WREKIN News October 2020 
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2020 grinds on and orienteering is beginning to emerge around the country in a variety of forms old and new. It is possible to go orienteering but you have to plan ahead to get an entry, print a map or retrieve an access code. It is a new world for experienced Orienteers and sharing experiences will help us all learn as we go. If you have anything to share please write a small piece for the club website and send it to Richard Pay for publication richardpay@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you for several positive responses to the July job adverts- as you will realise from the Future Events section our ability to hold events changes from day to day. We need to be light on our feet and responsive to sudden changes if we are going to go to or hold events. I will be in touch about opportunities as they arise.

HISTORY SECTION
John Bennison Long-O September 13th
WREKIN held the first WM event since lockdown. Thanks to Heather and Tim Kinienwicz for planning and organising this so successfully. We had more participants than usual, almost 100 competitors including many local fell runners.
 
Summer MapRun Score Series thanks to Richard Rogers and Lawrie Jones for setting this up-
The MapRuns  in the street series were released from June to August and are still open for anyone who wants to visit postboxes around the County.
Each course has been completed by around 20 people

10 July Shrewsbury
17 July Bridgnorth
24 July Church Stretton
31 July Newport
7 August Shifnal
14 August Oakengates

 
MapRunF linear courses
Two areas are set up with linear courses- Carding Mill Valley and Haughmond Hill. These are open for anyone to use. Each is different and there is specific information that is worth knowing before you go. If you want to run them please see the MapRun section on the Club Website for more details.
 
FUTURE EVENTS

• Nesscliffe Club Event 29th November. This will probably take place. Duncan Bayliss and John Broadhead have been planning courses and working to get car parking. We are currently checking final details with Shropshire County Council COVID response team to get a final go-ahead.
• Club Championships 20th December. We have not got an area for this yet.
• CHOC O- this annual festival of fun should happen almost as normal in the rain, wind snow and, usually for me, the dark. Thanks to Lawrie Jones who has offered to organise it.
• Laurie Bradley New Year’s Day Score Event; Krystof Nowicki has been working to get permission to use Haughmond Hill. Whether it happens depends on how Forest England are managing Orienteering access
• West Midland League event in January/February 2021.
• Springtime in Shropshire May 2021- The whole event is under review. On a positive note we have got permission for access to the main parts of Corndon and Stapeley.

 
 
Winter Street MapRunF Series
Over the winter we will hold a Winter Street Series using MapRun. This will be similar to the Summer MapRun Score event series using street maps with most controls on post boxes
 
There should be with 5 or 6 courses released over a 4 month period from December to March
The event time limit will probably be 45 minutes- this allows for colder weather and also enables use of smaller areas. Please let me know if this is, or isn’t, is a sensible time limit.
 
Richard Lewis has volunteered to compile a results league using each persons first run score during the “Event window of competitive opportunity”. There may even be a small prize for the overall winner.
 
Date opens:
Location:
Organiser:

1/12/2020
Priorslee Telford
Lawrie Jones

15/12/2020
Gains Park, Shrewsbury
Adrian Pickles

12/1/2021
Tbc
 
2/2/2021
Tbc
 
23/2/2021
Tbc
 
16/3/2021
Tbc
 
Opportunities for setting up MapRunFun exist it is a satisfying and enjoyable thing to do; you get to know your local area even better.
So, if you would like to fill in one of the Tbc gaps and organise one of these events then please let  Richard Rogers, Lawrie Jones or Adrian Pickles know. You could have an area in mind or need a suggestion for an area.
Richard Rogers- Richard@ricardito.me.uk, Richard Lewis-wroxell@gmail.com, Lawrie Jones Lawriej@gmail.com
 
WMOA news
WMOA are working out how to hold events- WMOA Championships could well happen and a Map Run West Midland League for 2021 is being discussed
 
British Orienteering News
BO hosted a sharing experience webinar on October 20th . I think a recording of this will be available soon and it will be useful to see what is happening around the country.
 
BO EVENT SAFETY ONLINE QUALIFICATION; this is a required qualification for anyone organising or planning orienteering events so the more club members who have it the better. More members with this qualification makes event organisation simpler for the club. BO has launched an ONLINE COURSE which is available currently free for any BO member to complete. If you are ever likely to take on an event organisation role, small or large from the Summer Series to SinS please consider completing this course.
 
Hoping to meet up again sometime safely somewhere
Adrian Pickles
 
Any questions, comments, offers or requests please get in-touch by email or phone adrian.pickles@gmail.com. 07846301251

To get some training on terrain there are now some colour coded courses set up on Haughmond Hill with MapRun and using some of the Permanent Orienteering Course marker posts.  We are trying a new combination whereby you visit some POC marker posts with a few virtual controls in between to vary the route from the normal POC.

Don't be confused, its easy really!
All you do is just start the MapRun app at the start, do the course and get a result at the end, that's it.  There is nothing else to do!


Follow these steps:
1  Visit Wrekin's website, download and print the map to navigate with for the course you want to run.
 

