Deeside Orienteering Club News
Triumph for young DEE runners at Lakes 5 Day
updated: 29/08/2010
Report by Mike Smithard
Hannah Hateley and Daniel Weaver swept the board in W and M10 at the Lakes, both winning 3 days of the eventual 4 days of races - but Daniel will have to improve - Hannah beat him each time (except when her shoe came off in the mud) though it was close on the last day!
Coming home to news of rain in Birmingham and mud in Reading meant we seemed to do well in the Lakes with only one and a half days of showers. Bob's 'bothy' was excellent with about 35 Deesiders sharing the facilities and each others' cooking at a bargain price of about £1.80 per head for a 2 course evening meal. Congrats to Bob on finding such a gem for us.
Here is a selection of recipes from the week.
Many Deesiders had their own successes against the terrain, courses and their personal rivals but at the top end, Chris Smithard was trying hard but several 'blips' at first controls denied him day wins and probably a good chance of an overall win in M21, eventually finishing 4th close behind those in front, no doubt a best result by a Deesider for many years. Dad, Mike, was more fortunate, finishing 3rd overall, 0.4 of a point ahead of Julian Lailey of SROC in 4th - Mike's score rounding up and Julian's down - too close to matter, should have been called 3rd equal.
Congratulations also to Norman Hall on his tireless work in organising Caw with many extra tribulations in the final few days - but a great day for competitors on Pete Owens' and Bob Verity's courses including a 15 minute leg on M21 with 4 possible routes all taken by top runners with Chris' route turning out to be the fastest. Chris had shown a very similar leg at his evening's briefing the day before so we had told him which way to go beforehand!
Full results for all days here.
Lakes Social and Barbeque
updated: 19/08/2010
We will be holding a Club Social and Barbeque at Lanehead Outdoor Education Centre, Coniston on the evening of Tuesday 24 August, during the Lakes 5 Day event. This will be open to all, whether you are resident at Lanehead or staying elsewhere in the Lakes. The perfect opportunity to relax after your run at Harrop Tarn, compare your splits with other runners, and build up your strength for the rest day on Wednesday.
Bring your own meat, fish, whatever you put on a barbeque, and drinks: the Club will provide bread and a simple salad.
In remembrance of Marian Padget
updated: 19/08/2010
Many Deesiders will be aware that Marian was quite recently diagnosed with a serious illness. Sadly, Marian died on the evening of 1st August 2010. She was at home and had seen all of her family during the weekend. John and their daughter Judith were with her.
Marian was a sparkling, lively person with a great sense of humour and for her to be gone so suddenly is a great shock. The Club sends sincere condolences to John and the family.
A Service of Thanksgiving for Marian's life was held at Helsby Methodist Church on 19th August; lots of past and present Deeside members were there, as well as family and friends from Marian's many other activities.
OS Map Collection available
published: 13/08/2010
Bob Roach writes:
Due to his moving into a small flat, a friend has asked me to find a good home for his sizable collection of maps. He isn't seeking any payment.
British Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger series.
About 185 of a full set of 204 - the missing ones are mainly of the north west.
The map covers are fairly worn but the maps themselves are generally in good condition -
many have only been used indoors. Most are dated early 1980s, some are more recent.
Republic of Ireland Ordnance Survey maps - 2 groups (most dated early 1980s)
- All 4 copies of the Ireland Holiday maps - 1:250,000 scale
- 23 of the 25 1:126,720 series
If interested please contact Bob Roach (roach36@talktalk.net) tel 01925 728055.
Compass Sport Cup Heat
and MEROC Regional Event
Formby Dunes - Sunday 12 September 2010
published: 20/07/2010
Mike Smithard writes:
Good news - you don't have to send me cheques and I don't have to collect them and pass them on! Event details and entry are now available:
Closing date for entries is Tuesday 31st August.
Enter your age class course as per website to be competitive.
Short green (Vet) should read M75+, W60+ if it does not.
Light Green and Orange courses - scored seperately for boys and girls.
Start times: DEE will be allocated start times every so many minutes. If you have a preference, let me know on/before the closing date so I can allocate names to times. Otherwise, I will tend to put the faster runners off later subject to families starting at similar times.
We may decide to move some people onto the Mens and Womens Open courses as we may be short of runners on them. If your class is the Open, it would be helpful to me if you could enter by the Thursday before the Lakes 5 day so I can see how many runners we have on those courses. If you are M/W45 - M/W55 or M20 and are willing to run up, please email me before the Lakes 5 day. I will let you know what the situation is at the Lakes or by email before the 31st. If you will be away at that time, let me know that so you can enter in time.
Responses and questions by email to Mike Smithard (smithardm@btinternet.com)
Home International Selections
published: 14/07/2010
Mike Beasant M18 has been selected to represent England at the JHI; Chris Owens M16 is a reserve.
For the VHI, both Sara Cambell & Liz Jackson have neen selected for W45; Mike Smithard M60 is a reserve.
