Claro News 19th April 2022

Hookstone Woods 26th April

Please get your entry in by this Thursday 21 April. There will be a few spare maps (see RaceSignUp) however much better to pre-enter. Get a 'Golden Ticket' and that's all 6 events in the series covered without having to remember again. All details on the website.

The woods are in lovely condition at this time of year so it will be the nicest possible time to run there .... Spot the spring flowers as you go. Much less undergrowth than you're used to from other Claro events here, so you'll positively float through the woods.

SI Air. Part of the CLARO League. Courses to suit all. Children and beginners welcome. Also full-on, challenging courses for those who want some proper training. New(ish) area mapped for you to explore. Good assembly location for picnics and frisbees.

British Sprints Weekend

With a successful JK now over, the next Major Events will be in Yorkshire at the British Sprint Weekend. So, time to get your entries in before the price increase after midnight on Sunday 1 May. The British Sprint Relay Championships will be at Leeds Beckett University on Saturday 11 June and the British Sprint Championships will be at Leeds University on Sunday 12 June. More about the relays further in the JK relay report below but it would be great to see many of you there

Details can be found on www.britishsprintchamps.org.uk

Claro @ the 2022 JK

Thanks to Ruth and Sharon for these reports about all 4 days at the JK, the observant of you will notice our new mast head with our Medal winning Relay team in the Short Ladies.

JK Day 1 Sprints held at Swansea University (Singleton Park)

We were provided with an excellent 1:3000 readable map and elegantly planned courses. Everything was beautifully organised, including the sunshine.

While sprints results are often closer than on longer courses, the top of W55 was really bonkers:

1. Annamari Vierikko (Fin) 15.42
2. Ruth Ker 15.43 (yes there were tears)
3. Sara Campbell 15.46
4. Karen French 15.48
5. Cornelia Mueller (Swi) 15.49

Photo shows Ruth modelling using an SI Air dibber, while in the air, doing her utmost to shave off that vital second (and undoubtedly impressing some passing Swansea youth).

Quentin actually went wrong which is quite unusual: Misreading a building / fence edge and over-running by almost a minute on number 2. Top tip: running super fast the rest of the way is an efficient remedy for this.

Lois put in an excellent performance on W20E coming 8th, with her brother Luke 39th on M21E. Luke Fry took on M18E coming 17th.

Other Claro results include Adrian M50 46th, Graham M55 61st, Andrew M60 12th, John M65 46th, Susan W65 12th and Linda 29th.

Jemima and Sharon battled it out on W50 with Jemima coming out on top on this occasion (24th and 33rd)

JK Day 2 Middle Distance Clydach Terrace

This is an open moorland with complex contours from ironstone mining. The details said the area provided testing navigation at speed. I can confirm that it was also testing navigation when not at speed. Claros had mixed fortunes with our best results being Quentin 1^st on M60L, Luke Fry 2^nd on M21L and David Day 2^nd on M70S. The weather was very kind and Claros could sit in the sun with a beautiful view and compare errors before heading back on the well organised buses to hopefully find your car in the industrial estate. This is the first event I’ve ever been to where you could use MapRun to get back to your car! Other Claro Results Luke Parker 55th M21E On M40L Will Drewe was 27th and Kevin Francis 34th, on M50L Adrian Parker was 63rd, on M55L Graham Ramsden was 69th, on M60L Andrew Kelly was 47th, on M60L John Birtwistle was 21st on W20E Lois Parker was 16th on W21E Vicky Bailey was 51st on W40L Liz Drewe was 8th and W50L Jemima Parker was 34th, on W50S Sharon Bowes was 13th , on W55L Ruth Ker was 7th , on W65L Susan Birtwistle was 35th and Linda Kelly 39th, and on the white course Charlotte Drewe was 19th.

JK Day 3 Long Distance Pwll Du

This was another moorland of complex contours but this time steeper. Again a lovely day to assemble by the run in to cheer each other on. Some long times taken today. I found the contours easier to understand than the Saturday and had a steady run with only a couple of errors eventually finishing 3^rd in W50S. That must be my best position ever at a JK and I’ve tried long and short over the years. Our best results were the same as at Clydach, Quentin 1^st, Luke Fry 2^nd and David Day 2^nd. They then finished 1^st, 2^nd and 2^nd overall in their classes. Well done to them and well done to everyone else who survived the contours.

Other Claro results were Luke Parker was 45th on M21E ,on M40L Will Drewe was 31st and Kevin Francis 34th, on M50L Adrian Parker was 49th, on M60L John Birtwistle was 28th on W20E Lois Parker was 11th on W21E Vicky Bailey was 38th on W40L Liz Drewe was 4th and W50L Jemima Parker was 31st, on W55L Ruth Ker was 9th , on W65L Susan Birtwistle was 19th and on the white course Charlotte Drewe was 22nd.

The other top 10 overall positions were Liz Drewe who was 5th on W40L, Sharon Bowes 9th on W50S and Ruth Ker 7th on W55L.

JK Day 4 The Relays

Caerwent's old military base made a most unusual yet successful location for the relays with a well-sited spectator control up one of the many weird earth banks.

