It wasn’t exactly an easy ride to get this event up and running. We had originally hoped to hold an event and Knettishall Heath, but when the Wildlife Trust withdrew permission a few weeks before the date of the event this was clearly not possible. Thanks go to Sally for gaining permission at this late stage from West Suffolk Council to use Nowton Park and Hardwick Heath and for planning the courses. I heard mostly positive comments from participants. Thanks too to Peter Woods for controlling this event.
I decided to ask Grounds Café if we would be able to put the download in their Café, and was delighted when they agreed. This meant that we didn’t have to worry about more tents and a generator, and we were even more grateful once that heavy rain appeared in the early afternoon. We had got a dry base! It looked like many orienteers were patronising the café, so I hope that we might be able to do this again.
Participation in orienteering events is still recovering from COVID and it is always difficult to estimate how many people are likely to attend. We had over 130 online entries and I think that regular orienteers are getting used to having to enter online in advance. We had some late entries from Barnardiston School and a few entries on the day, but I was pleased with the total number of attendees.
We can’t put on events without volunteers, so a big thank you to all the people who helped on the day, especially those of us who went out to collect controls in the torrential downpour. At least the Registration tent and equipment had mostly been put away before getting wet, we only have some sopping stuff drying out in our conservatory.
Until next time.
Sarah Mansel
I was really pleased that today’s event could take place after Suffolk Wildlife Trust decided in October that we could no longer hold events at Knettishall. I know that people will have missed the challenge that the latter area brings, but I hope you found that the intricate urban area that was part of the longer courses in some way recompensed. However, I do know that views are split on urban orienteering and it is not everyone’s bag. I was really surprised at how runnable Nowton Park is in winter – the club usually uses it in the summer – so this also provided some different route choices without getting tangled in the brambles that sprout later in the year. I’m looking forward to seeing where everyone went on Routegadget.
It wasn’t exactly an easy ride to get this event up and running. We had originally hoped to hold an event and Knettishall Heath, but when the Wildlife Trust withdrew permission a few weeks before the date of the event this was clearly not possible. Thanks go to Sally for gaining permission at this late stage from West Suffolk Council to use Nowton Park and Hardwick Heath and for planning the courses. I heard mostly positive comments from participants. Thanks too to Peter Woods for controlling this event.
I decided to ask Grounds Café if we would be able to put the download in their Café, and was delighted when they agreed. This meant that we didn’t have to worry about more tents and a generator, and we were even more grateful once that heavy rain appeared in the early afternoon. We had got a dry base! It looked like many orienteers were patronising the café, so I hope that we might be able to do this again.
Participation in orienteering events is still recovering from COVID and it is always difficult to estimate how many people are likely to attend. We had over 130 online entries and I think that regular orienteers are getting used to having to enter online in advance. We had some late entries from Barnardiston School and a few entries on the day, but I was pleased with the total number of attendees.
We can’t put on events without volunteers, so a big thank you to all the people who helped on the day, especially those of us who went out to collect controls in the torrential downpour. At least the Registration tent and equipment had mostly been put away before getting wet, we only have some sopping stuff drying out in our conservatory.
Until next time.
Sarah Mansel
I was really pleased that today’s event could take place after Suffolk Wildlife Trust decided in October that we could no longer hold events at Knettishall. I know that people will have missed the challenge that the latter area brings, but I hope you found that the intricate urban area that was part of the longer courses in some way recompensed. However, I do know that views are split on urban orienteering and it is not everyone’s bag. I was really surprised at how runnable Nowton Park is in winter – the club usually uses it in the summer – so this also provided some different route choices without getting tangled in the brambles that sprout later in the year. I’m looking forward to seeing where everyone went on Routegadget.
Best wishes
Sally