and making it such a good day.

Planner’s Comments

‘O yes Kim, of course I would love to plan Shouldham’ is what I eventually said. It did make sense, I live one and a half miles from the forest and have planned in there since the late 1980’s.

I have for sometime wanted to get back to planning events, but controlling events has become a bit of a calling; I controlled the first EA league event of 2019 and of course the British Champs.  I was nice to get out to a forest with clean map and just find controls.  Then put in to practice all those good principles I have tried to teach others over the last few years.  I was to be controlled by Sally Wilkinson who I helped teach how to Control (assisted by Clive W who I also taught to be a Controller). 

I did stick to those things that I ask of my Planners, which is to do everything early, just in case. Sally asked questions of my courses (of course being Michael I had all the answers) and after a look together I hope you all enjoyed our work.  I have enjoyed the last few months and especially this weekend being out there placing the controls.

To the not-very-happy Lady who wanted to know why the control was not in the correct place, my advice is read the control description and more importantly look inside the circle before you get upset.

Thank you to my wonderfully organised Organiser Julia. As usual everything was sorted (even with only one working hand) and having a great many control collectors always makes a planner happy.  Thank you Sally for putting up with a ‘know it all’. Thank you to Kim for talking me into it.

Most of all, thank you to all of you runners and the nice comments on the day.

Michael.

Controller’s Comments

Thanks to the Planner & Organiser for all their excellent work – it made my role much easier. I’m glad the weather was better than the forecast – it really showed the area off and, along with the well-planned courses, ensured that there were many happy orienteers.

Sally.

NOR Colour Coded event, incorporating the East Anglian Schools Championships.

Congratulations to Overall Schools Trophy winners:
Norwich School.

Full Results & Split Times
WinSplits
Routegadget & Splitsbrowser

Organiser’s Comments

After an early start with bright sunshine, and with all the organising complete for the start, the event went ahead without any hitches (as far as I am aware). We had a good turn out from the schools and the pupils seemed have had a fun time. There was also a good number of various club runners who found the courses quite testing but enjoyable. We had a great group of helpers who made the day a success and to them I offer my sincere thanks.
Les.

Controller’s Comments

Hockham has a reputation amongst runners as a tricky Orienteering area which can catch out even the most experienced competitor. This is also true for planners, mappers and controllers. The area of pingos to the northeast in particular, is terrain that challenges everyone. Planner Paul’s considerable efforts ensured that all runners from the White to the Brown course were challenged with interesting courses. Paths had to be cut, bracken cleared and steps dug out to ensure all courses were accessible for the juniors in particular. The controlling always gets off to a good start if the first draft courses are presented more than six months in advance which was the case for this event. Paul’s planning was considered and well-judged throughout the process which hopefully led to an enjoyable experience for the juniors in particular. The weather was a bonus and as a result of the efficient organisation by the NOR team the event ran smoothly from a controller’s point of view. I am sure that runners will be eager to take on the challenge of the pingos at the next Hockham event.
Phil Halford.

SI Coordinator’s Comments

My thanks to Jonathan for coding the EASC scoring system into the results software – giving you all speedier results with less chance of error, and us a less stressful time working them out!
Daniel.

Results and Split Times
WinSplits
Routegadget & Splitsbrowser

Controller’s Comments

It is some 20 years since we last used the Mousehold Heath area for competitive orienteering and for many this was the first time that they had run on this area. I think everyone will agree that it is very different to a lot of the areas we have in Norfolk and a unexpected treat in the middle of Norwich. The production of a new professional map which was financed by the club and Norwich School and completed at the beginning of the year is a massive improvement on the old map which we used for so many years. The contour detail is now correct and a lot more features have been added.

Judging by the comments received from people on the day the majority of competitors found the courses challenging but fair. The mistakes that were made by competitors were down to navigational errors often choosing the wrong path and not due to the courses being unfair or to the wrong standard of difficulty. Paul did a very good job of planning albeit with Karen’s help in producing the maps. In particular the Blue and Green courses provided plenty of opportunity to see the best parts of Mousehold Heath.

Thanks to Alan and his usual well-oiled organising team who were not perturbed by any eventuality even when the two club tents took to the air when a very strong gust of wind hit them. Thank you to everyone who turned up. The Mousehold Heath Defenders and Conservators (from whom we have to get permission from to hold the event) were monitoring the event and were very impressed with the organisation and enthusiasm of everyone.

Tim Eden.