YBT

[Stodgetta]

Well done to the NOC juniors! Looks like it was close.
Also good to see 2 W Mids teams in the top 5...

[Jess]

yeah well done-good competition!
also thanks to the organisers-it was ace to have a commentary!

[Mrs H.]

Top event - the commentary was great - some of my little MADO recruits couldn't believe it when they were announced in - made their day (must admit the adventure playground right next to assembly area kept them all happy for hours)!

[harry]

I'm biased but I thought NOC did a great job, both the junior team and the organisers. Impressive music/commentary/arena which gave it big event feel.

Also Richard Robinson deserves an honourable mention for his planning. Probably the best course I've run on Sherwood Pines. Nice one.

[HOCOLITE]

Agree organisation good. Can't say I recollect the music. It's a great place for kids centred events and they had a great time. Only comment I can make is that the fact the club tents couldn't all line the run in took away a bit of the atmosphere(interclub banter)compared to previous year. Just needed the trees felling between spectator control and final control I know we will be hoping to return to the final next year where ever it is. Anyone know? Might have to start fund raising for coach transport

[lincolnsteve]

This was my first C4 Brown in months, Richard certainly made the most of this area. I agree with harry that this was one of the best courses I have ran at Sherwood Pines.

Not sure about walking to the start listening to Wham though!

[mat-d]

I agree, the courses were great, i was expecting a charge round the paths, but changes in direction etc. made it very interesting for route choices and differences in speed when cutting across on the BLUE. An awesome course!!
Commentry also very good mentioning the leaders and other competitors. Great general atmosphere!

Something however was a bit dodgy, the printing on the 1:15000 maps was bad for features like veg boundaries and linear gullies, you could hardly see them. e.g. number 8 on the BLUE looked to me as though it was in the middle of a patch of white, not on a veg boundary. Also my map did begin to run and i lost some areas of the map to crease folding etc.

Other than that... AWESOME!

[lincolnsteve]

I had a simalar problem with the map, I was looking for a gully end in a patch of forest walk, I came in off the path expecting to hit the first gully, this should of had the control on, no control! I headed further in & found the control on the second gully. It was not till I finished & had time to study the map that i noticed a very small gully marked, the dots were so tiny!

Also the map did not hold up well to being soaked in muddy water, although maybe thats my fault for going face down in a puddle!

[Rich]

Thanks for the positive comments.

Out of interest, was it only people using the 1:15,000 map who had these problems or was it the 1:10,000 also?

[mikey]

Agree that the printing was a bit dodgy - not up to NOC's usual standards. The gully area was very hard to read around #15 on the brown, and the course overprint unclear for those with dodgy eyes.

Minor points though in an otherwise good event - the YBT element looked really fun.

[Dan]

1:10000 seemed fine to me

[Peter B]

hey, thanks for the comments about the music. I wasn't expecting the remarks about the 'good choice' of music - quite unexpected! I hope you could all hear it - unfortunately for the main part we were using an iPod which couldn't be connected to the main speakers so we had to get a ghetto blaster with tape adapter. Also, we'll make sure commentary comments get passed on to the man with the mic, Mick Lucking, who did a sterling job.
I think also Michael Napier deserves a mention for once again dealing smoothly with the technicalities, including providing links to the last control and the radio control to commentary. Similar congrats to Rich as Planner who did it a great job once again providing brilliant courses and finally to Janet Evans and her team for the organisation. We hope you had a good day

[RobL]

Just wanted to agree that the music, radio controls and commentary gave yesterday's event a fantastic atmosphere.

[Guest]

I know we will be hoping to return to the final next year where ever it is. Anyone know?

According to the back page of the latest BOF Fixture List it is on December 10th, hosted by Berkshire Orienteers. Doesn't state which area though.
A long journey for some

[Tatty]

Wherever it is it's going to be a long journey for some!!