Overloaded fixtures list???

[awk]

So what next? After the excitement of Sheffield, and the other autumn urban races (there doesn't seem to have been much terrain based orienteering to wet the palate, although I was sorry to miss Harden), what are people looking forward to? Aside from Beaudesert, I can't see much to get the pulse above soporific until the end of January. Makes me wonder why we get all these comments about an overloaded fixtures list.

[LostOldTimer]

Maybe its since hte traditional 'Badge' and National events formats disappeared...
I cannot get excited about 'ordinary' colour coded courses, or 'old' terrain...
Bring back weekly (one per region per month) Badge events, or highly publicised national events, on top quality terrain.
I guess we will have to wait until the British Champs, JK, Scottish 6 day etc...
or smaller, local events on NEW terrain (though i admit most areas of the country must have been mapped), but this is probbaly where the novelty of City races comes in giving the orienteer a new challenge of navigating across newly mapped cities. Lets map most urban areas, combining town cities and parks linked together.

[ifor]

We are into my favorite bit of the year, a none stop string of Night events. Nothing new terain wise but in the dark its a challenge eveny when you have run there countless times before. West Woods was as nice as ever last night even in torential rain.

[frog]

I love night events, despite being completely rubbish at them. Sounds like some folk are just fussier than I am. At the moment there's something on within an hour most weeks which is great, more if you count the night events.

[Wayward-O]

Thumbs up from me for weekly local night events . Hopefully, the recent flooding in Cumbria will not cause too big a dent in this Winter's schedule, although I can understand that Orienteering may no longer be a priority with some members.

[andypat]

JUst back from the Scottish Score at Pitmedden near Perth. Really enjoyed the challenge of having to think a bit more. Although did manage to visit the same control twice rather embarrassingly. In my defence it did look quite different coming from the North than it did on the way up the map!

[frog]

I had an enjoyable if frustrating run. I really should plan my route a bit more. Did 133 then 130 and realised the large field to the north had numbers in it but no controls as I entered it so bit of a silly route choice. Shouldn't have bothered trying for 121 as I'm not that fast and couldn't then leg it to the finish in time. The time in the first half of score events always seems to go really slowly where as the last 15 minutes just vanishes. Hadn't bothered to check where the finish was until at 121 either which was very stupid. See routegadget is up on SOA website, other results not quite there yet.
Well done to Interlopers and Robin.

[SJ]

The time in the first half of score events always seems to go really slowly where as the last 15 minutes just vanishes.

yes, every time! time is relative to feelings of panic...

[andy]

STAG's Glasgow park champs, 6th december, always a good event.

[Homer]

What about Whitbarrow on Sunday?
Top area only used a couple of times before.

Properly slippery pavement there, unlike Sheffield...

[redkite]

do not forget Pwll Du on 6th Dec. Should be cracking, particlularly if mist down.

[Stodgetta]

...or the YBT final at Tilgate Park on the same day.
I'm looking forward to it, just a shame there aren't so many clubs contesting the final this year.
But hardly congested - Crawley, South Wales, Glasgow - and 3 very different areas, too.

[JennyJ]

or SYO Ramsley Moor on the same day (new area)

[mharky]

or use the off-season for training

[DavidJ]

or use the off-season for training

.. or fitting in Christmas (shopping, office parties, children's plays, carol concerts, visiting relatives, wining and dining). I expect a lot of the potential organisers find December quite difficult and I am not surprised that there are fewer 'big' events. But mid-January through till Easter looks too crowded and I will need to decide which events to miss.