The post of Punch editor has been vacant for a while, since both a Scottish university and a Scottish club enticed our previous editor to move up North. We're grateful that Louise Walker has now stepped into the breach and, now that orienteering is back on the road (and soon, hopefully, back in the forest!) hoping to get the next edition out by the end of August. Louise has already put out a request for articles via the club email list, so we'd better all get typing!
We'd like to thank our previous editor, Chloe, for all the work she did in this voluntary post, and wish her every success both on her course and with her new club.
We've now established permissions for our Simon Peck Summer Series & we also have a new venture, a series of Social MapRuns, as informal meets, open to all.
The SPSS events will have the normal format, i.e. a choice from 3 or 4 linear courses with SI timing, while the Social MapRuns will be score courses using GPS tracking. The Social MapRuns are unashamedly based on the successful format used by local running clubs - meet near a pub, run, return to said pub for refreshment and chat.
The Social MapRuns will each involve a 60 minute "Street-O" score course where you will need to use the MapRun6 (or its predecessor, MapRunF) app on your smartphone. In addition, carrying a printed map is an option which makes route planning easier - and is a necessity if you run with the MapRunG app on your Garmin sports watch.
If you haven't used the MapRun app before you can find details on our MapRun pages. All will be welcome, whatever their level of experience, so please encourage your friends to have a go!
Now that restrictions are beginning to be lifted we have two events to look forward to in June. The first is on Sunday 6th in the Bridge Wood section of Orwell Country Park - an area well known for its contours and, though we've held events there previously, never fails to challenge! A newly-mapped area - the West Suffolk town of Clare - will be the venue for our second event on June 20th. The event will be centred on the Clare Castle Country Park, enabling the younger Juniors to have traffic-free courses while adults can explore the interesting mix of ancient and modern in the rest of the town. The third Summer Series event will be on July 18th, again on a newly mapped area - the grounds of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, alongside the River Stour.
If you're wondering how best to train for these events - or would just like to do some additional orienteering without travelling too far - all our virtual courses are still available, & have, in fact, been increasing in number! The newest version of the app is MapRun6 & you can find our course locations summarised on this page. If you haven't tried any yet you'll find the background information here.
The second of the Mapping webinars is on Tuesday 4th May - this is the one which Martin is helping to present. For further details & links to the registration page see this news item. If you weren't able to take part in the first one you can still watch a recording from the British Orienteering Webinar page.
The previous evening we have our own online club session. Clive is running this session, with help from Sally & Simon. The session will include an initial presentation, trying out selected courses on Running Wild, small group discussions &, if you're lucky, even a fun quiz! All members should have received information about this - there's still time to apply, just email Clive.
The next two British Orienteering webinars cover the vital (to us!) topic of Mapping - and SuffOC's Martin Hore is helping to present the second one! For further details & links to the registration pages see this news item.
