CompassSport Cup Scottish Heat 2013Birsemore Hill, 17 February
A below-strength ESOC team came 3rd, on a beautiful sunny day.
Birsemore Hill is on Deeside, and is steep-sided, with many crags on the northern slopes, avoided by the courses. Strangely, there were two starts on either side of a small river (for short / long courses), and then the longer courses immediately crossed the river. There was a lot of climb, so courses were shorter than usual. This event took place in bright, mild weather, but on the high ground there was still a covering of snow to slow down progress.
The event centre was Aboyne Community Centre, an ideal base, as it provided indoor facilities and allowed post-race analysis with hot drinks and cakes available.
18 hardy ESOC stalwarts made the journey north – not a full team, so it was never likely that we would qualify for the final (in the Forest of Dean), let alone raise a team to compete so far away. With this small team, everyone’s score counted. ESOC scored 1627 points, coming 3rd behind MAROC with 2386 points and GRAMP with 2245 points, who both had full teams. MOR (with 1 competitor fewer than ESOC) came 4th with 1500 points.
Congratulations to Claire Ward and Janice Nisbet, who won their course. ESOC scores were as follows:
Claire Ward – Blue Women – 100
Janice Nisbet – Short Green Vets – 100
Clive Masson – Blue Men – 98
Helena Nolan – Green Women – 98
Jim Clark – Short Green Vets – 98
Andrew Lindsay – Brown – 96
Alastair Lessells – Green Men – 96
Eleanor Pyrah – Short Green Vets – 94
Heather Thomson – Blue Women – 92
Ian Pyrah – Green Men – 92
Craig Nolan – Brown – 91
Ray Ward – Brown – 89
Janet Clark – Short Green Vets – 88
Crawford Lindsay – Blue Men – 87
Gemma Karatay – Blue Women – 86
Sally Lindsay – Green Women – 82
Mark Kassyk – Blue Men – 71
Brian Miller – Blue Men – 69
Thank you all for coming. Next year’s final is in Aldershot, Hampshire; roll on 2015, when it will be in the Lake District and a full ESOC team will be required for the Scottish heat!
Full results, Routegadget and other details are available on the Event page of the MAROC website.
Crawford Lindsay
Club Captain
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