Article from Tchimes

AN EPIC ADVENTURE IN THE CHEVIOTS

Another year, another Phoenix. This annual long orienteering event based in the picturesque Cheviots offers tiring climbs, exhilarating descents, breathtaking views and, for those who want it, intense head-to-head competition.

A number of different courses are offered, ranging from the A course, for the very brave and hardy, to the shorter D course, also for the brave and hardy (though not to the same extent!). For those who prefer to run with somebody else, pairs classes are offered on courses C and D. The format is somewhat different from your average colour coded event: a 1:40000 scale Harveys map is used and there are usually only a few controls per course. This results in a shift in the orienteering emphasis: the navigational challenge lies not in fine TD5 orienteering but in route choice. Decisions such as "Should I run straight across this 200m deep valley, or should I run the extra 2km around the top?" can make legs extremely enjoyable, especially when several valleys, hills and ridges lie between you and your next control, adding to the complexity. The long legs also allow those who enjoy fell running to come into their own.

After winning the D Pairs with my dad last year, I was aiming to do well in the D course individual competition this year. On Saturday, after having some difficulty finding a control, I finished in third place, 7 minutes behind the leader. On Sunday, there was a chasing start, and I knew I had to go for it. Things were going okay until, during the second leg, dense cloud significantly reduced visibility and a fence not marked on the map confused me. By the time I'd relocated, I was wildly off course and thought I'd blown it. The two people behind me had made the same mistake, and we arrived at the second control almost simultaneously. We caught Saturday's winner up on the next leg, but still thought there was another runner ahead of us. The final two legs before the finish were highly exciting. I managed to break away on a gentle descent, but was checked on the final ascent before the finish. I took a slightly different route choice to the two runners who'd just overtaken me and arrived at the final control ahead of them. (I think a certain degree of luck was involved!) It was easy to maintain the lead over the short stretch to the finish. Much to my amazement (and joy!), I was told that I was the first runner to finish.

Several CLOK members entered the Phoenix this year, and I'm sure they'll tell you how exciting and enjoyable an experience it is.

Benjamin Grandey

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