Best ever BEOC

[graeme]

We've heard a lot of blah about Culbin being the best ever BOC/BEOC, so I got to wondering what the competition for that title was

I first ran elite in 1987 (remarkably, the 1987 BOC and JK elite Champions are running elite at Culbin, alongside those born that year), so I can't comment before that. I've missed four by living abroad (88,89,01,02) and planned one (00), those aside my top three are..

Creag Mhic Challean 1996
Newborough Forest 1995
Penhale Sands 2005

and since you can't go far wrong in those places "best use of area"

Kyloe 1991 (would have been Woolbeding aside from the OOB cock up)

Simon has the full list at http://www.maprunner.co.uk/

What do you think?

[mikey]

Achilty 1986

Weather

Terrain

Course

[drobin]

Worst ever, Strines 1975

Weather

Terrain

Course

[NeilC]

(would have been Woolbeding aside from the OOB cock up)

Spot the difference time
http://www.go.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi?act=map&id=2&kieli=
isn't hindsight wonderful

[pyrat]

Achilty, now thats definetly an area that should be shown some love once again.

[EddieH]

Sadly the forest in Achilty North has been made awful by working/felling. The south hasn't been used for ages but was fantastic whenI was last there.

[DavidJ]

Worst ever, Strines 1975

Weather

I was just thinking of contrdicting you in that I was sure I could recall beautiful sunshine filtering through the trees at Strines for this event. But now I think it must have been the JK relay in 1978! (with thanks to Maprunner for the listing to help correct my memory)

[EddieH]

Holme Fell in 88? takes a bit of beating except that there were no results at all on the weekend, and it was about 2 months before we even found out who had won!

[Neil M40]

I liked Magilligan. and Graythwaite.

[awk]

My own favourites have been King's Garn Gutter (1980) and Mytchett Common (1998).

[SYO Member]

Drobin and DavidJ, BOC at Strines was on the 8th June 1975 and weather wise, even for early June it was an absolute scorcher. At the JK Relays, held there on 26th March 1978, it was cold and wet with snow on surrounding moorland.

My favourite BOCs are also Kings Garn Gutter (1980) plus Newborough (1995 and 2001).

[EddieH]

Mytchet 1998 was a very enjoyable BOC, but not a BEOC. Who remembers the latter event that year? No doubt a small low key event without atmosphere.

[Patrick]

Mytchet 1998 was a very enjoyable BOC, but not a BEOC. Who remembers the latter event that year? No doubt a small low key event without atmosphere.

I remember it! Low key it may have been, but 2 hours spent trogging up and down bits of Tarn Hows and Black Fell in blazing sunshine was pretty memorable, if not especially enjoyable at the time.

My favourite BOC/BEOC long races are:
1) Newborough 1995
2) Newborough 2001 [didn't have the novelty factor, but still an awesome area - is any of it still usable?]
3) Loch Vaa 2000 [to keep Graeme happy; also JD's winning run was one of the greatest championship performances I've seen]

Honourable mentions:
Lossie 2004 - superb planning, but lacked the competition and race atmosphere (to be honest, that could also be said of my Top 3)
Graythwaite 1998

And for good measure, BEOC Middle faves:
1) Loch Vaa 2000 - I've said it before, but still the most enjoyable race I've run in the UK
2) Blakeholme 1998
3) Binevenagh(sp?) 2002

I haven't done most of the Sprints, but just to annoy all the urban-O evangelists I'll pick Ulpha in 2004, narrowly ahead of Ham Hill in 2003. You know, some of us actually like running sprint races in areas with crags and wiggly contours.

Cheers,

Patrick

[Big Jon]

got to be Newborough 1995 - but I'm biased........
(and it was 1:10,000 for the elite - but don't mention that to anyone!!)

[EddieH]