Sandstone Trail Races
published: 05/07/2010
Jill Barnes writes:
Entries for the races are coming in faster than ever before and most of the 190 places in the A race are already taken. If you're thinking of entering - DO IT NOW!! The B race is well on the way too and I'd expect that to be full before the closing dates on 20 September (postal) and 28 September (online). Follow this link to enter online or to download a paper entry form.
We will again be relying on Deesiders to help with registration, marshalling and other vital jobs on race day. If you're free to help, please email the organiser Geoff Shaw (geoff.shaw@nuvia.co.uk) or phone him on 07919 191995.
Narrow win for MDOC in DEE/MDOC Challenge
published: 05/07/2010
Event report by our Chairman Barry Barnes
Quite a few Deesiders made it to Macclesfield Forest on Saturday 26 June to compete in the DEE/MDOC Challenge. To score we had to run in the middle distance event in the forest and then later in the day in the UltraSprint event in West Park, Macclesfield. The events were part of MDOC's Regional Town & Country Weekend (rounded off by an urban race in Stockport on the Sunday).
Rather fewer of us were able to stay on or return for the park event but those that did had an interesting evening topped off with a barbeque. The races were 2 heats and a final, for which you had to sort out your butterfly loops from your gaffles. Each race culminated in a tape maze with controls in all the awkward corners. It was a lot of fun, as much to watch as to run.
MDOC won by an apparently narrow margin, scoring 98.9 to our 98 at Macclesfield Forest and 99.1 to 98.3 for the Sprints. The calculation of the Challenge results is shrouded in the traditional mystery; you may however view the results of the constituent events:
MDOC have shown great originality in event planning recently and are to be congratulated for providing us with such a stimulating Challenge - and for such an amazing range of beachwear displayed by the organisers!
North West win JIRCS
published: 30/06/2010
Chief coach Noel Schorah writes:
Well done to all the juniors who ran for the North West Squad in the Junior Inter Regional Championships ("JIRC") team last weekend. Everybody ran really well. We have returned the trophy to the North West at last!
Also a big thank you to everyone who continues to support the cake stalls - this money will help fund the training tour to Norway - your cake eating is helping our juniors to stay on top!!
Links to photos and results on BOF web site
DEE News Copy Date
published: 24/06/2010
The copy date for DEE News is 5 July.
Please send your articles, news items and pictures to the new editor Jane Mockford (deesidenews@yahoo.com) .
Cotswold Outdoors open in Chester
published: 15/06/2010
Cotswold Outdoors have opened in Chester opposite Wilkinsons in Foregate Street - 15% off with BOF membership.
DEE runners in Jukola relay
updated: 16/06/2010
Chris Smithard and Tom Beasant are off to Finland to run in the Jukola relay on 19-20 June. This is an overnight 7-leg relay, with 15 000 participants and 30 000 - 40 000 spectators. A bit bigger than the Harvester relays then, and more spectators than the average DEE Summer Evening Event.
Chris and Tom are running for one of the three "South Yorkshire" teams: Chris on the 3rd - long night - leg for the 2nd team, Tom on either a middle length day leg or a long night leg.
The event web site will carry all sorts of fancy feeds to keep you awake through the night:
- A live web feed of the start at 22:55 Finnish time, 20:55 BST
- Tracking of the top 20 seeded teams by GPS
- Draft results continuously updated during the competition
We wish Chris and Tom well in their runs.
IRC 12-Hour Challenge
published: 07/06/2010
Steve Ingelby writes
We managed to complete the IRC 12 Hour Challenge, completing the allotted route that my daughter Ali had set from Ambleside to Pooley Bridge via 7 major fells in a total of 11:30 hrs - so her estimation of walking / running speeds was very accurate.
Ali set off from Ambleside at 07:30, glad of the early start due to the cooler temperature, although it was already getting warmer by the minute. She completed her leg over the top of Loughrigg to High Close Youth Hostel in 0:45, which was bang on schedule. The 1st photo was taken just after she handed over to me and my partner, Gordon, who turned out to be a bit like 'Klaus Braun on steroids' (meant in the nicest possible way!).
Our route took us over Silver Howe and Blea Rigg to Stickle Tarn (2nd photo). Right from the start Gordon was having problems with his hydration rucksac. He had taken equipment for any eventuality and even though the sack was a bit like the Tardis in the space available inside, the zip gave up on the pull up Silver Howe and needed some string to keep it together. By the time we got to Stickle Tarn, Gordon (shown on the right in the Team Photo) was going well boosted by his unique mixture of water and mashed bananas in his "platypus" (he apologised for having to stop on several occasions because of blockages in his mouthpiece which required some backflushing).
The pull up to Harrison Stickle from the Tarn was hard work in the heat but at last there was a cool breeze on the ridge along to High Raise. Here Gordon brought out his secret weapon from his sack - a full length (18") cucumber (he wanted to bring a water melon but it wouldn't fit in!) This kept him going well down to Greenup Edge pass and then for the long descent down into Grasmere. This section is not particularly pleasant for running - its rocky and broken up, so nowhere really that you can stride out until you get down to the road. However we managed to finish in about 3 hrs, which was 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
Gordon had fooled his sponsors so they would support him on a per km basis. So after the leg he did with me, he continued on Leg 3 over Hellvelyn and then added on Leg 5 over High Street and down to the Finish at Pooley Bridge - a total of 49 km!
