Orienteering 31:06 [5] 5.8 km (5:22 / km) +135m 4:48 / km
ahr:187 max:192 shoes: x talon 212 #1
JK Relay, 2nd leg
Solid run from Rich on 1st leg sent me out in 4th with Belgian just ahead and a lot of teams chasing.
Speedaway getaway from the start on the tail of the Belgian. Headed off the path to get #1 and he veered off left, never to be seen again. Tried to refocus and was too high for #1, cue minor panic before I looked at map and figured it out - about 20 seconds lost.
Then a bit scrappy through the quarry area with Snattringe guy who caught me up. After #6, Ben Stevens popped up with a shorter gaffle which made a pack of 3. Was determined not to let him run away as he did in the middle race. Smashed it with Ben down the hill to #8, #9 where our routes diverged and I went high round the path to spectator. Spiked spectator to see Ben approaching from the bottom of the hill as I punched - c15 seconds gain, boom.
Tried to maintain the gap through the rest of the course where I was helped with a nice gaffle, but then I took a daft route to #15 which involved more climb and Ben got back on before outkicking me to the finish.
Then lots of people arrived at the finish, DEE, SYO, ShUOC... so it was a nervous wait to see whether Pete could finish the job, which he certainly did.
We knew INT and SHUOC were going to be the strongest so well chuffed with 3rd, which is probably NOC's best finish for 20 years or so.