One of the last events of the year happened last night in Brighton, where several Wessex members took part in the Night League City Race. It was an incredibly mild evening – even I only wore a short-sleeved top!

The Mass Start was a bit of a nightmare as all 170-odd competitors were channelled into a fairly narrow lane and then via a single-person width footpath (due to building works). But once that was over, people scattered in a variety of directions. And most people had a series of ‘butterfly’controls based in a small park, which was great fun. Specks of head-torch lights bobbing all over the place and in all directions. And in the famous Lanes of the city centre, the usual ‘helpful’ late-night shoppers telling you where your control was or asking you what you were doing.

Anyway, we all had a great time and we had a couple of great results:

Ian came 1st in Mens Ultra Vets, with 3 minutes over Chris Branford of WIM. And Peter Suba came 2nd in Mens Vets, 34 seconds off 1st place!

Ian with his medal for 1st Mens Ultra Vets

Rob came 9th in the same class.

Upcoming Events

December to February
(thanks to Chris Branford for putting this list together)
Monday 26^th December:  Wimborne Orienteers Boxing Day Canter at Ringwood North Forest, Verwood.  A special event for all the family with Father Christmas, Fairies and the Christmas Tree.
11am mass start.  All welcome.  Preferred entry by Fabian4 to save time but also entry on the day.  See www.wimborne-orienteers.org.uk for details.

And in January…..
Sunday, January 1st –  Score event at Copehill Down, Salisbury Plain, organised by Sarum. This is a unique opportunity to run around a  mock village, built by the Army for training purposes, as well as the surrounding open plain. See sarumo.org.uk for details. Entries now available on fabian4.
Monday, January 2nd – our club’s first event of 2017, the Poole Night League event. This year we’re basing ourselves at The Quay Wetherspoon’s pub. Flier available on our website: wessex-oc.org.uk
Thursday, January 12th – Southampton’s Night League event in Romsey. See www.southampton-orienteers.org.uk
Saturday, January 21st – WIM’s informal at Avon Heath Country Park. see www.wimborne-orienteers.org.uk
and in February…..
Thursday, February 2nd – Southampton’s Night League event at Stoke Park Wood, Eastleigh. See www.southampton-orienteers.org.uk
Saturday, February 4th – Sarum’s afternoon informal and Night League event at Stonedown, near Sixpenny Handley. See www.sarumo-org.uk/
Monday, February 6th – WIM’s Night League event in Dorchester.
Sunday, February 12th – our own Galoppen event at Holmsley. Please enter on fabian4 using Helper’s Code of ‘nosnow’
Thursday, February 16th – our Night League event at Upton Country Park. Flier will be available soon.
And finally…..

There is a regular training session every Tuesday at Bournemouth UNI (Wallisdown Campus) Be at the Sports Centre ready for a 6pm start. Hill training or 1K circuits, followed by a very sociable session in the UNI bar. All abilities welcome.

NO SESSION ON DECEMBER 27TH. 

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.