Ali was also doing the short leg 4 from Glenridding YHA through Patterdale, so I went along to give her some company (as it was all downhill!).
I was very pleased during the Challenge that all my body parts stayed in the right places! I had been suffering with hamstring and achilles twinges in the week before the run and so was feeling very nervous, not wanting to let the team down. However, there don't seem to be any severe after effects (I might even take up Mountain Marathons again!). Due to members' generosity and that of my work colleagues at INEOS I have managed to raise just over £250 for the International Rescue Corps to help them with their very valuable work.
Well done Chris Owens
published: 02/06/2010
Chris came 2nd in the M16A class at the Scottish Championships in Rannoch Forest on 29 May 2010 - he was the meat in an SYO sandwich, between Zach Field and Simon Bradbury.
Full results on the Scottish Orienteering website.
Junior Inter Regional Championships selections
published: 14/05/2010
By Mike Smithard
Four Deeside juniors have been chosen to represent the North-west in this year's inter-regional competition in late June near Brecon
- Philip Vokes M14
- Olly Williams M16
- Chris Owens M16
- Mike Beasant M18
Good luck to them in their attempt to match or beat their 2nd place last year.
The full team is: Katrina Hemingway, Sarah Jones, Katie Wright, Natalie Beadle, Zoe Harding, Rosie Watson, Hannah Bradley, Laura Jones, Charlotte Watson, Katrin Harding, Alice Fellbaum, Sophie Horrocks. Reserves: Carolyn Hindle and Carrie Beadle; Alistair Thornton, Philip Vokes, Adam Barlett, Will Rigg, Chris Nash, Chris Owens, Matthew Penellum, Oliver Williams, Mike Beasant, Lewis Taylor, Jack Wright, Carl Edmonds. Reserves: James Allison and Alex McCann.
Steve, Alison Ingleby raising funds for International Rescue Corps
published: 13/05/2010
By Steve Ingleby
Many of you will remember former Deeside member Alison Ingleby who is now working for Nottinghamshire CC as an Emergency Planning Officer. In her "spare" time Alison also volunteers as a District Training Officer for the International Rescue Corps (IRC), a UK charity set up to undertake search and rescue missions using specially trained personnel following natural disasters. Although much of their work is undertaken overseas, their most recent call out was following the Cumbrian floods in 2009.
IRC relies upon donations to fund their important rescue work and this has led Alison to organise a sponsored 12 Hour Challenge in the Lake District, in which a relay of walkers/runners will journey from Ambleside to Pooley Bridge via 7 famous summits while a relay of cyclists will undertake a parallel journey visiting 7 lakes en route. Very few of the IRC are practised fellrunners so completing the allotted journey on foot within the 12 hour limit is going to be quite a challenge. In order to keep at least one of the teams of runners/walkers on the straight and narrow, Alison has asked her Dad (Steve) to navigate on Leg 2 of the relay, starting at High Close Youth Hostel and ending at Grasmere - via Blea Rigg, Stickle Tarn and High Raise. Judging by Steve's recent orienteering performances, navigation may be more of a problem than Alison believes! Steve's leg is about 12 miles, although it might turn out considerably longer if it's misty on the day.
If you would like to sponsor this endeavour please could you e-mail him your pledged amount to Steve Ingleby. (steve.ingleby@virgin.net) Please can you state whether you would like this sponsorship to be considered under the Gift Aid scheme, which would enable IRC to maximise the income from the event. Thanks to all those Deesiders who have already pledged their suppport for this worthy charity.
New DEE member wins Fellsman
published: 13/05/2010
New member Duncan Harris created a stir by winning the Fellsman last Saturday against stiff opposition, covering the 61 miles and 11000 feet of climb in just over 11 hours. You can read all about it in grough magazine.
Duncan only managed third place in the Brown on Frodsham Hill in March, but he promises to do better once he's learnt a bit more about navigating.
Teaching Orienteering Part 2 course in Vale Royal
published: 12/05/2010
Chris Story, Partnership Development Manager for the Vale Royal School Sport Partnership has organised this course for teachers as follows:
The course will be held on Friday 25th June (full day) and is likely to be on the Marshall's Arm course, based out of Hartford High School (TBC). This course is for staff who have undertaken Teaching Orienteering Part 1 OR those who have a good knowledge of Orienteering already. Successful candidates will be qualified to take groups off the school site to parks such as Marbury or Delemere Forest and this course also supports those introducing Orienteering as a GCSE practical option.
Further details from Chris Story (chris.story@hartfordhigh.co.uk) and course booking will be through the INSET system for Cheshire West and Chester.
DEE members with contacts with Vale Royal schools may wish to encourage appropriate teachers to enrol.
