Tales from the Undergrowth - September 2006
TALES FROM THE UNDERGROWTH
Setanta Orienteers Club Newsletter: September 2006
CLUB NEWS
Welcome to and a big hello to new club members ... Declan Cunningham, Michael Mulhern, Declan Murphy, Shane Waring, Catherine Percival, Moira 0 'Sullivan, Margaret McCarthy, Hugh Lydon, and Claire Walsh we look forward to seeing you in action in the upcoming season of orienteering.
Congratulations to Colin and Jane Walsh on the birth of a baby girl, sister to Sophie and Matthew. The new addition is named Rachel. Big congrats as well to Tony Doolin and Sharon Kelly on the birth of their baby boy, Catha!. We'll check into new baby O-suits!!
From babies to upcoming nuptials .... congratulations to Hazel and groom to be, Brendan O'Connor as well as to Colleen and Sean. Both couples plan to tie the knot some time in 2007.
Club Member Contact List
Note that your copy of the Tales is accompanied by a new club member contact list. Hopefully it will come in handy for offering to volunteer at events and car pooling along the way. If there are any addresses or contact details that need to be updated please forward them to Colleen - it might just mean you haven't filled out a membership form this year!!
As always, we extend a word of thanks to club members who have volunteered their time for the running of events since last issue. There was an event planned especially for a group of Swedish orienteers starting from Powerscourt Waterfall on 4th November. Thanks to Paul Mahon and Brian Power for organising. We held a local event at Hellfire in January - well done to Sean for finding enough area for the long course even with all the recent felling! Tony controlled the event and Colleen was the organiser. January was a busy month with Hazel and Tony also organising and planning the Dublin by Night event in Massy's Estate. Our last league event in Glendasan was held on March 26th planned by Mick, organised by Angus and controlled by Gerry Brady. Thanks also to all those who help out on the day at these events.
Club Events
Setanta will be holding some closed events just for club members in the throughout the upcoming season. These events are fun social events and should not be taken too seriously, but training will be available. If you want to do some training then shadowing sessions can be organised for individual technique training. Shadowing is a good form of gaining experience. Basically this is when an orienteer (usually more experienced) follows another during a course. Discussion can be after the run, or if need be (depending on what's agreed before hand) during the run. Some of Setanta's more experienced orienteers (Angus for one!) have volunteered to shadow club members looking to improve by teaching on the run! Thanks to the initiative of Dave Weston and offers of help from other experienced club members tentative dates for club events this season are as follows:
- 24th September - Djouce
- 8th October - Glendassan
- 5th November -Ballinascorney
- 16th December - Hellfire (followed by Christmas drinks !)
- 13th January - Castletimon
- 17th February - Mullaghmeen
- 10th March - Glen of the Downs / Kindlestown
- 31st March - Knocksink
- 6th May - Djouce
12:00 start unless otherwise posted on the website or on the e-group.
Planning, Organising and Controlling Shadows!!
Not only can we learn to orienteer by shadowing more experienced runners, but we can gain experience in the different tasks involved in hosting an event by shadowing others. Most club members help out on event days but there were only about 11 people who actually organised, planned or controlled an event in the past season. While we don't expect someone inexperienced to take on one of these tasks on their own, we do want to encourage more people to develop the skills to do so in the future. It is important for us all to seize the opportunity to give back to the sport.
Brian heads new mapping committee
At the recent AGM, Brian Power has been finally elected as Club Mapping Officer. "Finally" only because, it wasn't an official title, but Brian has very effectively been performing this duty for what seems like a millennia. Along with Brian, a mapping sub-committee was formed, and so far consists of:
Dave Weston
Declan Murphy
Terry Lawless
Angus Tyner.
The purpose of this sub-committee is to look into potential areas for mapping. This would involve spotting areas on maps or areas that we each may know in our locality that could have the potential for orienteering.
Once a list has been drawn up members of the sub committee (min. of 2) would do a brief run or walk over the area to check out it's suitability for run ability, features etc. The areas that are deemed to be suitable for mapping will then to be brought to the committee, where a decision can be made on behalf of the club as to which areas to map.
Our club needs new maps as the old re1iables contain forest that has been recently felled. We also need to produce a map for the Leinster Orienteering Champs that we are co-hosting in 2008.
The mapping committee are asking all members to let them know of any potential areas they think off. Also if there are any of you out there who would like to be involved in the initial stages of this process please let a committee member know and we can organise outings to view areas.
