Olympic Tour

[Stodgetta]

Over the next 2 weeks, up to 130ish mad Swedes are embarking on an "Olympic O Tour" of Western Europe in a coach or two. From what I can make out of it, it is an annual orienteering holiday for competent orienteers of all ages (including a handful of elites), Oing as many times as possible in their fortnight. This year, I believe the tour is taking in the following countries: Germany, Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy, with a horrendous-looking travel and O schedule !

The UK events are next Tuesday and Wednesday (1st & 2nd November) with events organised for them at Sutton Park and on Brocton Coppice (where last years YBT final was held), and then over the following weekend, taking in the November Classic and ? an event in the Guildford area???

The Brocton Coppice event on Wednesday is certainly available for EOD if anyone is interested in coming along (£5 a run), with 2, 4, 6 and 10km ish courses available (all as technical as the terrain will allow). Start times 10.30-11.30am, SI punching and very informal. A few more details are available at http://www.walton-chasers.co.uk

[gross2006]

Actually the Host-Ost tour organised by Peo Bengtsson since 1971. Up until late 70's it used to just visit the old east european contries but now goes anywhere.

Peo was also one of the founders of the O Ringen.

[Miffy]

Great, I have weds, thurs, fri off work next week and this will avoid the current plan of having to mix tons of concrete for FatBoy!

[mikey]

Anyone know anything about the Tuesday event at Sutton Park? Is it open to anyone?

[Tatty]

As Organiser of the November Classic have just been informed that Mats Troeng, ranked number 1 in teh world at the moment, and a leading W21 are coming. There are half a dozen competitors in the Swedish A/B squads coming!!

[gross2006]

Shame it's not an IOF WRE then.... would be a points fest for the Brits:)

[Guest]

During Tuesday 1 Nov we shall travel by our buses about 300 km from Harwich to Birmingham.

Before the competition we get perhaps possibilities to look at Birmingham individually and have voluntary lunch.

There will be a competition, first start 14.00 with long-distance courses during the afternoon, wished courses 12 km; 7 km; 4.5 km and 2.5 km, in Sutton Park (about 15 km north of Birmingham Centre), usual punches. Hopefully many local orienteers can participate, like in all other visited places. Parking at the Wyndley Leisure Centre by the Main Town Gate off the Stonebridge road on the Soth East side of Sutton Park.

Marlene Palmer (mother of Stephen) is my contact at Birmingham.

In the afternoon perhaps a little party together with local orienteers can be organized?



I have booked accomodation in central Birmingham, at Hotel Formule 1, Bordesley Circus . Also here both the breakfast-room and the breakfast – costs 2.50 £ - are small, so the breakfast is not included in the basic costs. Hopefully we find more breakfast-places near Hotel Formula 1, in other case we organize a breakfast-timetable at Hotel Formula 1.



On Wednesday morning 2 Nov, we travel by bus to next long distance-competition (Ray Collins is the course-setter), first start about 10.00, wished courses 10 km, 6 km, 4 km and 2 km (SI-controls), at Milford Common on Cannock Chase (about 30 km NNW of Birmingham Centre). We travel M6 to the north, at Junction 13 we follow large Brown signs to Shugborough. At Milford Common turn right at a small roundabout signposted Brocton, the car park for the event is the first on the left and very obvious. Near finish there are several eating-places and expensive showers. After the competition about 250 km bus-travel to Holyhead. Late afternoon –18.10-20.10 - we shall take a HSS-ferry between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire, and there are also possibilities for individual eating and drinking.

We have this Heathrow-accomodation during 2 or 3 nights. On Saturday morning we shall have a middle distance-competition, courses L 7.2 km; M+ 5.2 km, M- 4.3 km and K (=Short) 2.5 km on the Mytchett & Old Windmill Hill -map near Deepcut (about 30 km WSW of Heathrow) together with a monthly school-competition organized by Southern Navigators OC – their chairman is Paul Fox. The same map was used at World Cup 1st of May this spring. 400 m to start. No startlist, but SI-start between 09.30 and 10.30, all in finish probably before 11.30. Only control-descriptions on the map. Maps in plastic-bags.