DEE members in winning teams at Harvester
published: 11/05/2010
No Deeside teams this year at the Harvester but 2 of our SHUOC members were there: Chris Smithard ran leg 4 in the 7 leg A race, fastest split on that for him and victory for his team and Tom Beasant ran last leg in their 5 man B race team which was also victorious. See the Full Results.
MDOC-DEE Challenge 2010
published: 11/05/2010
MDOC have issued the Challenge for 2010 based on their Regional Town & Country Weekend which will be taking place over the weekend of 26th/27th June in the Macclesfield area. As usual the rules of engagement and scoring will be determined and communicated nearer the time, however they envisage using results from both Saturday events to arrive at the eventual winner. The events over the whole weekend are:
- Part 1 - Saturday 26th June morning/early afternoon
Middle distance race - Macclesfield Forest - Part 2 - Saturday 26th June late afternoon/early evening
Park UltraSprint - West Park, Macclesfield - Part 3 - Sunday 27th June morning
Stockport Town Centre Street Orienteering Event
Details and entry via the Event Website.
MDOC will be providing a complimentary bar-b-que in West Park following the Ultrasprint. This will be free to all DEE members who have competed in both Saturday events. They may charge a nominal sum for non-runners and single event entrants.
Selections for British Orienteering Coaching Camps
published: 07/05/2010
Congratulations to the four Deesiders selected for British Orienteering coaching camps in July: Chris Smithard, Tom & Mike Beasant to attend the Academy Coaching Camp at Uppsala in Sweden; and Chris Owens for the Talent Coaching Camp in the Cairngorms.
Full details available.
Deeside News Print Date
published: 05/05/2010
Nigel Beasant writes...
Deeside News is upon us again. The print date is Sunday 23rd May. Thanks for all your contributions for the last edition. Please send me your articles and news items ASAP, pictures are especially welcome. I am sure you have lots of interesting stories around the JK and British.
All contributions to Nigel Beasant (nigel@beasantn.freeserve.co.uk) please.
British Orienteering Relay Championships
Cannock Chase, 2 May 2010
published: 02/05/2010
Full Results for both days now available.
More from our Club Captain Mike Smithard
No rain on Saturday and no rain on Sunday - but a very chilly breeze blowing. The northern part of the Saturday area is used - straightforward technically with good visibility, larger contour features and shorter legs than Saturday. Times are over 1min/km faster than Saturday showing how much straighter you can run.
Our top Open team is wiped out when Dave Schorah twists an ankle at an evening event the previous Wednesday - Tom and Chris disappear back into the SHUOC squad where Chris runs last for their 2nd team and whilst lying 4th manages to headbutt a large branch necessitating a sit down to make sure his neck and head are in one piece thus losing the chance to get into 3rd place so eventually 5th. Many people have a reasonably long list of why they didn't quite perform to expectations but Chris's list must be longer than most and is now one longer.
Nina Jones and Evelyn Elmes set off first for the 2 Dee teams in the mini-relay and come back very close together. Hannah and Lachlan make steady progress through the closely spaced field to finish 7th for the first team - not bad against the M/W12's. Ed does his now expected excellent job on the first leg of the M14 relay, back in 2nd on the leader's shoulder (not literally). As normal, 2nd leg takes longer but William comes back just in the lead setting Philip off. Drama as the OD runner comes into the field just in front, slips over at the last control but still manages to hold off Philip as they race for the line - 1 metre apart. Tears I'm sure but smiles by the time they go up on the podium - 2nd is 2nd but a minute or two longer and it would have been 4th, 5th... so silver is great. Congratulations to them.
Our M18 team performs in a fairly similar fashion - close behind on 1st leg (Chris Owens), up into 2nd (Matthew Vokes) 30 seconds down after 2 but that man (lad) Aidan Smith comes past on 3rd leg to push Mike Beasant down to 3rd. Still, strong competition in this class so no easy medals this year. Our non-comp 'W18' team of Zoe Smithard, Liz Hughes and Jon Hughes (running as a LOC team who were unable to attend as they had been stuck in New Zealand for weeks after the volcano and really needed to get some work done!) unsuccessfully challenged the real W18's so no stars to them.
A few stars to our DEEclining team of ageing and over-age M50's who very nearly caused an upset against their youthful opponents with Mal coming back in 7th and Steve and Mike holding that position not many minutes down on 3rd in a large field. Interesting scene when Bob Elmes is encouraged down the run-in by team mates Norman and Alan (ageing delinquents of DEE) - the photo appears to have been censored - or did Jane fall backwards in shock/laughter so missed the shot?
