Twin Peaks Urban weekend

[Stodgetta]

Can I say a big thank you to MDOC for a fantastic weekend of racing in Manchester...
Yesterdays sprints with very different prologue & final kept you thinking, twisting & turning or running flat out, & todays urban race was on a brilliant area with canals, bridges, underpasses and route choice decisions all the way. Great assembly areas, great atmosphere & good fun, well worth the trip for both days

[andy]

The two-race sprint yesterday was amazing, best race I've done for a while. Contrasting areas, well planned courses (I was worried the prologue would be a parkland burn-up but it was really technical, miles apart from the course on RG from the last race there), what more can you ask for!
I thought today was good too, but perhaps a bit long (which I was thinking as I ran through the same grid streets for the 3rd time!)

[Stodgetta]

Today was only too long if you're young - us oldies had fun all the way
Also good to see a proper technical 16- course as well (my dinkies have appreciated the chance to run up and get the experience both days, even if they are propping up the results they are happy).

[King Penguin]

Yesterday was good, but today was great. The best urban event I have done for some time.
Not too long for me (M55); I would happily have done more. Well done and thanks MDOC.

[iainwp]

An orienteering race starting outside my back door (Saturday Qualifier). Just a shame it was my back door of 25 years ago, whereas today's is 2 hour's drive away. Both days really good fun. My results ...

[DM]

Thanks to all in the club who made it happen. Margaret and Andrew Gregory for over a year of access discussions, Steve Lang for great courses and Peter Gorvett as controller.

There are some photos on the MDOC Facebook page, if you want higher res copies just let me know.

[awk]

Just like to add my voice in thanking the MDOC team for a brilliant weekend's urban orienteering: two contrasting, well planned, areas/courses yesterday, and an excellent urban race today. Loved it all, especially as 'proper' sprint races (i.e. not a chasing sprint or single race sprint) are all too rare. I'd agree with King Penguin that the MSV course today was not too long. In fact I was disappointed it had come to an end!

Just to reflect on a chat I had with Steve (planner) and Peter (controller) at the finish: I'd suggest the second half might have been even better if there had been a map exchange immediately after the timed crossing, rather than the map flipover. Just to swing the balance back towards having to plan your course on the run. It might not have been practical, but it's something I hope planners will consider in future.

[rob f]

It was nice for a change to be doing an urban race which actually had 3+ route choices for several legs, and unobvious fast routes. Think the quality was just maintained throughout the 8.6(11.5)km.

Anyone know the guy who was taking photos on Saturday?

[buzz]

Yeh, great races. From a coach's perspective the weekend worked really well - three proper sprint and urban courses for juniors getting progressively harder. Just the job. Thanks

[buzz]

I'd suggest the second half might have been even better if there had been a map exchange immediately after the timed crossing, rather than the map flipover.

Yes, absolutely agree - perhaps slightly more expensive and a bit more admin but would have been worth it.

The efforts to make the map more readable for colour blind people were appreciated. The white 'shadows' on numbers really help and I understand a slight transparency on the purple lines was also used which gave more contrast against some of the map colours. The biggest help was the use of 75% yellow for open areas which contrasted much better with the olive green than full yellow.

[JK]

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Routegadget now available as well as lots of results and splits and stuff
http://www.mdoc.org.uk/twinpeak2014/index.htm

[m4rk]

To echo the above - it was an excellent weekend; well worth the trip.

I had no problem with the length of Men Open - Tavistock at 14.5km running distance after a middle-distance race in the morning was pushing it a bit; this was totally fine.

I didn't have a problem with the timed-out crossing; could probably have got away with 1 min rather than 2 if you wanted people to plan less rather than resorting to an additional map. In reality although I did plan the long leg in the timed-out time; it turned out to be not the best route anyway!

[High Peak]

Rob F said

Anyone know the guy who was taking photos on Saturday?[/quote]

Probably Peter Cull - see http://t.co/2CeiCMiF5V

Just to add to the comments about the weekend - great map (esp. Sunday), great planning, great events!

[nooomember]

Manchester Headcam link to youtube here:
http://youtu.be/798ctzoLGkc

Also videos from Platt Fields Park and Fallowfield.
http://youtu.be/ahH8LmqE_vI
http://youtu.be/2Z8mgU7DjY0