| Organiser’s
Comments We were
pleased to subject Jim Prowting’s unique map
to the scrutiny of a group of discerning and
distinguished orienteers drawn nation-wide.
Comments after the event were very favourable.
Clearly the novelty of the 1:2500 scale provided
an exciting challenge. “After a dozen
controls I worked out how to do it!”
So, thanks to you for
coming, and thanks to the regular band of Devon
helpers. Putting on a local event is a doddle
after the JK, particularly with Fabian4’s
help.
Alan Simpson
Devon
Planner &
Mapper's Comments
The aim, as far as possible,
on the technical courses was to keep markers
invisible until competitors were within a few
metres. To achieve this, while maintaining
leg quality, variety and lack of repetition,
subterfuge tactics, like inserting stakes at 45°
angles or less to the ground, had to be resorted
to. In one instance, where live gorse (that
had previously screened the marker) had been
burnt a few weeks before the event, I even
resorted to piling up live gorse branches on the
ground to screen a marker in a shallow gully.
The 1:2500 map scale allowed
more than one 1.25m ring contour in the deeper
depressions to be clearly shown; a great
improvement on the previous 1:3750 map.
Contours are the medium for elegantly
representing landforms on orienteering maps, and
with an interval this close, a great deal of
information about them can be imparted. I
was vindicated and gratified that this
information could be assimilated at speed by the
fastest Long Course competitors, especially
Graham Gristwood, providing substantial proof
that a level of detail of this kind, if clearly
represented at a sufficiently large scale, is no
impediment, for those with sufficient skills, to
fluent, rapid orienteering. I’d like
to think that this event could be a precursor to
other such events in the future using a similarly
large scale on small areas with similarly highly-detailed
relief.
I could not have done
without Organiser Alan Simpson’s and
Controller Arthur Boyt’s faith in the event
from the outset, and the efficiency of the
support they provided throughout.
I hope you liked the added
refinement of ‘warm-up’ maps ably
administered by Assistant Planner, Mick Smith.
Jim Prowting
TVOC
Controller's Comments
Jim
had mapped the area at 1:3750 with 2.5m contours
over 5 years ago at a time when there was
substantial coverage of gorse. But two years ago
he noted that the gorse was mostly burnt off and
an opportunity was presented to map the whole
area and hold an event before it regrew. I
encouraged him to "break the mould" and
survey at a 1.25 m contour interval with no form
lines. Further intense periods of meticulous
mapping, with no commission to carry out the work
or promise of expenses being met, resulted in the
map we now have. Jim applied the same devotion to
detail in the planning of the courses and the
placing of controls to provide a "contour
experience" that has surprised and
stimulated all who stayed for this extra JK event.
Am I wrong to dare to hope that the mappers
amongst us might discern the pleasure such a map
affords and give us more accurate and detailed
landform information on other areas?
With
this map Jim has set up another
milestone in the history of orienteering maps.
Previously, in his second version of the Burnham
Beeches map in 1978, he had vegetation
details beyond anything seen up to that time so
that not only was a guide to runnability provided
but veg boundaries were included that could be
used for control sites. Then in 1992 he
transformed a mediocre park and woodland area,
Hatfield Park, into a complex navigational
challenge by accurately mapping the stands of
rhododendrons so that it could be used for top
quality events.
Working
with such a meticulous mapper and experienced
planner left me little to do but walk round and
tick the boxes. In addition to Jim for his labour
of love, Erik Pekitt, who originally conceived
the idea of another map for the area, and Alan
Simpson who realised its attraction and agreed to
organise are to be thanked for bringing this epic
event to pass.
Arthur
Boyt
KERNO
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