British Orienteering Championships
Cannock Chase, 1 May 2010
published: 02/05/2010
Mike Smithard reports
'This is not a car boot sale' said the sign at the end of the long entrance track - 'cos once you're in, you're in as they say. Setting off from home after the first starters were off at 10am, two hours later we arrived with still nearly two hours before we start - last. Bob 'Middle start please' Elmes (ST 10:23) has set up DEE camp in a good location which keeps the wind off. Someone is smiling already when we arrive - Daniel Weaver is leading M10 - first of 8 finishers and only 10 entries - so a podium place already guaranteed! Surprise results abound - Liz Jackson has 'messy' run, doesn't focus as she did for her 2nd place in the middle distance champs but ends up 2nd again - Andy Hemsted has his normal run but leads M60 by 10 minutes when I go off for my start - but with plenty of good people off late. But, apart from myself, that 10 minutes remains to 3rd place at the end - it's bizarre that so many good runners lose so much time - the longer courses are a mix of short detailed legs at the start then long route choice legs - a mix testing several skills/running speed. Emily Davies has bad luck in that she gets a misplaced map from her box but luckily realises and returns to the start to get the right one - but has lost lots of time, Rick Hughes hears mixed message about some courses having descriptions on map and some not so doesn't take any loose ones. Did well, only getting 2 wrong out of 17(?).
So, when the dust settled, how did DEE do podium-wise? Above average I would guess - we covered the age range as at the JK only better - Congratulations to our two British Champions - Daniel Weaver in M10 and a resurgent (?) Terry Harper in M70 and to our other top performers - Hannah Hateley 2nd in W10, Mike Beasant 2nd= in M18E (what a year he is having in his 1st year), Liz Jackson, 2nd in W45, Mike Smithard 2nd M60. Other top placings included: Philip Vokes 9th in M14, Olly Williams a great 5th in his first year M16, Matthew Vokes 11th in M18E, Chris Smithard 11th in M21E (3 mins off 4th - 16.4k in 97mins), Malcolm Irvine 11th in M55, Zoe Smithard 1st W20L, Sara Campbell 4th in W45 and Barbara Majumdar 7th in W60. Lots of others very happy with their runs - others a bit miffed about gorse covered 'open' areas in the detailed bit.
So, 2 M10 champions in a row for Deeside - what a great achievement!
Full Results for both days now available.
Quote of the Day
published: 22/04/2010
"Being lost is a given of human existence."
Michael Chabon: Manhood for Amateurs.
British Elite Sprint Championships, Chorley, 18th April 2010
published: 19/04/2010
Mike Smithard reports
Sprint races - do they excite you? - some are, well, 'boring', easy..... Anything a bit different makes it worthwhile going once to a venue at least. Chorley was like this, a mixture of built up area, parkland and woodland, enough to generate comments and interest. As it's the Elite Champs, so only mens and womens races with a separate non-championship race for M/W16- runners.
Morning heats sort out which final you run in in the afternoon - except the junior heat (only 1) which determines the reverse starting order in the afternoon. Off into a detailed housing estate with pathways and cul-de-sacs but no real barriers or difficult routes so it's a question of keeping track of where you are. Across a road and into a brambly, boggy wood, out into the park for a spectator control across the lake then a quick dive back into the woods and finish. It's desperate if you want to get into the men's A final - only 5 from each heat get through, it's seeded but a slight slip and you're out. Heat 4 is lucky for SHUOC as they fill 4 of the 5 places including Dave Schorah and Chris Smithard. The junior heat is closer - Olly Williams ties in first place with Chris Owens 1 second behind and several others within 10 seconds. This means that Olly is off 1 minute behind Chris in the final with the other first placed runner a minute behind Olly.
The men's final is run first so everyone can watch the tension build. They start in the town centre and that section is straight forward compared to the morning, then into the park/woodland, coming through a spectator control with 4 to go. Chris S is off 5th and has caught 3 of the previous runners by the spectator control, coming in a minute clear at that stage. Dave comes through strongly to finish just behind Chris with the eventual outturn of Chris 8th at the front of a pack of 4 within 11 seconds of him with Dave 10th. Well done to them.
The junior final turned out to be dramatic - with a few runners to come, Aidan Smith was leading, then Chris Owens is seen coming up the hill towards the spectator control, in a fast but not leading time. Suddenly Olly appears behind him, in the lead, and they run through the two visible controls and off down into the wood for two controls before coming back up the hill to the last control. We think Olly has a comfortable margin over Aidan but it turns out to be just 18 seconds as they turn downhill. Then Olly re-appears running strongly uphill and finishes to lead. The last starter comes through but not in the lead. The splits reveal that Olly loses 18 seconds in the wood so is tieing with Aidan at the 2nd last control but gains 1 second on the uphill leg and then they tie on the run-in - Olly wins by 1 second! So a tie and a 1 second win in one day - could be a record. Well done to Olly - enjoy your Go-Ape prize!
Photos by Pete Owens:
Crock of bronze mined at Haverthwaite
published: 17/04/2010
Club Captain Mike Smithard reports from Haverthwaite
Deesiders extracted 4 bronze medals at the British Middle Distance Elite and Age Class Championships at Haverthwaite today. Accuracy and attention to detail were needed on the detailed, but not too detailed [That's a matter of opinion - Ed], terrain. Runnability was better than anticipated and most courses were kept on the higher ground avoiding the steeper eastern slope with its myriad re-entrants and crags. Depending on rock features was always dubious as there is always uncertainty on what is mapped. Congratulations to those who succeeded in keeping in touch whether prize winners or not.