2  Log in to Map Run then go to Haughmond Hill. Only click "Go to Start", when you are about to start and are at the start point

3  Navigate on the paper map, ignore the MapRun map on your phone it does not have the POC controls and is not a proper detailed orienteering map.  Go to all the controls, but not all will give a Ping in the Map Run App.

4 When you finish MapRun gives you a result.


So, some controls are virtual MapRun ones and there is no marker there, but you will get a Ping when you are within the circle.

Some controls are POC marker posts and you will not get a MapRun Ping, you just find the post and move on for those ones.  There is nothing to write down or punch.  But if you have visited all the controls then MapRun will have a series of controls you were timed at and a GPS track showing that you went round the whole course.  

All you do is just start the MapRun app at the start, do the course and get a result at the end, that's it.

We have done it this way so that the MapRun controls are in places where there should be a good GPS signal to help avoid people struggling to get a Ping at some controls under tree cover..

Have fun,
Duncan Bayliss

The Routegadget is now open for business on the website. There were some interesting route choices so see which way the leaders went and share where you went and why it all took so long!
Routegadget here..

All todays results are up here on the website including funky new SportIdent layout, comments and photos of us struggling.. 
www.wrekinorienteers.co.uk/results-201920.html

We have just had confirmation from British Orienteering that compliant events are on:


"After a day of dialogue and consultation, we are pleased to have received an update from Sport England which provides a little more detail on the return of sport and physical activity.

While social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from 14 September, the government has confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue, as can organised outdoor sports and physical activity events.
That's because these sports and activities have stringent plans in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19, and because these venues are classed as COVID-secure given the measures they’ve introduced.
Kind regards 
Peter Hart
Chief Executive
British Orienteering 



So we look forward to welcoming you to the LONG-O on Sunday.


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I hope we will be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel soon Although hope is the best we can do to make a big difference there are things described in here to offer some relief. 
All the best
Adrian 

Newsletter: Attcached
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Five people have declared a result.  
There were a maximum of 180 points available for getting each control correct as well as spotting all the bonus answers.

The result was determined on the basis of maximum number points followed by shortest time (as a way to combine apples and pears so to speak).

The overall winner is Adrian Pickles 180 points 43 mins

The fastest finisher (first to declare a result) was Mandy Mackereth 170 points, 58 mins

The most persistent competitor was Robert Vickers, 180 points in "a long time" - his words not mine!

Winner of the self-declared "super vets" category was Tim Goffe, 130 points 90 minutes
with a close runner up Dave Deakin 120 points in 54 minutes

The answers are attached.
If anyone still wants to have a go, it is still live, just follow this link, then when you finish self-mark to see how it went.

https://app.box.com/s/2yss0fue1v1ak0lbgq59bdkh10eo6f7j


Duncan Bayliss

​In view of the latest advice regarding travel and social pub type meetings,I have decided to cancel tomorrow nights event.
I have all the maps and fixed controls ready so will suggest that when things settle down I will put the event on again
Thanks for your understanding
Regards
 
Richard Lewis

Wrekin Lake District Coaching Weekend
 
A small group of Wrekin Orienteers took the opportunity to combine some coaching on Graythwaite with a WCOC event on the complex contours of High Rigg over the first weekend in March this year.
Some of the classic areas were earmarked for major events this spring and this limited our choice somewhat. However, Richard Tiley, LOC and Lake District Access Officer was able to negotiate permissions to use the Dale Park area of Graythwaite. In addition, Richard provided the OCAD file of the area, supplied pdf files of previous events and training exercises and went the extra mile by hanging half of the mini markers on control sites a couple of days beforehand!  
  
The area was visited over the weekend of storm Ciara to identify and tape suitable control sites. Felling has taken place on parts of the map but there is still adequate quality terrain to deliver coaching exercises. 
Any one who has delivered coaching will know of the challenge to provide activities for a wide range of age and abilities. This is part of the challenge that I enjoy when coaching. To help me on the day I was fortunate to have club coach Tony Callow with me and also my wife Debbie. 

To help those taking part get to grips with the map, a simple line event was the first activity. This involved following an imaginary line on the ground and counting how many markers were encountered on the way round. The aim was to encourage orientation of the map and interpretation of contours.
The map displays a huge amount of detail and it is easy to get too engrossed checking off all the features on a leg during a race. So, a couple of exercises using attack points and a traffic light approach were produced to help simplify the use of the map.

Finally, there were a number of short courses to allow these skills to be put together. The emphasis here was accurate navigation rather than speed around the course.  Another benefit from the weekend was that there was chance to spend time on quality terrain in a non - competitive situation. For many people the first chance they have to study a map of such complexity is when they pick one up from the map box at the start of a major event. Hopefully, those who attended will feel more confident if they take part in some of the major events taking place in the next few months.

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Thanks are due to the Graythwaite Estate for Permissions and to Richard Tiley for going the extra mile.

