GORE HEATH REGIONAL EVENT

PLANNER'S COMMENTS

It was originally intended to map Gore Heath for use as a low key event. It soon became obvious that the terrain was suitable for a something better. Although the map area is only 2km by 1km, once it was established that an M21L course was practicable, it was decided to use it for the Regional Event. This inevitably meant that the longer courses had to revisit several parts of the forest hence the use of double sided maps for the three longest courses and this seemed to work.

The results seem generally in line with recommended times in those classes which had the larger number of entries. I thought it better to keep the courses at the lower end of the distance range in view of the date of the event. Apart from being -1 C when we put the boxes out on Sunday morning the weather was perfect and any concerns regarding adverse weather were unfounded. The courses seemed to have been received favourably overall, no doubt helped by the sun. However some minor comments were made on individual controls some of which I accept and which I will take on board in future.

I understand that some people felt that some of the courses were a little short, particularly Course 8. I have sympathy with this but in planning them I stuck strictly to the course ratios recommended in the latest Badge Event Guidelines. The new Class groupings have reduced distances in some of the short courses and perhaps the age groupings need adjusting.

A few words of thanks. To John Warren who not only did much of the survey work and drew the map but also reduced my work load by helping in numerous ways on the printing side. To John Cook for his work as Controller and for his helpful comments. To Judith for her comments on my draft courses and for her help in putting out the controls prior to the event. To those who were in the forest at the crack of dawn on Sunday putting out the control boxes and those who collected the controls in afterwards.

David Bland. Planner