From Andrew Haigh (Series coordinator)
At the BOSS events this year we have been printing 80 maps, typically we get around 65 entries so this allows a few extra for control collection etc. This week the pre entry list grew to over 75 by late in the week. We had to print some more late saturday night, they arrived at the event just as we were about to start turning away those who had not pre entered.
This was Andrew Power's first setting of a BOSS event and what an enjoyable event it was. Just enough to keep the top end on their toes, whilst plenty of high value controls near the start for the social competitors. In my opinion Killingworth is the best area we have, lots of single track and at this time of year no mud.
Only 33% of the field decided that 75 minutes wasn't long enough to enjoy the area (Compared to 82% at Wallaroo) and subsequently returned late. Six competitors ventured off the map loosing all the points they had gained. Two where forced to ask directions from a trail bike rider somewhere near Wakefield! Luckily we located them just off the bottom of the map during a 4WD search.
This should serve as a reminder to all, to fill in your Car registration details and mobile phone numbers (and carry it) on the entry slip, so that we can more easily locate competitors who fail to return.
Thanks to everybody who helped on the day
And from setter Andrew Power
Sunday was my first experience of course setting. It gave me a great excuse to go out to Killingworth, ride all the tracks and find some nice tracks I hadn’t ridden before. I found plenty of tracks I enjoyed riding on and lots of potential control locations.
I was aiming to set a course that would allow people to ride on a lot of the single track. I was also aiming to set a course that the faster riders would go close to collecting all of the points. The challenge was to decide how far they could ride and provide enough options for the not so fast riders. I worked out the potential control sites, then had to go and test ride the course a few times to make sure they were in the right place and check I hadn’t missed any short cuts.
Eighty plus people entered on a warm and humid day. Damian Welbourne won the day collecting 61 of the 64 points available but returning late for a total of 60.
I hope everyone enjoyed the day and the course, even those who were navigationally challenged, rode off the map and were out well beyond the 75 minutes.
I enjoyed the course setting experience, finding some new tracks and having a good excuse to go riding.
Thanks to all of the helpers on the day, particularly
Set-up – Mick Kavur
Registration - Chris Battle and Andrew Haigh
Finish - Hilary Dent, Nicole Haigh and Tim Hackney
Control Collection – Rudi Landsiedel , Malcolm Roberts, Tim Hackney, Geoff Todkill and Graeme Oddy.