I have been so busy orienteering that I haven’t posted a WSX chat for a few weeks. However, as the rain arrives and my village cricket game is cancelled, here is a short missive.

The events are coming thick and fast. Since Rushmore, some of the WSX crew made it over to TVOC Bradenham Park Wood event in the Chilterns near High Wycombe; a lovely beech wood, with plenty of holly patches and red kites soaring above. With over 500 runners in the woods, it was easy to get distracted; that’s my excuse anyway. The sheer excitement of orienteering again, or total rustiness with compass work led to a scrappy run for some of us.  With >130 on the blue, a top 20 finish for Gavin and Lyra (only 2 mins behind!) was a great result.  On short green, Julie was back out in the forest after her op, which was great to see. On orange, Esk finished 2nd out of >30 and will be looking for a move up to light green soon :-). See the results and routegadget

The day before, Lyra and Esk were out with the South West Junior Orienteering Squad at BOK’s Lyncombe site in the Mendips. This was training for the British Middles in the Lakes in June. Esk was learning aiming off techniques and has been asked to consider attending more training days in the future, on her way to joining the junior squad. Well done to her!

This weekend, WSX were in Bristol for the BOK Blaise Castle event and at the WAOC Huntingdon Urban. Blaise is a lovely wooded gorge within the bounds of the City of Bristol, where 300 orienteers rubbed shoulders with the public and their pets. I continued my faltering re-start of orienteering, only managing to walk the blue suffering with the after effects of my vaccination (although was pleased with a top half). The girls put in a strong run, with Lyra winning the green, Rebecca in the top half and Esk 3rd on orange.  See results and routegadget. Up in Huntingdon, Gavin posted an excellent 3rd on MV (a course designed for M40s).

The Winter/Spring Maprun league has re-started with events at Moors Valley and Poole. James and Alan B are sharing the wins each week, with Alan B, James, Roger and Ian W holding the top four places in the league. Sheila is top WSX woman. Well done guys. This week it is a sprint format at Blandford, before we move to the New Forest heaths. Check our the league table and details of the upcoming events

A final word, to welcome Fern Ault, our newest member. Fern is Madeleine’s daughter and is a returnee member, who enjoyed Rushmore so much, she was tempted to get back orienteering again. 

Hope to see you all soon.