Grampian Mountain Challenge 2010

[plain lazy]

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to make folk aware of a new Mountain Marathon event that will be taking place on weekend of 13th and 14th November. We're trying something a little different with this event by combining conventional orienteering on a 1:10000 map, along with a mountain marathon on a 1:40000 OS landranger map, there will be a map exchange on both days.

There will be a remote overnight camp in the hills, with some food, refreshments and entertainment laid on too... AND competitors only need to carry kit for the daytime on the hills, overnight kit (tent, sleeping bags etc) will be transported to the overnight camp!

We've got some info here http://www.grampoc.com/gmc/index.htm and will be adding more info as the organising and planning progresses.

It would be interesting to hear what folk think of this in the meantime.

cheers

Ali Robertson
GMC2010 Planner

[plain lazy]

Entries now live for The 1st ever Grampian Mountain Challenge.

https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=372

Check event website for some pics of the area very soon!

Ali

[LostAgain]

Just out of interest, how will the overall results be calculated?

I thought it would have been one continuous race with a straightforward map exchange. Therefore cummulative time

Nice to see a new attempt to introduce a long O.
Not so sure about the timing Camping November in the far North and also clashing with an Interland selection race.

I guess it depends whether they are hoping to attrac us weedy English and any English juniors.

[plain lazy]

We are hoping to combine the two together into the one race time with a map exchange (punch control then pick up new map) so that you keep same EMIT brikke for the weekend. The only real problem we can foresee with this is trying to get Routegadget to separate the two maps and allow us to show the races correctly.

We want to encourage folk from all over to come along, but we do have a minimum age,check the event website for rules. You never know, it could be lovely weather overnight!

[rocky]

Sounds like a great event to me Ally - I'm tempted to give the solo class a go and challenge my (long-time retired from orienteering) OMM partner to a duel!

Camping in November will be fine - no need to carry gear so just pack a big sleeping bag and loads of warm clothes... plus there is beer for sale and we all know the insulating properties of a beer jacket!

[LostAgain]

You never know, it could be lovely weather overnight!

You've had your lovely waether for they year!!
is it not raining now? Whilst the rest of us bask in sunshine

[mharky]

Sounds awesome, I'm well up for it. Although I don't think I have any of the recommended minimum experience...

[plain lazy]

You've had your lovely waether for they year!!
is it not raining now? Whilst the rest of us bask in sunshine

Haha... maybe we have. The rain has stopped again...not sure how long for though!

Sounds awesome, I'm well up for it. Although I don't think I have any of the recommended minimum experience...

I'm sure you've enough other O experience to see you pass the entry requirements mharky... I'll have a word with the organiser.

Camping in November will be fine - no need to carry gear so just pack a big sleeping bag and loads of warm clothes... plus there is beer for sale and we all know the insulating properties of a beer jacket!

You just need some waterproofs, warm layers, 1st aid kit and food for the day and everything else can be taken to the overnight stop in a bag (tent, sleeping bag, guitar, psp etc etc...)

[plain lazy]

November's premier two-day mountain event, the GMC, is now only 4 weeks away!
We've had 30 entries already, so the event is definitely going ahead - the only question is: are you up to the Grampian Mountain Challenge?

2 days of running and orienteering in the shadow of some of Britain's highest hills...
Camping in November...
... then telling tales of derring-do in a big tent, with hot food provided and beer on sale!

If this sounds like your cup of tea, don't forget to enter before the 1st November.
http://gmc.grampoc.com

[Big Jon]

Go on mharky, I'm sure you can manage it, you've been living in Scotland now for a few years, so must have grown a thicker skin! - or else try a "whisky jacket", much more powerful than a mere beer jacket.
Should be good - and if you stray well off course you might even fall into the Scottish Champs 2012 forest and get a sneaky preview.......

[plain lazy]

A few teaser pics of the area taken on Sat 23rd October. It was a cracking day on the hills, snow flurries, and spells of warm sunshine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iwh/sets/72157625231517760

Tempted yet?

[Big Jon]

Area will be great for the event, been there often on training runs. But the ground is likely to be a bit damp underfoot, there's been a fair bit of rain the past few weeks, so come prepared with a decent ground sheet for your tent!

[plain lazy]

They came, they saw, they survived! The inaugural Grampian Mountain Challenge has been and gone.

Just under 80 competitors took to the hills early on Saturday morning, with a short orienteering section in Inver Forest at 1:10000 scale including an epic early climb, then picked up a 1:40000 OS map and headed out into the real tough stuff over the Invercauld Estate. All 3 courses visited the summit of Cullardoch at 900m which was blanketed in snow.

Overnight camp was at Corndavon Lodge in Glen Gairn, well below the snow line but still remote enough to feel like the back of beyond. Competitors and Marshalls were treated to some fantastic food, a (very) well heated marquee with a 7-piece acoustic folk band playing most of the evening, and a choice of 2 ales from the Deeside Brewery.

As the dawn broke over the mid camp, it became apparent that as well as the hard overnight frost, snow had fallen further up the hills, which only added to the challenge facing competitors on their way back to base.

Day 2 courses on the OS map never reached the same heights that Day 1 courses did, but most felt they were a lot tougher, partly due to the extra snow, and partly due to rougher terrain in places. After the map exchange there was a final short section of technical orienteering in some challenging heathery terrain. It proved an energy sapping end to the event.

Well done to all of the competitors that finished the whole event, we only had a handful of retirees. The event was organised brilliantly by Sean, and all the marshalls and helpers did a great job. I hope that this is only just the beginning of something, that the event can grow into a permanent fixture in the calendar.

Any volunteers to take it on next year so Sean, Ian and I can have a go?

[andy]

any results?

[denzil53]

Results are now posted on the Grampian Mountain Challenge website.

http://gmc.grampoc.com/