Planner's Comments

First of all, I'd like to say a big 'thank you' to:-

• Paul Taylor -- for updating the map.
• Karen Poole -- for her knowledgeable and supportive controlling (and for helping to collect the controls in after the event, which is not part of the Controller's normal duties!).
• Chris Poole -- for helping to put the controls out before the event and collect them back in afterwards.

There have been problems with the Eston & Lazenby map for some time now, and after my first planning visit I had come to the conclusion that I would have to withdraw as Planner for this event because I wasn't prepared to plan on such an out-of-date map.  Fortunately, Paul Taylor stepped in and did an immense amount of work re-surveying the area and updating the map.  Although the map still needs some work in parts of Wilton Woods, the map of Eston Moor and Lazenby Bank is now of a high standard, and it was a real pleasure to be able to concentrate on designing challenging and enjoyable courses rather than having to hunt for acceptable control sites in areas where the map wasn't too inaccurate!

My initial thought was to see whether we could have parking and Registration in the 'communication mast field' beside Eston Nab.  This would have made it possible to have a different Start location and, of course, to avoid the slog up the hill to the Start.  Unfortunately, at this time of year the ground was too wet for us to use that field, so we had to revert to parking beside the NHS offices.

I kept the Finish at the top of the slope because I wanted to make it possible to have a clothing dump in the Start / Finish area if the weather was particularly cold.

My general approach to the planning was to try to keep the technical courses off the paths as much as possible, and to give the 'TD3' competitors (Orange and Long Orange) some options to take short cuts across the moor as an alternative to running round by the paths.  The Long Orange course (which I still think of as 'Red') was intended to give runners a chance to stretch their legs a bit as well as having to do some basic navigation.

Judging by the spreads of finishing times, I got the course lengths about right.  The winning time on the Brown course was a bit longer than the normal target, but I make no apologies for planning this particular course to provide a physical and technical challenge for fit, competitive orienteers.

Please use the bulletin board to let me have any comments or suggestions on the courses.  I'll probably end up doing more planning some time in the future, and I'd like to keep on learning!  Also, please consider plotting your route into RouteGadget.  I'd be interested to see how you tackled the navigational challenges.

Alastair Mackenzie
Planner