SOC event at New Copse

[Tatty]

To say it was wet was a masterly understatement!! Just to say that the road we went down to get to the event was closed due to flooding on the way back!! Not a good day to be putting up and running the Start. I ran in ALL the kit I had on, and was nicely warm, if slow, throughout my run. We jumped straight in the car and drove home so we could get into the shower quickly. Feel sorry for the Planners having to collect controls in. The waterproof maps certainly got a testing today and came out with flying colours. Not sure what paper they were, but they were produced by BML Printers. It's still raining now at 6pm and it started before 8am!! Roll on summer.

[Timsands]

Those SOC members who organised and helped out today deserve a medal. I cannot recall an event with such persistant rain from start to finish. My main reason for writing however is the quality of the waterproof maps. After two hours in pouring rain my map appears no worse for wear than when I took it out of the box. Mud splashes appeared to wash off leaving no sign of a stain. This is completely in contrast to the MV National event where my map was virtually made illegible after contact with mud.

[Barny of Blandford]

Thanks to all of SOC for todays wet event and particularly to Jack and Charlie for the excellent courses
The maps were brilliant - if I had been given a paper map in a sealed bag today I would never have been able to read it through the map bag in all the rain - as it was it was so clear that I had no problems even with my running glasses - everything washed off and there was plenty of that - no problems with creases - map was substantial enough to take everything that happened and in my case lasted two and a half hours and was still perfectly clean at the finish. I then put the car heater on to warm up and my map was dry within five minutes.

I do think that we have to remember that we have had 30 years to get the technology right for printed maps and we are all rather expecting instant results with plastic maps - the technology is going to take time to sort out and I have no doubt that we will be trying out different plastics for a while.
I do however think that it is the way forward as we modernise the sport and refine it
What does worry me though is that if we are not constructive in our comments out resident printers who all spend many hours producing maps for all our events (and I honestly would have to say that it must be a labour of love - I cannot believe that it is cost effective for them) will stop doing maps rather than face the constant gripes - it is after all their hobby as well and they want to enjoy it

[djc]

I'll second that sentiment on the maps. I also was out over two hours on the long-O and my map looks as if it has just been taken out of the bag. I didn't take a dive in the mud like I did at the National Event but I suspect this map would have coped a lot better.

[Paul Frost]

So, out of interest, what was the magic paper that was used?

[Barny of Blandford]

You would have to ask Nigel Benham at BML Printer that question as he did the maps for the SOC event