It's been a while since my last Blog, although I suppose I could have uploaded my CompassSport report from WTOC.
Anyway, this weekend sees a return to Northern Ireland for the Irish Trail-O Champs for the final British Ranking event (and hence selection event) of the 2011 season.
Most of the top British and Irish competitors will be there. Notable exceptions being Irish team members Wilbert Hollinger and Steven Gilmore who are sharing the Planning duties and Clive Allan. Alan Gartside is Organiser so I suspect he won't be competing either.
Ian Ditchfield will be keen to hold on to his top position in the rankings and for either of us to improve our rankings we have to be top Brit (due to the vagaries of our ranking system).
Results, maps, etc will appear here in due course:
http://www.niorienteering.org.uk/lvo/trailo-2011/default.html
STOP PRESS: I have passed the next phase of permissions for a British Trail-O Champs on Newborough (Anglesey) in mid-March. More news shortly on this.
Monday 21 November 2011
Wednesday 1 June 2011
GB Team named for WTOC
This year's World Trail Orienteering Championships will be held in August alongside the World Orienteering Championships near Aix-le-Bains in Savoie, France.
This year's GB team was named today:
Open class Ian Ditchfield, John Kewley, Dick Keighley.
Paralympic class John Crosby.
Team competition Ian Ditchfield, John Kewley, John Crosby.
Team Finland were announced recently and look a very strong team and as usual, along with Norway are likely to be the strongest rivals for Team Champions Sweden.
JK
This year's GB team was named today:
Open class Ian Ditchfield, John Kewley, Dick Keighley.
Paralympic class John Crosby.
Team competition Ian Ditchfield, John Kewley, John Crosby.
Team Finland were announced recently and look a very strong team and as usual, along with Norway are likely to be the strongest rivals for Team Champions Sweden.
JK
Thursday 14 April 2011
Temp-O and Trail-O at the JK
It has now been confirmed on the JK 2011 event website that there will be Temp-O at this year's JK in Northern Ireland. Details of this and the two Trail-O events are included in the Final Details.
This must be one of the most international Trail-O events held in UK/Ireland with entries from GBR, IRL, NOR, SWE, DEN, FIN, CZE, GER, JPN and ESP. Many of these are well known for their exploits at World and European stage so it will tough for the Brits and Irish.
Courses look long at 3.2km and 3.5km (both 21 controls and 2 TCs) which should favour the younger, fitter guys. The combination of courses closing at 18:30 and max times of 159 and 168 mins mean those starting around the 16:30 last start will have to be quick!
This must be one of the most international Trail-O events held in UK/Ireland with entries from GBR, IRL, NOR, SWE, DEN, FIN, CZE, GER, JPN and ESP. Many of these are well known for their exploits at World and European stage so it will tough for the Brits and Irish.
Courses look long at 3.2km and 3.5km (both 21 controls and 2 TCs) which should favour the younger, fitter guys. The combination of courses closing at 18:30 and max times of 159 and 168 mins mean those starting around the 16:30 last start will have to be quick!
My first O event in Lithuania went well: 35:56 for 5.4 - the initial results sheet suggested this was 4:46 mins/km, but the official results had the more accurate 6:39 mins/km. As you can see it was pretty flat with set compass and run hard being the order of the day.
Two interesting notes about the classes on offer. In Lithuania M21 and M35 are the women's courses with V21 and V35 for men. In fact at this event the only Vets class was V35 with A, B, C and D lengths on offer, so I did V45B.
There is another evening event tonight and then 2 more and a Trail-O at the weekend if I can work out the transport.
Two interesting notes about the classes on offer. In Lithuania M21 and M35 are the women's courses with V21 and V35 for men. In fact at this event the only Vets class was V35 with A, B, C and D lengths on offer, so I did V45B.
There is another evening event tonight and then 2 more and a Trail-O at the weekend if I can work out the transport.
