Thursday, November 1, 2007

We anticipated a big roll up with daylight saving finally kicking in, and weren't dissappointed. Last night's ripper at Macquarie Uni had the numbers men working up a storm on the abacus - 220 maps gone for around 210 entries. A record at this venue, and for such an early series event.

The overcast weather made for comfortable running, and James Lithgow's challenging course made for puzzling running. The controls were split in two distinct halves, with a 'river' of low/no points in between. The question was always how to add a bit from one side to all of the other, and how to make the inner points to the west (26,7,4,13) work with a looping run around the outer tempting ring of 30 pointers. Resolving this gave a wide variety of route choice and saw the always delicious runners 'going everywhere'. Plenty of action for the push chair brigade (10,2,24 etc.) and the champions - who got a dollop of bush track action with #30.

Best score on the night was 580 points, I think by more than one runner, with Andy Hill's 'Hoist' not seeing the elusive 20 and returning early. There were several other competitors who were back early, unable to get the sector flow right (or in my case, remember to look at their watch!).

The Uni grounds are always good running, and as previewed, James obliged with a sculpture control (#22) and a puzzling car parking building checkpoint (#17) - the latter giving the odd speedster a bit of location grief. All good stuff at this popular venue.

Next event will see SSS competitors run a new location - Cabarita Park and sourrounds. Dave McKenna is on the pencil for this extension of the old Rhodes map that takes in the former AGL gas works. The area boasts excellent park and harbour side running - and is almost dead level. I guess we can also expect a bit of fun amongst the 'lifestyle' apartment developments, rather like Steve Flick gave us at Abbotsford. Should be an excellent outing, with dinner at the Concord Italian restaurants close by an added incentive. Be there!

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