RAF Honington / NOR race 30.03.11

[Copepod]

Many thanks to both RAF Honington and Norfolk OC for a novel and very enjoyable (depite drizzle) sprint race on Wed 30.03.11. As one of the civilians from local clubs invited to attend, I found the novelty of security concerns for entering base, vehicle convoy to start, hill top control points on former weapon bunkers, irregular pattern of hard standing, large hangars, sentry boxes, pine copses, open and rough open etc a pleasant change from normal East Anglia terrain. Being ex TA, it was particularly satisfying to be able to reassure the download team that, yes, control 18 was in place and awake, despite protests by RAF guys. To be fair, many were orienteering novices, but fast runners.

[Red Adder]

You certainly had to keep alert as the bunkers and hangers looked very similar - I imagine it would work very well as a night event area.

For a similar experience in the area be on the look-out forany BAOC events at Rock Barracks rear Woodbridge - and it is also rumoured that RAFO hope to map RAF Wattisham near Stowmarket.

[Copepod]

The guy who gave me a lift had run at Rock Barracks and recommended it. Apparently there's a plan to map RAF Marham, but it's a bit occupied with other matters, just now.

[EddieH]

Come to the Moray Mix in June where you can not only run in Britain's most runnable sand dune forest, but on Saturday you get RAF Lossiemouth thrown in with the town.

[NFKleanne]

It was very enjoyable, my first urban event. I wasn't expecting to do well, but fond them all, wasn't expecting to get muddy, or brambled, but my totally excellent route choice resulted in both. I'm not quick, but was chuffed because I managed to beat 46 RAF boys and girls!!

[madmike]

You certainly had to keep alert as the bunkers and hangers looked very similar - I imagine it would work very well as a night event area.

For a similar experience in the area be on the look-out forany BAOC events at Rock Barracks rear Woodbridge - and it is also rumoured that RAFO hope to map RAF Wattisham near Stowmarket.

RAF Wattisham closed many years ago and was taken over by the Army Air Corps - not in the RAFO plan at the moment but BAOC may have plans.

RAF Valley and RAF Brize Norton (once the building work finishes) have been discussed. Honington, Lossiemouth, Marham and Halton have good maps as does the College at Cranwell which was used for the Lincs Bomber Relays a few years ago. There are also small training maps of Kinloss and Brampton done by Sunlit Forres and Dai Wilson respectively.

[lincolnsteve]

An excellent mid week event, sadly far too open and fast for my liking but it was nice to run somewhere different.

Sat at the entrance waiting for our escort while a guard stands there watching you as he holds a gun was a surreal experience for me!!

[Sunlit Forres]

There was a full-page spread in the 22nd April RAF News about this event. It was written by one of the paper's sports journalists and shows orienteering in extremely good light. Well done to organiser Mick Liston for a great bit of publicity.

[NFKleanne]

Hopefully no photo's of me. Totally enjoyed the event - have to see if anyone has a copy?