A weekend of contrasts - Cumbria, 26/27 November 2011
A few ESOC members travelled to Cumbria for the Penrith urban event and Tim Watkins Blodslitet, and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.
The Penrith urban event was on Saturday 26 November, with the event centre at a rugby club on the SE side of the town. The courses started amongst housing estates, going steeply uphill, then back down to the older buildings and narrow lanes of the town centre, visiting the castle and a large school before the final few controls in another housing estate. There were some long legs with interesting route choice, and unfortunately there was an open gate (in an uncrossable wall) that should have been closed, leading to controversy about the results, and eventually some disqualifications for the unwary. The weather started off dry but windy, and there was rain for the later starters.
ESOC results:
Men’s Open – Andrew Lindsay 10th, Tom Mallows dsq (gate problem)
Men’s Supervet (55+) – Crawford Lindsay 4th, Roger Scrutton 10th
Women’s Open – Helen Bridle 2nd
Women’s Supervet (55+) – Sally Lindsay 6th
See the Borderliners results page for results and a report from the event.
On Sunday 27 November, the Tim Watkins Blodslitet was held on Silver Howe, in the heart of the Lake District above Elterwater. This event has longer courses than usual, lots of controls, and a mass start for each course, high on the hill. Controls 2 to 9 could be visited in any order, which spread out the field. The terrain was open fell, mostly tussocky with areas of juniper and bracken, plenty of rock, some marshes and lots of contours. The weather had been shocking overnight, and there was a heavy shower when most were on their way to the start, but it cleared up and was eventually sunny, with lovely views.
ESOC results:
Course A (14.7km, 775m, 36 controls) – Andrew Lindsay 10th
Course B (12km, 640m, 30 controls) – Helen Bridle 5th
Course C (11km, 615m, 28 controls) – Crawford Lindsay 17th
Course D (7.3, 340m, 23 controls) – Sally Lindsay 21st
See the Tim Watkins Blodslitet page on the SROC website for results, Routegadget and more information (including an interesting description of putting out the controls in the horrendous weather that preceded the event).