JIRCS 2013 - Individual - M16 - 1st by 4.5mins
Boom! Back in business.
Wasn't sure what to expect from this. My aim was to take the start easily and then see how it went from there. Also, it looked like there would be a few lucky controls so I was wary of having good attackpoints throughout.
The start was steady, and it shows on the splits that I was a bit down on the rest. Round the paths into 1 and then along the awfully bumby gullies into 2, not real problems and I was feeling comfortable. I saw the hill going to 3 and pushed up it, feeling pretty good. I'd say here was when I began pushing more, and I took a few seconds out of the rest.
I was a bit zig-zaggy coming out of three because of all the pushed and paths but I got onto the track I wanted to get to and found the very technical stream junction without problem. Straight to 5, didn't agree with the map at the time but I was on the wrong side of the hill, wasted a few seconds here. Then sped up again to 6, chasing down Beth and enjoying the amazing terrain whilst somehow (no idea) taking 20s out of everyone...? Down to 7 feeling quite relaxed again. It was pretty well hidden in the grass so 20s slowing down into it.
Very similar leg to 4 going to 8, and a very similar result. Took 20s-30s out of most people and i'm hoping it was out of the hill. Cleanly into 9, overtaking Ruaridh and Harrison, motivating me massively. Short leg into 10 and then it was operation get away from Ruaridh. So the splits were quick on the next few running legs. Happy with 14 where I got around 15 out on everyone. Then careful into 15 as there wasn't much to go by until you got to the green. Overtook Laurence J and it was operation get away from Laurence. He announced that he would try and stick to a Scot, I took the challenge and managed within a few controls. 16 and 17 were okay, and I was just pulling away from Laurence.
Then through spectator again I was with Grey who was visiting it for the first time. I gained maybe a couple of seconds on him over a long stretch but then I was on my own again and nearing the finish. Into 19 was okay, although there were many more bushes in reality. Then my big mistake. 1:15 wasted on a pretty easy control. Panicked when I couldn't see the paths and ran about tring to find the junction, which was no where. Eventually got it with Laurence back on me and we sprinted the last few easy controls (although one was thrown into a pit, which was meant to be a knoll, picked it up when we found it and stabbed it in again) and then quickly into the finish.
Very happy with this run, feel like I'm back in form even through these remains of a cold are still lingering annoyingly, and probably will be even more after this weekend. Ah well.. Won the best junior performance trophy as well as a coaster for all my mugs. Also retained the Jircs title from last year.
http://www.wimborne-orienteers.org.uk/wim/13%20JIR...