Holding the City Urban event alongside the November Classic has benefits for both events as this attracts runners keen to have a weekend of orienteering and makes it well worthwhile travelling. Unfortunately the weather was rather grey with the odd spot of drizzle for the City Race but brightened up somewhat for the Classic the following day.
We were fortunate to have plenty of parking room at the bottom end of Hudson’s Field, even if it meant a bit of climb up to the Start. Stratford Swallows Explorer Scout Unit kindly made their buildingavailable for our computer team and also sold refreshments. The Start Team greatly appreciated the refreshments ferried to them up the hill. Together with a donation from the Club, the Explorers raised some £500 towards their planned trip to Switzerland next year. The Start saw our new Mascot, Sam, on duty for the first time. Do look out for Sam at futures events.
Salisbury is blessed with some interesting urban areas. Although their courses didn’t take runners into the more historic parts of the City, planners Marc Balston and Hugh Holmes laid on some very enjoyable courses for the 373 runners, taking in the Castle Hill Country Park, Bishopdown and St. Marks. Your reporter especially enjoyed Course 7 in the Country Park which he managed to get round with the aid of a rollator in the M80 wheel-assisted class.
Full results for the event are here.
Many thanks must go to Planners Marc and Hugh, Controller Alan Rosen and Organisers Mark White and Liz Yeadon, to all the Sarum helpers (who were a bit stretched) and Stratford Swallows ESU.
Thanks to Ian Peirce for the photos in the Gallery.