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Lithuania
Next week I am off to Lithuania for a week's work. Fortunately I have found some Orienteering to do while I am there. All being well I can attend one of the two mid-week events as well as a two day event southwest of Vilnius. Thanks to my Ski-O friend Danielius Pralgauskis for helping me with the entries, travel and accomodation.
Even better than this is that there is also a Trail-O event on the Sunday at the same venue, so I get to do my first Trail-O event since last year's World Championships one week before the JK (whose 2 days comprise 2 of the 4 selection races for this years WTOC).
Even better than this is that there is also a Trail-O event on the Sunday at the same venue, so I get to do my first Trail-O event since last year's World Championships one week before the JK (whose 2 days comprise 2 of the 4 selection races for this years WTOC).
Sunday 20 March 2011
One blog for now
I had hoped to have separate blogs to keep Ski-O, Trail-O and other O separate. Looks like I'll have to learn a lot more about the technology first.
Due to hassles with misleading information about baggage from KLM I have decided to pack all my clothes in my ski bag.
Monday is Model event, Tuesday is the Sprint where we will have 5 Brits taking part.
JK
Due to hassles with misleading information about baggage from KLM I have decided to pack all my clothes in my ski bag.
Monday is Model event, Tuesday is the Sprint where we will have 5 Brits taking part.
JK
Friday 11 March 2011
Trail-O Events and Selection
There are so few Trail-O events in UK with a max of 5 events per year: 2 days at JK, BTOC and the 2 Irish champs. This year with the JK in Ireland there hasn't been any announcement of when the Irish champs will be.
These events are all used for selection purposes based on the British Trail-O ranking list. This ranking list will be published soon, hopefully before the JK. How it will be used to select the team has been published on the BOF website.
Fighting for places will be tough, I missed the Irish last year because I was "stuck" in Sweden due to the Ash Cloud so after this year's JK and British I will have to count my top 4 results from only 6 events. The pressure will be on at JK! What makes it extra tough is the new rules regarding Paralympic class for Trail-O and some of the recent British Para team could well be ruled to be Open from now on - so more people vying for the same places.
These events are all used for selection purposes based on the British Trail-O ranking list. This ranking list will be published soon, hopefully before the JK. How it will be used to select the team has been published on the BOF website.
Fighting for places will be tough, I missed the Irish last year because I was "stuck" in Sweden due to the Ash Cloud so after this year's JK and British I will have to count my top 4 results from only 6 events. The pressure will be on at JK! What makes it extra tough is the new rules regarding Paralympic class for Trail-O and some of the recent British Para team could well be ruled to be Open from now on - so more people vying for the same places.
Trail-O in Winter
So what does a Trail-Oer do in Winter? Here is what I have been up to:
Studying the new Trail-O rules:
http://orienteering.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/IOF-Trail-Orienteering-Competition-Rules.pdf
Taking part in some armchair Trail-O from Norwegian and Italian blog pages:
http://preoliten.blogspot.com/
http://preo.no/
http://gsport.splinder.com/tag/treilonlain
And of course preview a few areas for putting in future events, but lets keep that hush hush for now.
Studying the new Trail-O rules:
http://orienteering.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/IOF-Trail-Orienteering-Competition-Rules.pdf
Taking part in some armchair Trail-O from Norwegian and Italian blog pages:
http://preoliten.blogspot.com/
http://preo.no/
http://gsport.splinder.com/tag/treilonlain
And of course preview a few areas for putting in future events, but lets keep that hush hush for now.
Friday 4 March 2011
Welcome
I thought it about time I setup a blog for my various Orienteering activities - welcome to anyone who finds it.
This weekend it is back to Glossop where I lived for 11 years for a quick charge round Manor Park and Old Glossop. That should bring back some memories.
Countdown to World Ski-O Championships (WSOC): 16 days
This weekend it is back to Glossop where I lived for 11 years for a quick charge round Manor Park and Old Glossop. That should bring back some memories.
Countdown to World Ski-O Championships (WSOC): 16 days
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