Scottish Score

[andypat]

Thanks to FVO for another good day out making a fine weekend's orienteering along with the Penrith Urban event! The weather even picked up.

[frog]

I really enjoyed it, and did relatively well having studied my map for a while and spotting the high points behind me rather than doing my usual charging off to the nearest control and then thinking about route choice. It's good to see a score event planned like that rather than the usual more points the further away you are approach which means the same folk win score events as win the cross country events. As part of it was on campus I wondered about wearing my flyroc 310s, remembering doing the sprint event there before, but was glad I opted for the dobbed jukolas as I slid down the hill.

[AlanB]

I enjoyed it to a point, but did relatively poorly having not studied my map at the start and did my usual of charging off in the direction of the nearest control.

I haven't come across a score event like that before and I have always assumed that the higher values go to the remoter, more difficult controls. It was only when I was up in the woods to the north that I noticed a 10 pointer, then a 30 pointer nearby, and thought "something is up here!". Then when I noticed the two higher value controls on the campus itself I decided to head back rather than further out.

Sadly, I was held captive by a thicket for quite a few minutes - "fight" doesn't come into it - and I only had time for one of the 30 pointers. Even a lower scoring control was beyond me when I copped out and dashed for the finish.

I definitely have lost a bit of fitness though, which I put down to doing too many events recently and not enough training (work pressure hasn't helped.

So disappointed with my result but really impressed with the course, planning and organisation; with FVO, though, you wouldn't expect anything else.

[frog]

I think doing a couple of SMBO events in summer has made me study the points distribution of controls more than I used to. Their events are 3 hour scores and you get given a map with control circles on at registration but only get given the list of points per control as you start. This can totally change the controls you decide to aim for

[andypat]

The points distribution was a bit unusual - but I'm not complaining! There's nothing in the rules to say where you put the higher points.

[AlanB]

The points distribution was a bit unusual - but I'm not complaining! There's nothing in the rules to say where you put the higher points.

I know that now! You really do learn something new every time you venture out in this sport.

[Freefall]

With my recent X Ray confirming "severe degradation of my left knee" and recent injuries/tiredness I thought as I "wasn't competitive" I would enjoy Dumyat and at least go high up onto the moor for a view across the Forth Valley (named after my local club). I picked a sensible route which did include a very steep downhill but at least I ran in 29 seconds early and was happy about my little outing. Most surprised to see the final results and my 2nd placing (out of 12) in the M55s. Maybe if I had gone for the "obvious" route encircling the University I would have won it!

[andy]

I'm a big fan of having close by controls with the highest points, it can help not-so-fast people get more points and the faster people should still win anyway but the gap will be closer. I just wish I hadn't trudged up the hill, would have got more points otherwise

[plain lazy]

I did the classic "ooh lets go miles out and get the high points on the hill" trick and then chose the wrong route up the steep hill so I spent over 20 mins either scrambling on my hands and knees (at one point literally crawling) through brambles, or trudging through boggy grass and heather up to the veryhighest controls

I never looked at the controls near the finish, especially the 30 pointer... shame, if I'd seen them at the start I think I could have been much further up the rankings.

Still I got a great (and tough) hill run on the moor which I've never been on before.

Thanks FVO, great planning and great fun event.