Chairman’s report 25^th August

It has been a long time since my last missive, and that is largely because I have been away orienteering, so please forgive me.

There are lots of items to report on.

Upcoming local events/activities

Firstly, you will have received several emails from Julie regarding help required at the Caddihoe Chase. We only recently received permission from Forestry England to run the two day event in the New Forest. This is great news, but it’s all very last minute.

Saturday will be a middle distance event (18^th Sept) at Godshill, which WSX is planning (Ian), and organising (Julie). On Sunday (19^th Sept) there is a long distance event at Hampton Ridge, organised by WIM and controlled by Roger (WSX). These also form part of the SW middle and long distance championships. Please lend your support

The following weekend, Roger is organising an orienteering course at Studland dunes (Knoll beach) as part of PLANET Purbeck week. This will be both days of the weekend (25^th/26^th Sept), so please offer to help Roger if you can

On 30^th September, we have our AGM and social at Queens Park golf club, details in Sheila’s email. If you would like to join the committee or even be the club’s Chairman, then do please contact me or Sheila and we can get you involved.

British Sprint Championships

This last weekend, the Medlocks and Gavin travelled up to Skelmersdale for the British Sprint Relay Champs and British Individual Sprint Champs.

A team of Jolyon, Lyra and Gavin won SILVER medal in the Ad Hoc relay on the Saturday

On the Sunday, Gavin won GOLD in the hotly contested M65 and Lyra won GOLD in her W14 category. Congratulations both. This was Lyra’s third consecutive GOLD at the sprint discipline, having won W12 in Loughborough University in 2019 and Bath University in 2018. Not to be outdone, Esk fought hard to win her first BRONZE medal in W12 among a fast crop of Sheffield girls. Well done Esk.

Scotland

A merry crop of WSX and WIM spent their summer holidays in the Highlands, firstly at the Coast and Islands week then at Lochaber 2021 Scottish 6 days. We enjoyed some fantastic days in the first week, running round the streets of Ullapool, visiting controls on tidal islands off the wooded shores of Lochinver, dashing over moorland above the lush gardens of Inverewe, navigating between crags on the rocky volcanic tufts above Loch Torridon, sprinting around the Plock of Lochalsh under the gaze of the Skye bridge, finishing in the dense woodlands of Armadale Castle on Skye. Every afternoon involved swimming and snorkelling in rocky and sandy coves along the coast.

The second week was a shortened 3 day event, so various members took part in different events. This was classic S6d terrain, with open moorland above Loch Etive and Arisaig, dense woodland and runnable golf course under the looming Ben Nevis, and a final day in shoulder high bracken and open fellside near Newtonmore. Suffice to say we got plenty of exercise, quite a few midge and tick bites, but barely any rain. The ‘rest days’ involved several members climbing Munros at Creag Meagaidh (including their first) and Glencoe as well as more sea swimming and convivial BBQs on the shore of Loch Eil.

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon

Several crazy WSX members took part in SLMM at Honister in early July, so well done to Alan B, Nicki B, Ian, Tina, Jolyon and Lyra. It was hard work, but great fun.

Night league and Maprun league

There will be no Maprun league as such this autumn as we see a return of the Night league, which will largely be run using Maprun. The programme is being organised, with WSX contributing four events, likely to be at Hamworthy, Canford Heath, Wareham, and possibly a new location at Corfe Castle. More details to follow

SW relays

Wessex successfully won the SW relays, more details to follow in a separate post

Junior news

Finally, just to report that 4 of our juniors (Agnes, Arthur, Lyra and Esk) will be representing the South West at the upcoming Junior Inter-regional championships in Cleveland in September. Lyra has also been invited to attend a talent camp at Lagganlia in the Cairngorms in October. Well done to all our juniors.

Upcoming distant events

Don’t forget that the British Long Distance Champs are on Braunton Burrows in Devon in early October and the Welsh Champs are in the Brecon Beacons in mid September.

A few photos will be added to the gallery