Those in 3rd places were
- Matthew Vokes M18E
- Liz Jackson W45
- Mike Smithard M60
- Malcolm McIvor M70
See the full results.
Pettypool Summer Evening Event cancelled
published: 16/04/2010
We are sorry to announce we have to cancel the Pettypool Summer Evening Event that was scheduled for Thursday 6 May 2010. The Forestry Commission have withdrawn permission for the event because of planned work in the area.
JK 2010 Shock - DEE seniors vying with juniors for podium placings
published: 11/04/2010
Mike Smithard writes
After years of being overshadowed by our juniors, Deeside seniors are fighting back. When was the last time 2 Deesiders finished 1st and 2nd in a JK individual race? Sara Campbell and Liz Jackson achieved this on the first day in W45 in the glorious mud of Cookworthy Forest. Liz lost a little in the sand dunes on the 2nd day but Sara did well again finishing 2nd on the day to win overall. Well done. Nice pair of shoes. But that's not all. She also won the 'sprint' race on day 1, so two nice pairs of shoes!
Our other successful competitors ranged from Hannah Hateley, 2nd in W10 to Terry Harper, 3rd in M70. In between were Mike Beasant, 3rd in M18E (a great result in his first year in M18), Mike Smithard, 3rd in M60, Chris Owens, 8th in M16 and David Schorah, 12th in M21E. Dave's runs got him into the SHUOC first relay team with Ralph Street and Graham Gristwood when Dave took them into the lead after the second leg for Graham to come home 1st in the JK Trophy relay. Congratulations to him.
Deeside's success in the relays was by our M48- first team when Chris Owens came back with the leading group, Philip Vokes lost a little ground on the 2nd, with Mike Beasant getting away from the chasing group to come in 2nd after the SYO team. Our 2nd team in that relay finished a creditable 7th place - Olly Williams, Ed Calow and Matthew Vokes.
Top placings in the sprint race were: Dave Schorah 8th and Chris Smithard 11th (12 seconds behind Dave) in M21E, Sara Campbell 1st, Mike Smithard 2nd, Chris Owens and Matthew Vokes 6th and Pauline Smithard a very good 9th/54 in W55.
See the SPORTident UK website for all the results.
3 Jours du Sud Ouest
published: 10/04/2010
From our France correspondent Jane Campbell
Deeside members had the following successes at the 3 Jours du Sud Ouest around Agen:
- John Evans won H70, leading off in the chasing start 4 seconds ahead of 2nd place and extending his lead to a winning margin of 10 seconds in the run in.
- Not to be outdone Carol Evans, on the same course, took 3rd place in D65.
- Jane Campbell running for French club GO78 was 2nd overall in D50.
Lots of stuff about the event, plus full results, at the event website.
British Middle Distance and Sprint Championships
updated: 10/04/2010
These are being staged on the weekend of 17-18 April, thus:
Saturday 17 April - Haverthwaite - Middle Distance
Details of the day
Entries close Monday 5 April
Sunday 18 April - Chorley - Sprint
Details of the day
Entries close Tuesday 6 April
Both these events also count towards the North West Regional League.
Note that the sprints are open to all age classes.
These events say "Elite" in their titles: that doesn't mean that you need to be an Elite in order to enter. There is plenty of opportunity for less-than-Elites to enter and to compete. Those of us who went to the 2009 events held in the East Midlands had an exceptionally good weekend's orienteering, and this looks like being another one.
Pre-entries have now closed. Your editor's understanding is that EOD may be available for the Middle Distance event on the Saturday, possibly requiring you to request it in advance, plus EOD for colour coded courses; but that the only EOD on Sunday is for a Come-And-Try-It course. Please check the event websites and final details if you intend entering on the day.
Printable details of the whole weekend in the Weekend Flyer.
Northern Night Championships
published: 14/03/2010
Three DEE runners made the journey to the Blagdon Estate north of Newcastle to compete in the Northern Night Championships. Congratulations to
- Iain Bell, first on the Green course and M45 Champion
- Siân Calow, W45 Champion on the Short Green course
Bob Elmes got his money's worth on the Short Green.
Full results available.
Winter Weekend at High Close Youth Hostel
published: 10/03/2010
Mike Smithard reports:
We may have been about 16 fewer than normal, but I didn't get that impression. We filled one dining room for meals and filled the other for Phil Hay's birthday party games so no feeling of sparseness. What a weekend for weather!! Better I think than the CSC weekend in January, our normal date. Ice on the passes meant very few made it to the WCOC event on Sunday but we enjoyed in various places the blue sky and snow views instead. Calows on Coniston Old Man, Beasants - Angle Tarn and Langdales, Smithards and Hateleys, Silver Howe etc. Our return to the YH co-incided with the warden's dog's exploration of the angled roof of the hostel! The cook tried, with success, to prevent it exiting in a downward direction and got him to escape left (as you look at the picture) to a flat roof.
