A Grand Day Out at Culbin

Culbin is one of the most challenging but enjoyable orienteering areas in the UK, so it didn't take much to persuade several club members there in  the sunshine.  Today's event incorporated the Moray and Highland Junior Championships.

Star of the day was Alistair, who sprinted round the Under-15 Boys' Championship course in 26 mins 31 seconds to take a cracking second place.  He then did the non-competitive micro course in the dunes beside the car park, but still hadn't had enough, so he went off round the Light Green course and clocked the second fastest time of the day on that.

Meanwhile Callum recovered from a distinctly wobbly start to get at least a MORAL victory on the Green course (4.8km) (Mike Rodgers undoubtedly has an unfair advantage in knowing the forest like the back of his hand.)  Cathy Mayne might feel obliged to re-join the club after coming in just 7 minutes behind Callum....  Also on Green, Steve Salem chalked up one of his best results finishing 8th.  Hilary S did well to get round in just over an hour and a half considering she's fighting off the dreaded lurgy.

Alex Campbell must have left scorched heather behind him as he stormed round the Blue course (6.8km) in 56:08 - all that secret training paying off at last.  Hilary Q meanwhile claimed the Fast Old Woman title on Blue.

And if those times sound awfully slow for those distances, remember that in orienteering the course length is calculated on straight line distance, and by the time you've chosen a sensible route it's often a lot more than that.  Then you start making mistakes........  and of course the terrain tends not to allow smooth, fast running.

Full results are on the Moravian website.

Photo Gallery

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Silver medallist Alistair

Post-race analysis

20th May 12  by Hilary Quick

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