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With the cloud down on the summit, like it was today, I think Titterstone Clee Hill ranks higher than Brown Clee Hill and other contenders for this crown. There is a two kilometre 400 metre wide strip round the base of the hill that is full of reentrants and depressions left from mining. My Brown course at today’s regional event had 9 controls in this strip which provided a great test of orienteering skills. The rest of the controls might have seemed fairly straightforward but any loss of concentration was punished; one big spoil heap looks very like another. The low cloud added to the challenge.

The courses were excellent and we didn’t regret the fact that the two hour drive we’d imagined was actually nearer three. But there were only 200 pre-entries and 205 completed runs. There would probably have been more if they had not underestimated late demand, so all TD5 courses were full, but it seems a real shame that more people didn’t take the opportunity to enjoy this great event.

I know it’s a bit of a trek for most people, but next time HOC run an event there I’d strongly recommend entering.

... and nobody under 40 getting more than two "peers" to race against.

Stark contrast with Barr Wood (SoSoL - "local" event) then. Less than 1 square km with 16 crossovers on a 7km "brown" course. Super planning by Roger Goddard (19 controls on Brown, of which 18 made up Blue!), very sharp mapping by Stirling Surveys, and plenty of people on each course to make a race of it.

The difference in numbers at Titterstone Clee and Barr Wood was only about 30, so PG and graeme's posts seem to reflect different perceptions in different parts of the country as to whether 200-250 is a good or poor turnout.

It does appear from the results that there was much stronger competition on courses at Barr Wood, but that is because it only had 3 TD5 courses and Titterstone Clee had 8.

Perhaps events should be more ready to amalgamate courses in order to improve competition, if entry numbers are not high enough to justify providing the full range of courses originally advertised.

Mikeg wrote [quote]Perhaps events should be more ready to amalgamate courses in order to improve competition, if entry numbers are not high enough to justify providing the full range of courses originally advertised.[/quote]
hat is exactly what they do in Portgal. My W80 mother entered an event at which the shortest 2 course were cancelled for this very reason. Thus on the final day when we had a plane to catch she had about 5.9k in technical sand dunes.
Maybe it helped concentrate the mind as she completed it in a lesser time than she took on the previous day's middle distance.

Sorry if this is going to kick off a "dog war" again but one of the reasons we (family of 4) did not go was because there was a ban on dogs. We went to the Forest of Dean event instead on Saturday instead and paid £2.00 for a cracking Blue course, plus took the dog on the run around the woods (with the organisers agreement). I personally would have loved to have run at Titterstone as I haven't been there for years and really rate the area. Another reason was that there was nothing "on" the event, i.e. it was just another regional. As for the National Event at Cannock in December where again there is a ban on dogs, we will be going and have already been in touch with the organiser and she has provided details of where we can park outside the entrance to Beaudesent campsite and walk/bike the 1km to the car park.
Don't get me started though on the JK as it was like a military operation weeks before, buying the ordnance survey map of the area, getting the car park grid references from the organiser for each day and recceing the suitable "alternative" car park spots the day before each of the competition days. But the bonkers upshot of the day 2 area was that we parked the other side of a hedge to the official car park, but not in the owners field, so we were fine (within the rules) and could actually chat to our mates through the hedge.
So we (dog owners) will sort parking out ourselves where there is a ban but only when we take the initiative and it's an important event in the calendar (also the main reason for us not going to SIN's this year, no access to Brown Clee for doggies )

Phil

graeme wrote:... and nobody under 40 getting more than two "peers" to race against.

One of the reasons why I welcome the self-selecting peer group that the transition to colour based courses should provide. (Incidentally, some of us were in this position despite being over 40!).

And I'd echo PG's comments - I was at Titterstone Clee yesterday too and will happily go back if the opportunity arises. Thanks to all involved.

Clee Hill is great when you are lucky enough to get clag. Trouble is it can lift rendering the competition a lottery. Mind the hill is in the cloud a lot. Amazed at so few on an area uncomfortably close to such a big city.
Barr Wood was very good, and despite its size an even better area.

Any progress on expanding to the not as technical but very fine terrain on Catherton Common? Or is it "too far west" or a victim of "access"?