Setanta Events
We are looking for volunteers to take on each of the main tasks of planner, organiser and controller and we would also encourage others to shadow the main organisers, planners and controllers to learn what's involved.
· 1 Oct 2006: LL Autumn Series: Mullaghmmeen, Co Westmeath
· 12 Nov 2006: Local Event: Glen of the Downs & Kindlestown
· 23 Jan 2007: Night Event: Knocksink Wood, Enniskerry
· 28 Jan 2007: Local Event: Hellfire Woods, Killakee
· 4 Mar 2007: LL Spring Cup Event; Djouce Woods, Enniskerry
· 23/24 June 2007: Rogaine Ireland 2007: Venue to be decided
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, 1st October - Mullaghmeen - all volunteers on the day are very welcome and much, appreciated. In order for the event to run as smoothly as possible and for as many club members as possible to get a run on the day, we need helpers. Please get in touch with Angus or Bnan and volunteer your services - no experience necessary!!!
RESULTS
Inter-Club Champs
On an incredibly wet and blustery 21st May the Leinster Inter-Club Champs took place on Brockagh. The event was in danger of cancellation due to the weather, but in the end only the annual BBQ was omitted. It proved to be survival of the fittest... and triumph for the club that had the most members prepared to brave the elements. Unfortunately Setanta had to relinquish the trophy to CNOC who earned 5510 points on the day to our second place performance of 3000points ahead of GEN and AJAX. Better luck next year... and better weather too, we hope!
3rd -_5thJune: Irish 3-day Inishbofin
For the June Bank Holiday weekend many an orienteer flocked to the island of Inishbofin and was met with three days of sunshine, great orienteering, and even a few lectures on various orienteering related topics. The event was such a success that plans are in the works for the next Irish 3Day in 2008.
The club results are as follows:
M14 3rd Ben Mangan
W21L 4th Hazel Thompson
W21L 4th Hazel Thompson
5th Colleen Robinson
M35 2nd Sean Hassett
M40 3rd Dave Weston
W40 2nd Roxanne White
M45 1st Jim Mulrooney
2nd Mick Mangan
W45 3rd Jackie Atkinson
W60 2nd Maura Higgins
W70 1st Faith White
W55S 1st Frances O'Neill
M60S 1st Billy O'Neill
W21N 1st Louisa O'Sullivan
Well done to all!! Mark your calendars for the June Bank Holiday 2008... the spa should be open then too!
10th June: Wicklow Way Relay
The 5th Wicklow Way Relay was again this year held in very warm weather, most coped with the conditions quite well, but inevitably a few suffered. As the years go by there are fewer going astray or missing their changeover. As laudable as this is, it spoils it for us spectators but there is always the few to keep us amused. Philip Brennan was quoted, as saying that he never realised that leg 5 was so hard and would not be doing it again. Philip's memory is slipping we think as he said pretty much the same thing after climbing Mulacorr from the other side on the last Wicklow Mountain Marathon. A large crowd arrived in Shillelagh to see the runners finish, get their team photo taken and enjoy the sunshine. The usual, with no home to go to, stayed over and camped on the green. The race was eventually won by the team from Rathfarnham AC in 7:38:38 - the first time that it has been won by an 8 person team. This year Setanta had two teams entered - finishing 12th and 26th.
24 - 25thJune: Rogaine
A record number of 90 competitors took part in this year's Rogaine. The organisers added a new 6-hour course to the normal 24-hour to meet a growing interest in this type of event but not necessarily in the duration. Both organisers and competitors appeared happy with the outcome.
The start location for this year's event was the Glenmalure Valley in Co. Wicklow. 19 teams took part on the 6-hour course which consisted of 18 controls with 24 teams on the 24-hour course with 38 controls. All controls carried equal points which at least saved the competitors bringing their calculators along. It was a straight forward get as many as you can in the allotted time. As usual penalties of 20 points per min made running over time a major disincentive.
The weather on the day had contained a number of light showers in the early morning. Things had cleared up a bit in time for the l2pm start but heavy rain in the afternoon and low cloud meant difficult conditions for the 6-hour competitors. Conditions improved for those on the long course with mild fine weather for the remaining duration of the event.
Prizes were awarded in each individual category but the top overall positions were as follows (points reflect any time penalties incurred):
24-hour results Category Points
1 Paul Mahon, Roisin McDonnell Mixed 3000
2 Andrew McCarthy, Tony Kiernan Open 2300
3 Ruth Lynam, Don Short Veteran Mixed 2300
Congrats to Paul on the overall winning team on the 24 hour event, Colleen and Martina first female team and 5th overall. Well done to Terry and Mick finishing 12th.