There was plenty of space for Claro to set up camp near the last control and loudly cheer everyone as they embarked on their substantial run-in.

After much juggling and soul-searching by your relay captain Ruth, four perfectly formed Claro teams were fielded who, much to her delight, managed to perfectly execute twelve courses with not a single mis-punch. We seem to be getting the hang of this relay thing.

Liz Drewe, Ruth Ker and Vicky Bailey, produced a brilliant third place in the Short Women Relay. There really is nothing quite as fabulous as getting a podium place in a championship alongside your club mates.

In Short Men Luke Fry, Kevin Francis and Will Drewe were 14th.
In M165+ Quentin Harding, Graham Ramsden and Andrew Kelly were 9th.
In M/W210+ David Day, Linda Kelly and Susan Birtwistle were 23rd.

The British Mixed Sprint Relays are in Becketts Campus, Headingley on 11th June. I'm planning the courses and Quentin has been updating the map. Therefore we won't be running however I will be sorting out the Claro teams and then handing over to a deputy to look after you on the day. These relays are for EVERYONE. We hope to have teams for folk who want to nip round as fast as possible and those who need to walk as their knees are dodgy. Also, after their training at Oatlands, we do hope to have a junior team. I have planned a course ideally suited for the youngsters. Please consider discussing this with any Claro children you know.

Tamsin and I went over to Becketts today and she test ran a Women's Open course for me (as sadly she can't come in June). She reckons you'll like it and you won't be worn out at the end :)

Please email me on secretary@claro-orienteering.org.uk to let me know you're keen.

Ruth, Claro Relay Captain

Coming Up

These dates are all provisional and subject to change as the lockdown easing measures become apparent. It is likely that all these events will be pre-entry only and have limited numbers , please check the links for more details.

Sat 23rd Apr - SROC National Newby Bridge Entries close 17th Apr
Sun 24th Apr - LOC Regional Loughrigg Entries close 20th Apr
Tue 26th Apr - CLARO Local Hookstone Wood Entries close 21st Apr
Wed 27th Apr - BOAC Local Normandy Barracks Beverley Entries close 20:00 26th April
Wed 27th Apr - AIRE Spring Sprint Series Danefield EOD only
Sat 30th Apr - NYMBO MTBO 3hr Score Paradise Farm Entries close 28th Apr
Wed 4th May - AIRE Spring Sprint Series Ilkley EOD only
Sun 8th May -NATO Local Broomley Woods
Sun 8th May - SYO Regional Treeton.
Tue 10th May - CLARO Local Plumpton Rocks Entries close 5th May
Wed 11th May - AIRE Local Calverley Woods EOD only
Sat 14th May - PFO Regional Tockholes Wood
Sun 15th May - AIRE Regional Buck Wood Pre entry preferred
Sun 15th May - CLOK Regional Bassledon Woods Long
Wed 18th May- AIRE Local Meanwood Park EOD only
Thu 19th May - CLOK Local Kipling Hall
Sat 21st May - CLARO Local Junior Series Conyngham HallEOD only
Sat 21st May - MDOC Regional Macclesfield Online entry via fabian cheaper
Sun 22nd May- - MDOC National Ancoats Online entry via fabian cheaper
Tues 24th May - CLARO Local Harlow Hill Entries close 19th May
Wed 25th May - AIRE Local Crag Hills EOD only
Sat 28th May - NYMBO MTBO 3hr Coxwold Entries close 25th May
Sun 29th May- EBOR Regional York City Race Entries open shortly

Summer Evening Series of 6 Events (Spring Flowers)

Fortnightly from April 26 through to July 5

A delightful series of summer early evening events in local woods:

1. April 26 Hookstone Woods, Harrogate. Ruth Ker

2. May 10 Plumpton Rocks, near Harrogate. Andrew Kelly

3. May 24 Harlow Hill, Harrogate. Planner needed. Ideal for novice planner. Tim Evans has volunteered to mentor a first-timer. Do volunteer!

4. June 7 Jacob Smith, Knaresborough. Kevin Francis

5. June 21 Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough Bryn Jones

6. July 5 Hell Wath, Ripon. Will Drewe

More details soon.

Entries will be in advance and through RaceSignUp

To enter just Hookstone click here.

To Enter the whole series as you keep missing entry deadlines click here.

Start times 6.00 – 6.45pm. Courses close: 7.30pm. Full SI Air will be used. Courses for all (Short and Long Beginners, Short and Long Experienced). Orienteering coaching will be run by Quentin just before each event. Keep an eye on the website here

Tour De Ned

As a few Claros also follow the cycling ( some are even having a rest day on the JK missing the Long so they can watch the Paris -Roubaix ) Linda has suggested that there could be a club social event to see Ned Boulting ( A noted cycling commentator ) at Ilkley Kings Hall on Wednesday 26th October., with possibly some food before hand. Seats are available here and if there is enough of us going we can sort out a venue for beforehand.

Items for the newsletter

We have set up an e-mail address news@claro-orienteering.org.uk for you to send items to the newsletter should you want to promote any event, provide results , or a plug for a report or article you have done for the website. I will do a quick scan for results but would be more than happy to receive them from the competitors.