Live GPS tracking comes to Britain - weekend of top racing in July including Harvester Relay

Live GPS Tracking comes to Britain

Sheffield University Orienteering Club (ShUOC) invite you to an exciting weekend of racing on the 16th-17th July 2011. The Harvester Relays return to Ecclesall Woods and Limb Valley, the birthplace of the Harvester - a complex woodland in the suburbs of Sheffield. A middle distance race on the Saturday and an urban race on the Sunday add to what shall be a spectacular weekend of racing.

The event includes a UK first with Live GPS Tracking shown through the night for speactators both in the assembly area and at home.

Even if you’re not intending to run in the Harvesters why not come along for a summer weekend of high quality orienteering. With a Middle and Urban race and informal ultrasprint on the Saturday afternoon it promises to be an unmissable event.

Harvester entries are now open and individual entries for both days will open in May. A new Ad-Hoc class will be available this year for individuals unable to form club teams, see the website for more details.

www.harvesterrelay.co.uk

Well who would have thought it....

Photo Rob Lines

Today I took my first British middle distance title (after 3 silvers!). I made a 55 second mistake at the 3rd control, but after that had a close to perfect race and I was able to win by about 50 seconds in front of Rich Robinson and Oli Johnson. It was a nice race - fast running with enough technical challenge to make it interesting, although there were a few very simple controls

Results here

Routegadget

Silver in British Sprint Champs

Photo Rob Lines

Today the British Sprint Champs were held near Brighton on the south coast. After a pretty terrible winter and early spring, I have finally managed to start to get some running training together, but as this week was really busy in university and I also moved house, it has been a bit stressful! Anyway, I was looking forward to the champs, as I seem to be running ok, and you never know what will happen in the championships situation. I felt really good to start with in the qualification, when the orienteering was more important than the running, I was flying! The latter sections required a bit more leg speed and there was some climb - that is when my body started to struggle, but I managed to win my heat. Perhaps pushing a little harder than I needed to in retrospect.

Results here

Routegadget here

For the final I was quite aggressive, going out hard. The first half was again very tricky and the orienteering speed was more important than the running. After 8 minutes and 17 controls I had had a perfect race and was in the lead by 24 seconds. Then the course changed character, with longer legs and more route choice (and a big climb back to the finish). I started to struggle a bit, and made one bad route choice decision (15 seconds). With 4 (simple) controls to go I was in joint 1st with Murray, but he destroyed me over the last 300m to win by 9 seconds and take his first title. Ralph Street took a creditable 3rd place, with Oli Johnson only 1 second behind. Really good area, map and course, and fantastic weather! I have some vest shaped sunburn now...

Happy with the performance and the result, considering my lack of running this year.

Results

Routegadget

And now for something completely different

I don't often post non-orienteering related items on my blog, but every now and again something come along that is worth pushing the boat out for, and I felt that this fantastic effort by my clubmate in Sheffield, Daniel 'run-in king' Hartmann is definitely worth it - enjoy. :D