6-hour results Category Points
1 Fred Hammond, Dec1an McGrellis Veteran 1200
2 Hazel Thompson, Brendan O'Connor Mixed 1000
3 Clive Coffey, Nina Huet Mixed 920
Congrats to Hazel on the 2ndplace team overall in the 6hr event and Melanie Heather on the 1st female team. Well done to Colin Walsh and Rachel Cinnsealach and their respective teams finishing the 6hr event.
MTBO World Champs
A small but enthusiastic team represented Ireland at this year's MTBO World Champs in Finland in early July, including our own Nina Phillips and adopted Jussi Makila. The races were, as expected, very navigationally challenging but also surprisingly physically demanding too with a significant amount of climb and technical biking in very hot weather. Probably the most difficult MTB WOC yet... Results in summary:
Middle Distance - Men, 17km:
1. Tuomo Tompuri FIN 49.50
1. Tuomo Tompuri FIN 49.50
60. John Houlihan IRL 1.05.37 +15.47
88. Eoin Rothery IRL 1.18.31 +28.41
Middle distance - Women, 13.2km:
1.Michaela Gigon AUT 51.38
24.Nina Phillips IRL 1.02.53 + 11.15
1.Michaela Gigon AUT 51.38
24.Nina Phillips IRL 1.02.53 + 11.15
Long Distance - A Final Men, 40.4km:
1. Mika Tervala FIN 2.03.06
1. Mika Tervala FIN 2.03.06
30. John Houlihan IRL 2.23.52 +20.
46 Eoin Rothery IRL 2.54.46 (in B Final)
46 Eoin Rothery IRL 2.54.46 (in B Final)
Long Distance - A Final Women, 29.4km:
1. Christine Schaffner SUI 1.51.28
1. Christine Schaffner SUI 1.51.28
36. Nina Phillips IRL 2.19.20 +27.52
Relay - Men:
1. Finland
1. Finland
Ireland DISQ (Nina mispunched under pressure from GB2 and Japan2 ... )
Club Champs - 9th September 2006
An enjoyable time was had by all at the Club Champs held for the second year in Ballinagapogue with BBQ to follow in Glenmalure. The new club champ has been crowned.... the somewhat unlikely (some might say) Paul Mahon. Well done! A great big thanks to Brian Power for planning and organising a great course... despite the rough stuff between 2 and 3! Thank you very much to Hazel et al for organising the BBQ afterwards. We look forward to having Westie is host next year at the Roundwood North Resevoir!!
MOOSE TALE …
Nina & Jussi Report from Finland
Winter in Finland - most of the population hibernates but the Finnish MTBO team had us on training camps biking up to our knees in snow, riding sheet-ice, doing Snowshoe-O training and we did one Ski-O race. Even learned to play curling, not sure how that'll help my biking but it's more fun than on TV. A local paper caught us out skiing in -23c one day and reporting something about mad Irish...
In March you think the winter is never going to end, so two weeks training camp with the Finnish team was nicely timed. Trained on some very nice maps, though some were pure charcoal after last summer's fires. We also took part in a couple of Portugese Cup races which went quite well, Jussi winning & me finishing 5th.
Our first races in the World Ranking Event series were on May 26-28 in Voru, Estonia (home of Estonia's highest hill... is this the one Setanta Boyz Tour had a hill race up a few years ago, was the tallest of one of the Baltic's hills if I remember correctly?). The Estonians did well on home ground, Jussi finished 3rd, narrowly avoiding winning a large chair. I was 13th I think, suffering jet lag from now spending lots of work time in Chicago. Yes, I now have a job!
Over the summer we'll be at more WRE's, the World MTBO Championships (Finland) and the 1st European MTBO Championships (Poland). A little closer to home, I believe there are now some good events in the UK too. Shame there doesn't seem to be an Irish series this year. And sad too that Ireland's MTBWOC team is only 2 people, neither travelling from 'home'. As always, happy to help if anyone is interested in travelling anywhere to try out some real races or just nice to hear from yet
PS - I'm: so proud of Lordi, Finland rocks Halle1uj ah!!
Regards, Other News
Sad news has reached us of the death of long time club member Sven Kulldorff. Sven passed away last February after a long illness that kept him away from orienteering over the last few years. Sven joined Setanta in the late seventies and was a very active member for over twenty years, managing to fit his travel and business commitments around orienteering. Older members will remember the encouragement and advice he gave to junior and novice orienteers, and also his love and sheer enjoyment of the sport. Sven will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.
