Orienteering race (Night) 44:04 [4] *** 5.2 km (8:28 / km)
24c shoes: Integrator Silver Fox
FVO Night Race at Polmaise.
JonX planned a tricky start to the race with lots of short legs in the low vis quarry. Was a bit paranoid we would be going straight into a gaffle, but we weren't. Was quite far behind on the way to 1, but had got myself into 4th as we exited the quarry section and started heading up the hill. Fraser was toiling up that hill and then Spongey headed off towards 22 from 7 and I found myself in the lead. I then managed to take the world's worst bearing for 8, tried to compensate but had no idea whether I over or under compensated. I just knew I hadn't compensated the correct amount. Decided to head for the path and bounce back in from there but struggled to even find that. Thankfully as I faffed, I spied the usual front 2 of Forest and Fraser leaving the flag. (When I collected some flags later I did the same leg and spiked it. It really wasn't difficult. Dork.)
Anyway, it wasn't a big issue as I legged it down the path, actually feeling fast for the first time in ages, and caught the guys up. They didn't seem to be going full on and with Spongey a concern, I decided to try and put the pressure on a bit. My run to the circle and hunt tactics didn't quite pay off at 9 and neither did my run right round to 12 tactics. The tactics were sound, just poorly executed. Nevertheless, Grump and I seemed to be on our own in the lead as we headed to 13. We managed to lose the path and then I didn't even notice we had crossed the stream. Jammily I stumbled upon 18 and then, relocated, Forest and I parted to our separate gaffles. Immediately I screwed up 14, a re-entrant, by coming off the path way too early and then also 15 was a faff-fest. Got myself in a major fankle on the way to 19 as I completely lost my place on the map trying to work out what the feature was. It was a clearing. The Virgin Vet was there, but only on his first gaffle, but then there too was Spongey. He got a bit ahead of me down the hill, but I wasn't too bothered as surely Grump was miles ahead by this point? Totally overshot the wee quarry for 24, but not as much as Spongey and at the finish - with no sign of Grump - victory was mine!
Definitely a case of being the least bad.