Trackwork, Trigonometry and Terminators
Event: Summer Street Series Event 15
Location: Broadmeadow
Entries: 75
Weather: Fine, cool, and overcast
Reporter: Craig Kentish
StreetO 15 was held at Broadmeadow in near-perfect running weather on a fascinating map produced by the mathematical mind of Colin Bailey. Most of the 75+ competitors circumnavigated the racecourse, collecting all of the 3 pointers. This appeared to have the effect of closing up the field, with many mid-range runners having good days percentage-wise (Col might say he put a squeeze on the standard deviation of the field). The trick was how to manage the cluster of one pointers near the sports grounds – almost a warm up activity for the coming Park-O series.
The winner today was last years champion, Stu Adams, with 43 points. Stu always motors past me, and his running power and clinical effectiveness reminds me of the bad Terminator character from the Terminator 2 movie (for those with a love of blood and guts movies). I mean this in the nicest possible way – although some of those runners who he puts to the sword regularly may think the Terminator analogy fairly apt.
Second was Josh Blatchford with 42 points, and third was Steven Todkill, also with 42 points. These guys like to keep it close!
For the ladies, Karen Blatchford returned to the winners circle, with 35 points, second was Relene Fenrich (34 pts) and third was Kathryn Vaughan (33 pts). All very close again. The club has some excellent female runners coming through the ranks, with several different names appearing in the top 3 each week. I can reveal exclusively on this website that many male competitors are shattered when they finally realise that girls can do anything, including whipping blokes at orienteering!
This means going into the final event at Blackalls Park, the top 2 men (Steven and Josh) are neck and neck (890.51 plays 889.59). This is one control, 1 second, 1 mistake, 1 good decision to go cross country…..good luck to both this week. Stu will only have at most 8 events completed this year, so he can’t quite catch them.
Karen has a slight edge over Kim in the womens standings (895.7 to 888.1), but either could be champions on that wonderful Wednesday afternoon at Blackalls Park in February. Again, good luck.
Thanks to Col for a real orienteering run. Very enjoyable even if some runners may have got a horse ride from some of the jockeys doing trackwork in and around the racecourse.
NEXT WEEK: Blackalls Park for the final Street-O run of the year. See you there….