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Organisers Comments:
Numbers were down in the second race and I dont know what to blame most the weather, the football or the absence of those Corporate Challenge types that formed most of the back of the 10k field last time (presumably off being corporately challenged elsewhere!). Now as Id lengthened the prize list due to the bumper turn-out last time, this meant over one third of the runners were awarded prizes this time.
One notable absentee was Martin Stepanek, who having won the last 4 races has now returned to Czech.Paul Whiston - 2nd in the series last summer, and 3rd in the first race - took the opportunity to put himself in a strong position to take the series this summer, with a win tonight. Chasing him home was Gavin Francis who has very little orienteering experience and only a little further back veterans Colin Gray and Phil Davies also proved that you dont have to have done loads of orienteering to do well at Trail Challenges.
However the boot was on the other foot with the ladies as elite orienteer Rachael Holmes took the win - but then she can run fast too.
Meanwhile on the 6k, it looked like local knowledge won the day, as the first four home all train regular with the Stragglers from the Hawker Centre, with only Sarah in 3rd place having done any orienteering. This makes Hilary Daviess convincing win look very promising.
Further down interest centred on problems of the Epsom & Ewell ladies pack, where not only did they lose out to Maurice Dunnett but they also lost each other, splitting into two groups and that led to four of them retiring.
So better luck next time, and the next time is&
20 July on Wimbledon Common - the hardest area of the series, but we will try and be as friendly as possible with the courses.
Roll the credits - thanks to Simon (i/c forest team), Richard, Nigel, Diane and Peter; Gavin (computer); Chris (registration) with Rachael, Alison and Kate.
Andy Robinson