Congratulations to Kristof who completed his 9.8km course, with 345 metres climb, in just 61 minutes and 37 seconds, to bring home the gold medal at the British Night Championships, in the M35 class. He beat second placed Nick Barrable from SYO by over 5 minutes. Congratulations Kristof. 

 
Congratulations also go to Derek Turner who won the Bronze medal in the M80 class. Derek's course was 3.5km with 115 metres of climb.

February 2020 Spring into Orienteering
A news sheet for WREKIN Orienteers about forthcoming events and to advertise a significant organising opportunities. 
This isn’t everything you need so please check details on a relevant website. There are other events in the West Midlands- check out Thursday nights with Harlequins.
The club had a successful first month of the year including the finish of Choc O, competitive success at the Laurie Bradley Score Event on New Years Day to staging the West Midland League Race at Wrockwardine Wood, holding the social Club Presentation Dinner at the Corbet  Arms and there were a couple of Winter Street Races as well.
More....

WREKIN ORIENTEERS
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019
MADELEY COURT 04/01/2020
 
 
Age:
Championship:
Handicap:
 
Junior Men
   M14-
   Philip Stedman-Smith
   Lewis Kieniewicz
 
Junior Ladies
   W14-
   Gemma Block
   Hannah Stedman-Smith
 
Intermediate Men
   M16-20
   Callum Nightingale
   N/A
 
Intermediate Ladies
   W16-20
   No competitors
    
Open Mens
   M21-40
   Tim Kieniewicz
   Kristof Nowicki
 
Open Ladies
   W21-40
   Heather Kieniewicz
   Delia Kingsbury
 
Senior Men
   M45-55
   Clive Richardson
   Tony Callow
 
Senior Ladies
   W45-55
   Diane Jacks
   Julia Allinson
 
Vet Men
   M60+
   Lawrie Jones
   Rod Postlethwaite
 
Vet Ladies
   W60+
   Jill Leventon
   Lynda Simpson
 
 
Summer Series (Di’s analysis)
 
Junior G Allinson
Ladies L Riley
Men E Heritage
Most Improved Beginner M Rowley
West Midland League, most points
Lady G Allinson
Man C Richardson D Turner
 
Chairmans Big K Trophy
for the person who has done most for the club awarded to Dave Deakin, for his work as Treasurer and Fixtures Secretary, which means he gets through a lot of work every year.

Wrekin are proud to be hosting The UK Urban League at a brand new area of complex housing in Telford.
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We have been considering using Woodside for urban races for a while but we have now managed to secure the skills of Rod Postlethwaite as Mapper to capture the complexity of the area.

The race forms part of the UK Urban League and will a great sharpener for the JK sprint day the following week.

Details are available here
Entries at: Fabian4.co.uk
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Thanks for coming to Wombridge we hope you all enjoyed the race. The results have been updated and added Routegadget. Could you take a moment to add your routes its great feedback for the planner and cathartic to confess your sins..
Routegadget link

Hi Everyone,

I have just had confirmation from the Lake District Access Officer for permission to use an area of Graythwaite known as High Dale Park for coaching on Saturday 7th March 2020.
This area has been used for British Championships, JK’s and other prestigious events and is some of the best technical orienteering terrain available.

Routegadget link: www.mdoc.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#292

Graythwaite is in the south Lake District between Lakes Windermere and Coniston.


I hope to be able to provide coaching exercises to help you develop your orienteering skills without the pressure of competition on the Saturday.

On the Sunday there is a WCOC event on High Rigg; an area of complex open fell just north of Thirlmere when you will be able to put into practice your impressive range of navigation skills!

Debbie is looking for suitable accommodation for groups with self catering and rooms to sleep 2-4 people.
To help with the planning could you please let me know:

1. of your intention to come to the coaching.
2. if you need accommodation on Friday and Saturday.
3. Let me know as soon as possible but no later than 14th February.
 
Please make your own arrangements if entering the WCOC event on the Sunday.
 
Best wishes
 
Andy Clough.
just had confirmation from the Lake District Access Officer for permission to use an area of Graythwaite known as High Dale Park for coaching on Saturday 7th March 2020.
This area has been used for British Championships, JK’s and other prestigious events and is some of the best technical orienteering terrain available.
Graythwaite is in the south Lake District between Lakes Windermere and Coniston.
I hope to be able to provide coaching exercises to help you develop your orienteering skills without the pressure of competition on the Saturday.
On the Sunday there is a WCOC event on High Rigg; an area of complex open fell just north of Thirlmere when you will be able to put into practice your impressive range of navigation skills!
Debbie is looking for suitable accommodation for groups with self catering and rooms to sleep 2-4 people.
To help with the planning could you please let me know:
1. of your intention to come to the coaching.
2. if you need accommodation on Friday and Saturday.
3. Let me know as soon as possible but no later than 14th February.

Please make your own arrangements if entering the WCOC event on the Sunday.

Best wishes

Andy Clough.

Final details for the upcoming West Midland League event on the 26th January 2020 are available here and from the events pages of the Wrekin website