Controller's Comments

Ultra Long Courses

Fylingdales Moor demands very careful planning.  Most of the moor has thick, unmanaged heather merging frequently into energy-sapping bog.  Joe did a fine job in providing a path option on most legs with some straight runs over moor where there was some decent running for the observant competitor.

We used a photocopier to produce the maps.  They looked fine in most respects but some of the fine detail was lost.  However we decided that without the need for fine navigation we thought the final product acceptable.  We'd appreciate feedback on that.

It seems quite a while since we had any involvement with what used to be called 'Long-O' and has recently been classified as 'Ultra Long', so we needed to think seriously about the logistics of managing the event.  Safety is of prime importance hence the need for manned controls.  Many thanks to the CLOK members who volunteered to sit at (picturesque) sites for what must have seemed like hours, keeping a tally of passers-by.  It nearly worked perfectly!  Please let us have any constructive feedback as we intend to make the event a regular fixture, with an event at Catterick next year.

Colour-Coded Courses

That was a great effort from Jim, especially having to travel over 40 miles to Sneaton to do his planning.  It's not an easy place to plan at the best of times, more so when the vegetation is at its most severe.

With hindsight we could have shortened the Light Green, Green and Blue.

We had a disaster on the map printing.  The maps were originally printed on a new laser printer, which left the toner unfixed.  Paul Thornton and Will Dehany printed emergency maps at short notice on their own machines, saving the day.  Many thanks to them for that.

On the day as a whole, may I thank the two planners, Joe Dobbs and Jim Elder, and the Organiser, Joan Selby for the enormous amount of work they put into the event.  Also, may I thank the other CLOK members who gave their time, energy and expertise during the day.

Paul Taylor
Controller