Leinster Orienteering Championships 2018
Vale of Clara & Ballinastraw
It was definitely a championship course today.
To 1 I cut into the green too early, so not optimal. But to 2 I started to lose time, bad line to start out with and then hit the big boulder to the east of the control, so had to come back. Then overshot down the spur to 3. So with that messing around it gave my 3 minute man (Conor) ample time to close the gap to be within sight of me at 3. Think we had different routes to 4 but by 5 and 6 we were together.
Again we split up after a bit on the long leg to 9. I went more to the left and gained a few seconds on Conor. Kept those seconds to 10, but to 11 I lost time, thought i'd gone too far along the wall, cut down and came across the small path, knew where I was then, but Conor had gotten back in front. Vague slope.
Next control was easy so just concentrated on speed, and same with 13 as i'd Conor on the track to use as an attackpoint. Cutting in earlier than him gained me a few seconds. Towards 14 we were again both together, some time lost in the circle, and Conor punched first. Not much happened on the next few controls, took a gel to 17 and took a few gulps of water. Then had to work a bit to catch up with Conor.
Together crossing the road and into Ballinastraw. I didn't do too good crossing the road, went right instead of left, so chasing Conor again. Easy enough uphill in white to the control. To 20 I wanted to cut across the corner of the green to the track, but ended up on the bigger track. Not ideal line but not the worst either. Tough climb up the crags to get 20 then. Rocky and rough.
I got a nice, sort of, line out of 21 and hit the crag at the start of the path, which headed towards 22. Conor had missed it, so tried to get a gap. Blew it in the circle though and had a lot of chasing down the hill.
I took a higher line than Conor to 25 but both got there at the same time. Then 28-29 was the last leg with some choice, and took a different route to Conor. I went straight up and Conor went differently. My way worked out better so ended up clawing back a minute of the 3 minute time difference at the start.
Definitely a tough race but enjoyed it nonetheless. Worth the 8 hours of driving there and back!
Results
RouteGadget