The Military Challenge 2011

[plain lazy]

I'm going to be filling up on 3 course meals and mince pies in Buckingham over the festive period... I noticed this on the fixtures list
http://goo.gl/Q7dLA
I've not been to Longmoor since it was used for a JK back in the 90's (!!)... is it worth me easing up on the pies and heading down there?

[NeilC]

http://www.slow.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi?act=map&id=48&kieli=

I prefer the challenges that provide 2/2.5 hours of orienteering rather than canal path running. Not sure what is planned for this year.

[MIE]

I'm going to be filling up on 3 course meals and mince pies in Buckingham over the festive period... I noticed this on the fixtures list
http://goo.gl/Q7dLA
I've not been to Longmoor since it was used for a JK back in the 90's (!!)... is it worth me easing up on the pies and heading down there?

It's at Long Valley and North Camp (next to Aldershot) not Longmoor (which is further
south near Petersfield).

This is the O map from 2008 (or at least part of it).

http://www.sn.routegadget.co.uk/sn/reit ... d=3&kieli=

The map has been updated and parts of it used for various Army and SN events since then.

[EddieH]

I have to say that I went to the second of these events with some excitement, but I was really disappointed that we basically had the MTBO course. I enjoy our club's orangish standard events bcause they are short and you have to do them hard. A couple of hours of orange standard is not my personal cup of tea.

Of course it may be that my experience will not be how it is this year, but it has put me off going to thi event again. If I am around this year and decide to go I guess I'll enter brown and hope that doesn't stick to MTBO controls.

[NeilC]

The one at Barossa in 2009 though was 18k worth of proper orienteering. Lots of butterflies to help get the distance in but still no significant repetition. And snow to boot. Great event.

http://www.emituk.com/results/2009/091219_baoc/index.htm

[Soldja Boi]

The flyer for this year's Military Challenge will be posted over the next week. Entries for the foot O courses are open on NTrees, just sorting out entries for the MTBO courses. The courses being provided this year are:

Long MTBO - 35km
Medium MTBO - 25km
Short MTBO - 12km
Black - 15km
Brown - 10.5km
Blue - 8km
Green - 5.5km
Red - 6.5km
Long Trail O - 35km
Medium Trail O - 25km
Short Trail O - 12km

There are different planners for Foot O/MTBO so fairly sure that the courses will be tailored for each discipline.

[Jon Brooke]

At past events I've managed to do an MTBO followed by a Long-O. What are the logistics like for doing the long MTBO followed by the Black?

Anyone else fancy the challenge?

[Soldja Boi]

Doing the Long MTBO before the Black might be a bit of a stretch, the medium might be more realistic logistically. I'm sure the organiser would extend the start window a touch to fit in starting the black after 1230hrs, but the helpers won't be waiting until after 1430hrs to bring in the controls!!

[mike g]

The MTBO in the snow at Barossa was excellent. I fell off my bike twice on sheet ice and got bitten by a dog, but still one of my all time favourite events.

[maprun]

Personally I can't wait to run a foot O course 50% further than normal, just to see what gets dished up by the planner. The 1:10,000 has recently been updated and the planner has planned numerous technically challenging events on the two areas over the last couple of years. The MTBO planner also knows the area very well.

[plain lazy]

Well I'm definitely tempted now! 15K Black course sounds great, just hope it's not miles of long track-running legs between controls.

[EddieH]

I think I'll risk it and join you there Plain Lazy. Mind you I think you should change your name now as I doubt I'll be beating you.

[kedge]

Whilst wishing the organisers of this year's Military Challenge every success, I would be happier if they hadn't used the term Trail O for their non-technical runners courses.

Like MTBO and SkiO, TrailO is a separate IOF discipline, with its own world championships, being held next year in Scotland, and we really need more clubs to organise TrailO courses in the UK, rather than appropriating the name for orienteeering-lite courses.

[The Loofa]

My preferred solution would be for TrailO to change its name to precisionO, which sounds far more appropriate. Then the TrailO name would be freed up for this type of "O-lite" race - again for which it sounds very appropriate

[madmike]

A very good idea Loofa - I would vote for that. Passes the Ronseal quick drying woodstain test!