Orienteering race (Sheffield Forest SOG) 54:47 [4] *** 5.5 km (9:58 / km) +230m 8:14 / km
spiked:13/18c
Weather helped, but this was a quality event. As tricky and testing as a level 1 without all the cost, travel, pre-entry, start times, crowds and queues, moaners or marshes (though some of the paths were proper muddy). Just jogged to the start for a warm-up, then mental preparation completely scuppered by the bloke behind me asking how he should use his compass! Just as I was about to go!! So blew 1, put off by the runner starting ahead of me fluffing it even more, and the conservative route I chose to 3 was v. muddy and not optimum. Couldn't decode the info in the circle at 4 so went mostly on memory, then went up the wrong reentrant to 5 and overshot. Worst mistake was 6, where I checked several likely landforms before relocating on the path junction and spotting the crag. Spiked 7 and 8, thank goodness, but was rightwards at 9 and saw flag. Strayed right again leaving control, and leaving 11 as well. Spiked 13 with relief, then it was the long leg (at a SOG?!). Wasn't quite sure where I crossed the stream but ran up the path and through assembly then used bridge and path to secure accurate AP. Also saw the knoll and distinctive tree in the vicinity so knew I was warm. That was a good one to get clean. Last four were OK, though I was way to the right on 17 and used a path I'd never intended to. Never felt fast so tried to focus on good planning and avoided bad mistakes. Much more technical than usual but still enjoyed it.