Paul has informed me, that we visit Great Britain on a very speciell day, because on the 5th of November in the 16th century, a gentleman – called Guy Fawkes – tried to destroy the British Parliament with fire and gunpowder. However he failed, but his attempt is celebrated each 5th of November with bonfires and fireworks everywhere.

During the afternoon we visit London - perhaps also a Premier Leage-football-match, Arsenal – Sunderland and Luton – Manchester City play 15.00, and Christoffer Bjäreborn (Aftonbladet-journalist, earlier from Kristianstad, now working in London) thinks that it is easier to get tickets to the Luton-match. In the evening about 20.00 we have the �Höst Öst Legendar�-dinner at our Heathrow-hotel.



On Sunday the 6th of November there will be a morning National Long distance competition in the New Forest, west of Southampton – about 120 km SW of Heathrow, starttimes between 10.00 and 12.30. Parking at Burley Village, free bussing to the competition-place Reptile Centre. My contact there is Di Smith, she has informed me, that this Southampton-competition is the 38th November Classic competition. On the 38th �Höst Öst�-tour !!!! Fantastic. Week 1-participants will get early start-times, so Bus 3 can leave about 13.00 and one of the other 2 buses about 13.30.

EMIT-punching, agegroups, oldest classes HD 75 and L(ong) and S(hort) courses in most age-groups, startfees 9 £ (adults) and 4 £ (juniors and youths) with 1 £ pro competitor for EMIT-hiring.

Course-lengths for all classes look at the Swedish version.

[mikey]

That'll be Fulham v Man City. Kick-of 3.00, Saturday November 5th.

Tickets still available on-line.

[IanW]

Paul has informed me, that we visit Great Britain on a very speciell day, because on the 5th of November in the 16th century, a gentleman – called Guy Fawkes – tried to destroy the British Parliament with fire and gunpowder. However he failed, but his attempt is celebrated each 5th of November with bonfires and fireworks everywhere.

It might be worth explaining to our Swedish friends that the event started with a public holiday declared by king James I (who was the main target) to celebrate the failure of the plot.

However, experience of British government, over the last 20 years or so, has caused many to view it as a celebration of the attempt. (Careful Paul, I'm sure this could fall within the realms of the anti-terrorism act).

Ian

[gg]

I have planned the Sutton Park courses. Might be room for a few extras, pm me first though. Starts Tuesday from 1 i think, with courses 3, 6, 9 and 12km ish.

Pre-printed maps but limited supply

[awk]

It might be worth explaining to our Swedish friends that the event started with a public holiday declared by king James I (who was the main target.....
Ian

..... or maybe an instigator, if it was a put up job by Robert Cecil .

[ifititches]

last night, during their Birmingham stay, we had whole-city Divali. Eid and early bonfire night fireworks rolled into one.Spectacular; the cat didn't emerge for 5 hours, and my training run was a great place to see multiple close-up displays! Hope someone explains to them that it wasn't all about Guy Fawkes..

[Stodgetta]

This is their full itinery:

2005-10-31 Osnabrück Germany
2005-10-31 De Zwarte Bergen Holland
2005-11-01 Sutton Park England
2005-11-02 Sherbrook England
2005-11-03 Mournes Mountains Ireland
2005-11-03 Killiney Park Ireland
2005-11-04 Djouce Ireland
2005-11-05 Mytchett & Old Windmill Hill England
2005-11-06 New Forest England
2005-11-07 Boulogne France
2005-11-08 Arlon Belgium
2005-11-08 Luxembourg Luxembourg
2005-11-09 Mulhouse France
2005-11-10 Feldkirch Austria
2005-11-10 Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
2005-11-11 Winterthur Switzerland
2005-11-12 Tesserete Switzerland
2005-11-13 Venice Italy

I believe some of them were slightly worse for a night out in Birmingham last night, and one or two of them already have aching legs. Apparently the oldest competitor is 87! It will be interesting to see how many of them are still going in a few days time.
Their results are all up at http://www.matstroeng.nu/hostost2005/

[stodge]

The best bit yesterday was seeing the looks on the faces of about 40 retired ramblers on a trip from milford common car park and local residents taking in the sight of 100+ scandinavians getting changed and hanging their O kit in the trees to dry after they had run.