A mock village at Copehill Down on Salisbury Plain used for military training was the challenging centrepiece of Sarum Orienteers’ New Year’s Day orienteering event. The novel location attracted 233 runners who fought against cold winds, rain, mud and the clock in a score format race in which they had one hour to visit as many of the 74 control sites in the village and surrounding open Plain countryside as they could; penalties were accrued for taking over the permitted hour. The village provided for complex navigation to find 44 control sites plus bonus controls including a crashed helicopter and a Tank hull; the remaining control sites were located on the downland to the North of the village.
The overall winner was Tim Morgan of Edinburgh University OC who scored an outstanding 364 out of a possible 375 points by visiting 72 of the controls in 58:00 min. Best placed Sarum runner was Tom Butt in 4th place who located 68 controls in 57:31 min. with 336 points. Other notable Sarum performances were Charles Bromley Gardner (5th; 334 points), Rob Ashton (8th; 333) and Chris Huthwaite (14th; 317). Carolyn Dent, who recently won the Women’s Vets Class in the South England Urban Orienteering League, was first Sarum lady (34th; 296). Amongst the junior Sarum runners Alice Thirkell (99th; 250 points) just edged it over twin sister Matilda (103rd; 247). The full list of results is available elsewhere on this website under Results – surprisingly.
Added novelty was provided by the use of the EMIT contactless punching system which was generously provided by Alan Farrington of EMIT UK. Generally runners liked the system though concerns were expressed as to whether controls might have en route deducted cash from contactless bank cards. Could this be a way of collecting entry fees in the future?
The event was greatly enjoyed and we have received a number of very favourable comments including one from John Orton of NWO who said saying that this was the best event of the year so far. Thanks to Andy Snell for his creative planning, Liz Yeadon for what proved to be a complex organisational challenge, Controller Ian Peirce and all those who helped on the day.
This report formed the basis of a report in The Salisbury Journal 7th January, 2016 (see Sarum Facebook Page)