Discussion: RHINO results
in: RHINO (Dec 13, 2008 - Canton, CT)
Dec 14, 2008 10:55 AM
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A very fine inaugural edition of the Ratlum Holiday International Night-O. It is an act of extreme hubris to put on a night-O in New England in December. On Wednesday conditions were optimal, but Thursday night we lay awake hearing trees breaking and crashing under the weight of the ice storm. Examination of the forest the next day when it seemed all the stuff that was going to break had broken showed a real tangle of downed limbs and trees. Even harder to pass were areas of saplings bent over across trails. Could the event go on? Well, Rhonda and I visited all the control sites with some difficulty but without any sense of impending doom, so - why not?
What might be the attributes of an orienteer who could be successful in such a race? Seems like a thick hide, a very sharp and sturdy proboscis for piercing thickets, the bulk and force of an NFL defensive tackle, and a brain the size of a walnut. Yep, a rhino.
Gathered the participants and started sending them off at around 5:30. Race time temperature 17 F. Some of the saplings had shed their ice enough to relax, so some of the trails were a bit easier to pass, but the whole course might charitably have been categorized as "green".
The results:
Long course:
1. Peter Oberg 27:35
2. Johanna Gunnarson 37:51
3. Erik Nystrom 39:19
4. Ross Smith 39:29
5. J-J Cote 53:46
6. Peter Grollman 1:13:51
Other participants who made their own versions of the course: George Walker, Sam 'n' Hilly, Jeff Saeger
Grandmasters course:
1. Peter Gagarin 35:41
2. Lyn Walker 52:54
The group of Rhonda, Gail, Judy and Claudia Grollman visited a number of controls on both courses, unencumbered by dipsticks or maps.
And totally a fine night with a sparkling full moon.
Peter Oberg and Johanna Gunnarson (Erik's cousin) are visiting from Sweden and turned in the most amazing performances ever seen at Ratlum.
What might be the attributes of an orienteer who could be successful in such a race? Seems like a thick hide, a very sharp and sturdy proboscis for piercing thickets, the bulk and force of an NFL defensive tackle, and a brain the size of a walnut. Yep, a rhino.
Gathered the participants and started sending them off at around 5:30. Race time temperature 17 F. Some of the saplings had shed their ice enough to relax, so some of the trails were a bit easier to pass, but the whole course might charitably have been categorized as "green".
The results:
Long course:
1. Peter Oberg 27:35
2. Johanna Gunnarson 37:51
3. Erik Nystrom 39:19
4. Ross Smith 39:29
5. J-J Cote 53:46
6. Peter Grollman 1:13:51
Other participants who made their own versions of the course: George Walker, Sam 'n' Hilly, Jeff Saeger
Grandmasters course:
1. Peter Gagarin 35:41
2. Lyn Walker 52:54
The group of Rhonda, Gail, Judy and Claudia Grollman visited a number of controls on both courses, unencumbered by dipsticks or maps.
And totally a fine night with a sparkling full moon.
Peter Oberg and Johanna Gunnarson (Erik's cousin) are visiting from Sweden and turned in the most amazing performances ever seen at Ratlum.
Dec 14, 2008 4:23 PM
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Peter, first Swedish Champ, then Elitserie winner and now the RHINO. You are number one.
Dec 14, 2008 7:24 PM
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PG:
No joke. To prove that, I guess I should produce some evidence that I wouldn't know otherwise. Let's see, he went to Chalmers, he uses a Betty for night-O', and since there are no hills to speak of where he lives in Nyköping, he just sets the treadmill at 15 percent and goes at it. And right now he's off training at Five Ponds, third training of the day, first was a reasonably feeble attempt at the bench press, second was a vigorous yoga session.
His visit (his partner Johanna is a first cousin of Erik, the exchange student staying with Charlie and Rhonda) was the inspiration for having a special event, and with the ice storm it was even more special.
His time for the 3.2 km course was impressive, giving the runnability (or lack thereof) of the forest.
His visit (his partner Johanna is a first cousin of Erik, the exchange student staying with Charlie and Rhonda) was the inspiration for having a special event, and with the ice storm it was even more special.
His time for the 3.2 km course was impressive, giving the runnability (or lack thereof) of the forest.
Dec 15, 2008 5:16 PM
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Peter and Johanna went out for a spin on the RHINO in daytime before pulling in the controls. 20:00 and 29:18, respectively.
This discussion thread is closed.