The Weather

[MIE]

Just done a blue course at the BAOC event at Long Valley - bit chilly but great fun.

Suspect the crocs were hibernating.

Mike -- the crocs were waiting for you to try and run across the ice covered lake,
they would have grabbed you when you broke through

[yted]

I put some controls out last week for a mate to find and he had some difficulty this week with control 9: ruin, inside N corner as shown on photo! Running in Yorkshire today was great training for the sand dunes next year; but we've had to cancel Scarborough on Saturday as I can't get there to put the controls out - Jan 15th is the probable new date.

Control 9

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[IanD]

Just done a blue course at the BAOC event at Long Valley - bit chilly but great fun./

Would have liked to go. Could (I think) have got there, but wasn't sure I would get home again. This is because for the first time in the 23 years I've lived here, the road up (and I do mean up) to my house has not been treated by the council, despite it being a hospital access and a bus route.

Thinking about buying a new car anyway, perhaps I should get a 4-wheel drive, and not worry about the extra fuel consumption?

[SeanC]

Unsurprisingly the DFOK Kent Night Cup (street event) at Swanley tomorrow evening is cancelled. My wife had a 7 hour journey home from work yesterday, much of which was spend on the Swanley by-pass.

Also the Kent Orienteering League event in Greenwich Park on Saturday has been cancelled. The paths do get very icy in the park (due to the number of visitors) so it does make it quite unsafe for the junior courses.

However if you live in London, why not* go to the park anyway with your sledge or tea tray?

* answers might include trains and the roads, but the river boat might be running.

[Tatty]

No they weren't!! They were lurking in a thigh deep,snow covered vehicle track that I fell into up to my thighs. They were grabbing my ankles so I couldn't escape

[IanD]

For what it's worth (probably nothing to anybody but me), I agree with the decision to cancel the street race, but disagree with cancelling the park race.

Iced-up pavements and cars slipping around the streets would not make for a safe street race.

But, as you hint, the kids will be out in their local parks sliding around anyway. They'd probably have been safer running around the orienteering course than they will be on their sledges and tea trays! Especially at Greenwich, where the paths are bounded by grass and it would be easy to avoid slippery tarmac by running alongside it.

[SeanC]

It's not quite as simple a decision at Greenwich, as there are some complicating factors in addition to the safety. I'm not the organiser or controller so not my place to go into the full details. Trust me.... it was the right decision. I love running through the snow as much as the next person...

[Big Jon]

"Anyone for Ski-O? " Behind the times Spookster - Maroc is already organising one for this Sunday.

[Big Jon]

PS its been snowing in Deeside since last Wednesday (about 1 m, 3feet of snow fall), but no one has been whingeing from up here, just get on with it you soft southerners!

[DaveK]

PS its been snowing in Deeside since last Wednesday (about 1 m, 3feet of snow fall), but no one has been whingeing from up here, just get on with it you soft southerners!

If you listen to the news/read the press down here in the South-east, it could well be the end of the world.

It's not quite as simple a decision at Greenwich, as there are some complicating factors in addition to the safety. I'm not the organiser or controller so not my place to go into the full details. Trust me.... it was the right decision. I love running through the snow as much as the next person...

Tell us more Sean.

[Mrs H]

Gosh it must be hard being Scottish - having to be so dour and tough all the time meanwhile in the lily-livered Midlands I'm pleased to say that the Malvern shaped window in the weather is more pronounced today Mind you I wouldn't complain if the Castlemorton Commoners Committee meeting was cancelled tonight

[Karen]

BL have had to cancel the Alston Urban event planned for Sat 4th Dec.
Here in the North Peninnes we have about 3-4 foot of snow, more where drifted, and most of the roads are closed. Nobody goes anywhere unless desperate - you just get in the way of farmers etc who have to keep moving.

And now it's official - the black grouse have come down to the garden - that only happens after about a week of severe weather. They are the size of turkeys, and they sit on the thin topmost branches of the birch trees, swaying about in the wind....

[AndyC]

On the other side (just) of the North Pennines I've just been reading a graphic description of the road conditions around the Dipton Woods event scheduled for Sunday (for which I'm organiser) from the Controller. Similar 4ft snow drifts across the approach roads. To add to that parking isn't possible at the moment and if it thaws on Saturday as predicted the cars will sink in waterlogged verges. A pity because the actual area will be perfect we just can't be sure anyone can get there safely or park!
We're looking for a new date (permissions pending for landowner etc. -Freefall?) -the (mentioned elsewhere on this site) 9th of January Cramlington Urban event MIGHT be sacrificed but that is very much speculation - will the snow last that long?

Now do I battle my way back to Newcastle tomorrow or do I hide in the (relatively) snow free Midlands for the weekend and buy some new shirts for next week?

[andypat]

For what it's worth (probably nothing to anybody but me), I agree with the decision to cancel the street race, but disagree with cancelling the park race.

Iced-up pavements and cars slipping around the streets would not make for a safe street race.

But, as you hint, the kids will be out in their local parks sliding around anyway. They'd probably have been safer running around the orienteering course than they will be on their sledges and tea trays! Especially at Greenwich, where the paths are bounded by grass and it would be easy to avoid slippery tarmac by running alongside it.

You are of course considering the other relevant issues (which may be distinct from the question of people living adjacent to the park playing in it) such as is the parking accessible? Can people travel to and from the event? Will the park give permission to use it in that condition? Can the planner/organiser get there to put out the controls?

Your query suggests you may not be familiar with the broader organisational issues of putting on such an event

[SeanC]

I'm sure Ian does, but my original post could be interpreted as the icy paths being the sole reason. Too much information for nopesport.