Results available below:
Planners’ Comments (Marc Balston & hugh Holmes)
The three connected housing estates to the east of the park vary tremendously in character and each offer their own challenges to a planner. The newest (north) part and oldest (south) part provided the most interesting options and we’re happy that we managed to get all the longer courses to visit both (with some hopefully mentally taxing long legs between them). We were also delighted that interactions with the local residents were generally positive (from our own experience when putting out the controls and by accounts from competitors after the race).
Controller’s Comments (Alan Rosen – hh)
Many thanks to Marc and Hugh for their planning (and mapping and running download and…) and to Liz for overseeing everything so coolly and calmly, including multiple parking arrangements.
The new area was well received and, even if it doesn’t have any really complex areas, did offer enough route choice to keep runners on their toes. The park had much thicker vegetation a couple of months ago but turned out to be a good area for the two junior courses.
Local residents had been well warned by notices and, in some cases, by knocking on doors where they might have been quite surprised to see an orange and white flag appear outside their house; all were helpful and interested. Unfortunately, there were at least three incidents of out-of-control dogs jumping up at competitors, and even taking one someone’s map for a while.
A couple of apologies – the first was that there was no tape from the last control to the Finish, which there should have been, and the second that we should have cut the line between controls 17 and 18 to make a viable route across the housing estate perimeter fence clearer. Sorry if you were affected by this.
Organiser’s Comments (Liz Yeadon & Mark white)
Discussions for the Salisbury City Race began quite some time ago and it was quickly established that that newly mapped northern area of Sarum’s growing Salisbury map should be used. The Planners went back and forth as to where the Start/ Finish areas should be but we quickly established that the 23rd Salisbury Scout Group’s premises in Stratford Street , on the southern edge of Hudsons Field would be an ideal Assembly point – an indoor Download area/ a place for competitors to leave their kit and best of all, the Scouts offered to provide the food for the event, including home made cakes!
Initially the walks to and from the proposed Start & Finish areas were not so long but it soon became clear that the optimum location was on the top of the hill! We then spent time working out the best way to use the parking field and working out safe ways to get everybody up to the Starts and back from the Finish. Circumstances outside of our control meant we had to amend the access to the parking field three times; we also decided to get the locals on board with letters to the local houses and around the park which then met with friendly faces just before and during the event.
Huge thanks to all the members the Club and various family and friends of the Club, for helping with the Event and making it run so smoothly , as it could not run without the help of all of the Volunteers – a truly Team event! Many thanks to all of them and thank you all for coming!