My memories of my last visit here (in the 80's?) has maybe delayed our visit here, it's only a 2 star hostel apparently because of it's sub-standard provision of toilets/showers although it's the same price as the 3 star Arnside hostel so well liked last year. It's a great location, what were other's thoughts re the hostel?
My memories? having arrived in the dark, walking out in the sunshine at 7.45 on Sat morning, 100 metres towards Elterwater over the cattle grid - what a view! Stunning is the only word. Manning the finish on Sat pm on Loughrigg terrace with the views over Grasmere to Seat Sandal and the Fairfield range and watching many Deesiders running up Loughrigg Terace towards the finish. Well done to those.
PS - the cook got a reprimand about the 'custard' which provided a fair amount of comic comment on Saturday evening. The gluten free afficionados had very nice cream instead thank you.
Editor's note: Many thanks to Mike for organising the hostel and the training, and to Pauline for dreaming up the games. A great time was had by all.
Editor's other note: Well my last stay at High Close was in 1964, when I was younger and slimmer than Chris Smithard is now.
Nina Jones is W12 Welsh Champion!
published: 08/03/2010
Congratulations to Nina Jones , who recovered strongly from a tricky first few controls to blast round the Orange course and become W12 Welsh Long Distance Champion in the tough but beautiful surroundings of Bwlch Nant yr Arian, near Aberystwyth, on Sunday.
Full results here - then scroll down to find the links.
Phil Janaway
published: 26/02/2010
The sad news has been received that Phil died suddenly recently. Those that were around when he was a DEE member will recall how enthusuiastic and friendly he always was. He was still into fell running and a member of Macclesfield Harriers, and their website has a tribute to him which shows that he was still as enthusiastic as ever.
North West Night League 2009-2010 Results
published: 21/02/2010
Congratulations to the Overall and class winner Iain Bell (M40+). The other class winners, calculated on their best 3 scores out of 5 events, are
- Alex McCann (M18-)
- Steve Wilson (M19-39)
- Katrin Harding (W18-)
- Lynne Howard (W19-39)
- Rowena Browne (W40+)
Siân Calow came a close second in W40+.
See the final league tables in pdf version or technicolor Excel version.
Mike Beasant and Sara Campbell win classes at Southern Champs
amended: 24/02/2010
Eight DEEsiders ran in the Southern Championships, staged by NGOC at Lydney (Forest of Dean). What is it that these people know about Sunday morning weather in Frodsham that the rest of us don't?
Congratulations to Mike Beasant for winning the M18E class, and to Sara Campbell who won the W45L class ahead of Vicky Thornton (MDOC, who pipped Sara for the Northern title three weeks ago), Karen Nash (SROC) and then Kath Broatch (ERYRI).
Frodsham Hill cancelled due to snow
published: 21/02/2010
At 07:45 the Organiser couldn't get his car up the road from his house, and the roads to the event parking are steeper than that, so the decision was reluctantly taken to cancel.
We are told that the farmer had to tow the milk wagon all the way up the B road leading to the parking at 10:30.
Another competition winner!
published: 12/02/2010
No sooner has Noel won his O boots, than Mike Smithard goes and wins the CompassSport Photo-O competition! Free entry to the Lakes 5 day - not bad for 10 hours' work [Better hourly rate than civil engineering? Ed]. Mike says you have to be retired to do this competition - and persistent.
DEE runners triumph in Northern Championships
published: 09/02/2010
In the Northern Championships National Event, staged on (under and around) various gritstone edges and on the tussocks of Big Moor, two DEE runners became Northern Champions:
- M20 - Tom Beasant
- W60 - Barbara Majumdar (jointly with Helen Gardner)
Sara Campbell was second in W45, and several others won various prizes for finishing in the top three on their courses. Pat Moody was entered in W50L, but at half past one in the morning she was having a bit of difficulty with her previous evening's dinner, and vowing that there was no way she could even travel to the event, let alone run. The morning brought a change of heart, so she went to the event, dropped down to W50S, finished 1st and won this nice pair of running socks. [Must feed her salmonella-burgers more often - RE.]
DEE Junior Winter Weekend 2010
published: 08/02/2010
Mike Smithard reports
Another great junior weekend - some of the 'old school' not there but over 20 juniors having fun - orienteering, getting wet, muddy, joining in the games. Plenty of adults and older juniors to supervise/advise and even do a bit of training, plus Sonia Chavasse and Janet Vokes producing the meals to keep us fuelled.
Noel and Pauline planned the training, classic technique practice from Noel, contours and contour only maps from Pauline followed by the customary 2 person relay - a bit harder than usual (apologies to parents waiting for them back in the car park - they just insisted on 'going out again' - we collected the controls in in the end).
