JOK Chasing Sprint 2005 Comments

Controller's Comments

Well done to everyone involved with the event.It was a great edition to this year's Scottish orienteering calendar. From the comments that I received everyone enjoyed the challenges set by Seamus and despite finding it both physically and mentally tough, runners seemed to agree with me that he had made excellent use of the area. This is of course an annual event but I spoke to several 'first timers' who thought that it was great and can't wait to try it again. I was particularly pleased to be able to see so many of our top juniors in full competition mode having previously observed them working so hard at coaching camps. JOK certainly have an excellent format and the organising team led by Jon Cross are to be congratulated for everything running like clockwork. In closing can I again thank everyone involved for making everything so easy for the controller.

Blair Young, TINTO

Organiser's Comments

As usual then first of all many thanks are due to each of you for coming along - the format of the event works best when the courses are busy, and all courses had a good number of runners to help ensure the renowned 'fast and furious racing'. Seamus's courses seemed to test everyone and still provide some close finishes and some excellent spectating. I had test run some of the courses a few weeks earlier, but on the day I was very envious and was itching to be out there running along with the rest of you!

Thanks must go to Angus Watson at Touch Estate for his usual relaxed and helpful attitude to access and other issues, to the tolerant tenants of the cottage on the route in/out of the car park, and to the Forestry Commission for access to their part of the map. Thanks also to FVO and Elizabeth Sinclair in particular, both for allowing us to use such an excellent area, and for happily sharing with JOK much of the equipment that was in use again at the Trossachs the next day. We were also very grateful to St Andrews Ambulance for providing first aid cover, and to the Strathyre ladies for providing such a good value food stall to raise money for CHAS.

And of course thanks must go to the JOK helpers for volunteering and showing typical efficiency. Some of them found out just how cold the wind was as they stood still in it for hours, and others responded to my requests for help even though they have not orienteered themselves for some years now! It always makes the organiser's job easy when, as on this occasion, he can confidently entrust jobs to people and then not worry about it again, secure in the knowledge that the job will be done well.

Finally, thanks to Blair and to Seamus for a job well done and with attention to detail - it is very reassuring when every question you think of has already been covered by the planner and controller!

Jon Cross, JOK

Planner's Comments

I hope you enjoyed running the courses as much as I did planning them. Touch Estate is a joy to plan on - a varied area with plenty of physical and technical challenge, but not too tough at this time of year when the bracken is down. The map is excellent, and the high density of features allows tweaking and fine-tuning of legs. There is also plenty of low-visibility but high-runnability terrain which makes for a good Chasing Sprint.

Thanks to Jon Cross and Beccy Osborn plus Blair and his crew for test-running the courses in February. We spent some time looking at micro route choices - some control flags were very deliberately placed to reward 'off-line' running into and out of the circle, and running along the red line was often slightly slower than the optimum route. For the Prologue, I tried to provide legs requiring attention in mid-leg. Several leading runners were caught out by 'easy' legs on the Chase - presumably too busy with head-to-head racing to pay attention to the map and terrain. Gotcha.

Thanks to Jon and Blair for efficient and friendly work throughout. The JOK machine worked smoothly on the day (again) - well done to all. Finally, thanks to Jenny and young Jonathan for permission to attend on the day.

Seamus Cunnane, JOK