aldershot?

[Tatty]

My first MTBO and in retrospect an enjoyable event. Not what I was thinking as I struggled the wrong way across all the wallows on my bike which didn't want to move! I seemed to get better as the event progressed and I got more used to the map and what my new bike was capable of with a slow old cogger aboard! Certainly want to do another one, preferably without all the sand to ride through. Many thanks to the planner and organiser.

[Jon Brooke]

I had a bit of trouble with the purple overlay too, but my worst error on the long bike was to go from 26 straight to 29 because I didn't spot that 27 and 28 were on the next map until I got to 29. I just saw that there was one more control on the map I was using and went to it. John Hooligan did that too, not sure how many others did. As 29 was on the next map too, it would have been better to leave it off map 6(?)

I had thought about doing the long run, but when I saw the canal run on the blank maps of the course I decided to do it by bike instead - good decision.

It would be great to use Ash Ranges and or Frith Hill for the run and boost the technical element a bit.

Not too bothered about canoeing on sit-on-tops in Jan.

On the whole though I really enjoyed it. Great vision by the organisers to see that this event was possible. It was amazing to do an event that long all off road in such a built up area. Good to have another long hard event to do down south.

[ifor]

yes I almost made that mistake at 29, fortunatly I started getting the next map out half way to 29 and spoted the missing 2 controlls, like you say 29 should not of been on the map.

That section is the only place where I had any comment from the general public a woman complained that I was cycleing on a path. At the time I had no idea what the situation was but checking the OS map there where no public rights of way in the area at all so no problem.

Ifor

[FatBoy]

Sounds like a top event - would def be up for it next year and in the summer. Prior engagement prevented me from going to this one (which was good fun as well).

I'd say keep the canoeing out - and that's coming from a canoeist. If I wanted to do an adventure race I would do but a long-o or an mtb-o shouldn't have canoeing in. And I would say keep the micr-o out as well - yes it would probably fry my brain and make me get them all wrong but doesn't really sit in a long-o?

[P2B]

That's a fair point, Fatboy, there is something to be said for keeping the event 'pure' as either 'O' or an Adventure Race... I struggled to get round the bike-O without any added complications and felt adequately chuffed enough with myself at the end (and this is coming from a beginner adventure racer). There could quite possibly be insurance implications too, although I'm not sure.

Whatever the organisers decide to do next year I'm sure it will be fantastic (again). When do entries open?!

[Crawford]

We will probably drop Barossa & Bagshot and have start on Frith Hill, bring in Ash Ranges and finish on Hawley.

Hawley to Frith is only 6km approx. Perhaps an option would be to allow riders to cycle to the start along a marked (road) route. Ease pressure on the transport.

Thanks for a great event.

[Jasper]

Great day, great achievement by both organisers and competitors hats off to everyone. Its about time me had a decent endurance race in the South for the Oing frat. Roll on the next event. On a personal note I felt a slight sense of under achievement as I passed many of the runners on the Long O suffering from the many kms they had already completed (I had a really late start on the Short O because I was a helper on the day).

Thoughts on the next event do not try to over complicate. I believe Canoeing would cause to much of an admin burden (safety, helpers, and extra cost) and do the Oing running and MTB freaks really wont the inclusion of this in the event?. Micro O to complicated and unwelcome after such hard slog.

Great day my legs are still suffering.

[Simon]

Its about time me had a decent endurance race in the South for the Oing frat. Roll on the next event.

And for those looking for long events down south, Wimborne have a long-o on the 5th March at Burley. Details and entry form is here

[SJ]

It sounds like it was a great event. I'm really annoyed that I missed it - particularly as it's not often that events start a 10 min jog from my house!

Roll on next year's event!

I reckon I'd be put off a bit if it involved canoeing though - adds a lot to the danger element. I manage well enough just on foot! Would there still be a running only course?

[Mr timE]

I reckon I'd be put off a bit if it involved canoeing though - adds a lot to the danger element. I manage well enough just on foot! Would there still be a running only course?

Guys, Don't get worried, the plan is that when we repeat the event, probably on Sat 30 Dec 06, it will be the various MTBO & Long O options. Having discussed it with Dave Rollins we may run the MTBO straight out across Hawley (cuts out the tpt hassle) over to Frith Hill & Mytchett & onto Ash and have the Long O do a long loop, Minley down to Long Valley & back to Hawley. I have already tasked someone to map North Camp so we can cut out the canal section. The canoe & Micro are options for the summer if we are able to run it then and would be optional sections, the aim is to attract some of the adventure racers to try some decent MTBO & orinteering on proper O maps. Anyway keep the suggestions coming, Dave & I still reckon a sprint O section is needed though, perhaps at the front to warm you up!

[Supersaint]

I don't think there would be much point in having a sprint in it. Sprint races are good because you have to make decisions at flat-out speed. Having it in a long-o wouldn't make it a challenge at all as you really wouldn't be doing it that fast, and would just be there to add distance onto an already long course.

[rocky]

Having it in a long-o wouldn't make it a challenge at all as you really wouldn't be doing it that fast, and would just be there to add distance onto an already long course.

unless there was some bonus applied to the time in the sprint section: ie 10 seconds there is 1 minute on the rest of the course or something. could be done.

[Mr timE]

Perhaps Sprint O was the wrong terminology, I think more a quick 'O' of 1-2km on the camp map with a spectator control beside the main square before you are launched out onto the main maps, nice and technical to wake you up and something for those just watching, or those waiting to start to view and cheer people along. Concept is keep the basic principle of a long O, but make it more attractive to watch. We could do similar with MTBO. We are also considering issuing key points locations maps to spectators, so they can cheer people on around the course at major road crossings, also feed & water them and even recover them back if needs be. Hopefully a 0900hrs first start for the long courses will mean they will all be back in by dusk and we can send short courses off from 1000hrs.

[Jasper]

One admin gripe I picked up on from a number of finishers was the lack of drink at the end. We must do better next time round. Its a must if there is to be a summer event. In the winter some type of hot drink would have gone down a bundle.

[Supersaint]

and making the drinks point on the course a lot more obvious. I was told that it was where the Short-O started, but seeing as that wasn't on the Long-O maps, and there wasn't the usual cup symbol on the map or descriptions i never looked to see if it was there. It may have been there, but i never saw it and could really have done with it.