Peace descended just after 11pm on Saturday, and everyone was at breakfast by 8.10 - so top marks for that - prob. a world record! Once again, the youngest girl showed the fastest turn of speed - last year, Hannah Hateley, this year Rosie Davies who ran out of her shoes twice in the relay (though maybe the mud had something to do with it), burning off her 'minder', Mike Beasant, on more than one occasion (photos of that have been suppressed).
Plenty of cakes - and biscuits for the relay winners to share with the others, it didn't rain or snow, the sun shone some of the time, seems as if most will be back next year for more.
Noel Schorah wins Walsh boots
published: 07/02/2010
Congratulations to head coach Noel Schorah on winning the Walsh competition in Focus magazine - see the BOF website for details.
Noel follows a recent tradition of DEEsiders winning things in competitions - Olly Williams, Margaret Murphy, and now Mike Smithard has retired he's trying to get a prize as well.
CRB Disclosures
updated: 24/01/2010
Anyone in the club who is involved with the coaching of juniors needs to have a valid Enhanced CRB Disclosure registered with British Orienteering - they expire three years after their date of issue. Information about obtaining or renewing a CRB check can be found on the British Orienteering website.
Documents can be sent directly to British Orienteering who will process and return them to you quickly. There are also authorised document checkers; those most local to us are Vicky Thornton (MDOC), Mike Ormerod (SROC), Derek Allison (LOC) and Helena Burrows (ERYRI).
Item submitted by Jill Barnes
Lakes 5 day 2010 - event booking and club accommodation
published: 14/01/2009
The Lakes 5 2010 is getting close.
The cheapest entry rates close on 31 January, so if you want to catch them, it's time to enter.
The club's accommodation at Lanehead Outdoor Education Centre, Coniston is filling up, and we are about to open the remaining places to neighouring clubs; so if you haven't booked, and you want to take up this chance to stay in high-quality accommodation with other orienteers, please contact Bob Elmes (dee@elmes.demon.co.uk) without delay.
Lanehead is booked from Saturday 21 August to Thursday 26 August 2010 inclusive (departing Friday), i.e. 6 nights. This covers the whole of the Lakes 5 2010 event - training Saturday, individual events Sunday to Friday.
The cost is £96 per person for the 6 nights, payable by 20 February 2010.
The centre is on the east side of Coniston Water, extremely handy for days 2, 3 and 4, and pretty good for days 1 and 5. It is for our sole self-catering use, in bunk-bed dormitory accommodation.
Facilities include:
- Kitchen
- A professional catering kitchen, which is normally used to cater
for the resident parties - but we will be using it for self-catering. It has:
Large 6-burner gas hob, with plenty of space to use all 6 burners. Very large double gas oven.
Separate grill.
Rotating toaster.
Microwave.
Wardrobe type freezer.
Several fridges (I counted 4).
Commercial dishwasher (washes in 2 minutes - not like the namby-pamby dishwashers you have at home). - Domitories
- Plenty of space. Dormitories typically sleep 6 in bunk beds; one dormitory sleeps 8.
We will endeavour to satisfy requests for who goes in which dormitory.
All dormitories have at least 1 en-suite room (toilet, wash basin, shower); several have 2 such rooms.
Additional showers and toilets accessible from the corridor.
- Dining room
- Includes facilities for making drinks
- Briefing room
- Includes TV/cassette/CD
Ideal for children - Library/sitting room
- Ideal for grownups
- Outdoor kit storage, and drying room
- Serious drying facilities - more than enough to cope with the worst weather.
- Outside
- 2 large BBQ stands in garden, plus picnic table.
Backs onto Grizedale Forest, with permanent orienteering (and Mountain Bike Orienteering) courses, mountain bike trails including 10km single- track course.
Views across Coniston Water to the Old Man. - Large Games Room
- Detached from main building
Table tennis
Table football
More...
The centre been recently refurbished to a very high standard, is very comfortable and clean, and our hire includes a daily housekeeper visit for cleaning.
Any questions, please contact Bob Elmes (dee@elmes.demon.co.uk) tel. 01928 731946.
Deeside News
published: 10/01/2010
by the editor of our printed edition, Nigel Beasant
Deeside News is upon us again. The print date is Sunday 24th January. Thanks for all your contributions for the last edition that made a bumper Xmas edition. I wait to be deluged with your articles and news items; pictures are always welcome.
What else would you be doing now we are all trapped indoors by the snow and ice but writing an article for Dee News?
All contributions to Nigel Beasant (nigel@beasantn.freeserve.co.uk) please.
Interland selection
published: 09/01/2010
Congratulations to Chris Owens on being selected as a travelling reserve for England at the Interland competition in Belgium this March.
DEE Winter Weekend 5-7 March 2010
published: 03/11/2009
A 'high level' YH this year at High Close (Langdale) with walking and orienteering straight from the door. Usual arrangements. Full details and booking form available online, or contact Mike Smithard (smithardm@btinternet.com) tel. 01244 380565. Early applications appreciated.
Looking for news from 2009? Then try our 2009 news page.
Or from 2008? Then see the 2008 news page.
Before that? Try the news archive page.
