Controllers Comments;  Organisers comments;  Planners comments

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Any queries, errors, or omissions should in the first instance be addressed to Kevin Bradley, e-mail web@leioc.org.uk

Results software provided by Michael Napier.

Controllers Comments

A difficult and pressured time for everyone concerned with the event. Only two weeks since the last event at Grace Dieu, the intervening JK weekend, many traditional helpers away on holiday and the EPS on loan to the Police Event and not returned until Thurs evening. All things considered it turned out to be a most efficient and enjoyable event, at least for most of us. Thanks to everyone who made it work on the day.

Some of the competitors expressed some frustration with the location of their first control, in the small depression. The map does show it to be at the margin of the thicket rather than beneath it and perhaps, on reflection, it wasn’t as fair as it should have been. I can only apologise and hope it didn’t spoil your run significantly.

The courses devised by Robert and Chris were designed to be at the upper end of the technical difficulty appropriate to each colour code and this was reflected in the longer than usual times in most instances. The myriad of small paths no doubt the source of confusion for some and the unfamiliarity of the terrain for others. All together the essence of our sport was maintained in that the competitor was faced with a complex series of challenges presented by the planner, the map and the terrain. In the end I think the honours were about even.
Thanks to everyone.

Eric Porter.

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Organisers Comments

It seems a long time since we last held a full colour coded event in Swithland and The Brand. Having managed to secure access to Swithland once again we were faced with the problem of car parking. The Swithland car parks are too small and although we have used Bradgate Park's Hallgates car park in the past, the weekend charges, £5 for over 4 hours, are, I think, excessive. We were therefore planning to use Roecliffe Manor until we were informed about 3 weeks ago that permission had been withdrawn. Fortunately Severn Trent stepped into the breach with the Cropston Water Treatment works - the car park charge was for the charity Water Aid. I hope that you found the legacy left by Leicester ratepayers in 1870 to your liking even if it did mean a 1km walk to the start and back. Clearly in those days Leicester Corporation, free of Government controls, was able to take a long term view of things and value for money did not come into the equation, or at least meant something completely different then.

I would like to thank all those who helped to make the event go smoothly on the day. While e-punching is great for producing results and showing where all those minutes (hours?) were lost, it does require significantly more resources (human and equipment) before and on the day. As a result of e-punching, LEI is now the "proud?" owner of a large new tent, new laser printer and several tables and chairs. Add to this the essential generator, laptop computers, extension leads etc and I have come to the conclusion that the club will soon have to buy a van to put it all in. At one time I wondered whether a Saturday event would justify this burden but I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout, although the weather was certainly favourable. We might even have had a few more competitors if those who turned up on Sunday had read the publicity more carefully!

Lost property

One vacuum flask

One groundsheet

One sweatshirt

One apple

One Silva Compass reported lost, but not found by any event official

John Marriott Tel 0116 236 4295 or email cropston66@hotmail.com

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Planner's comments

Thank you to everyone who turned up on the day. A late change of car park provided the unexpected opportunity for all courses to include the south areas of Swithland and avoided road crossing for all but the blue and brown courses. Even at this time of year when the undergrowth is subdued Swithland and The Brand offer a variety of challenges. They are filled with feature rich areas that can penalise mistakes and e-punching provides much greater scope to utilise these areas. I trust that you found the courses interesting. Thanks to all who helped with the planning work associated with the event, particularly Chris Bosley and Eric Porter for their help, guidance and encouragement.

Robert Kerr

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