Last event of the day and knew it would be interesting. Having checked big torch was working at 5pm (to some surprise from me as thought a cable felt a bit dodgy) - then didn't work at all when I left for the start so had to go back and swap for Petzl. All ok but meant I was more tight on time as had left keeping warm jacket on as late as possible.
Hadn't noted the map scale until after I started but looked once the first junction appeared more quickly than expected. Still overshot 1 - everyone else was going further. Pretty cautious on 2 and 3 as wasn't quite convinced I was going the right way. Not enough visible reference points.
Went a little bit wrong on 6 as was west of a building that I planned to go east of. Realised quite quickly but then surprised by a wall going into the control. OK route to 7, knew I was left in the woods but had to go further left to find a passable gap in the "ruined" fence. Dan Weaver (2 mins) overtook me at 7 and I followed for a bit in the woods as he was heading to the perimeter track too. Didn't seem to find the track to 8 but found control ok.
Long leg to 9 went via 19 and seemed ok. 12-13 turned out well but had no clever plan - just cross 2 banks then turn up the first one without brambles. 14 probably not a good route - road and approach from south might have been better than going back past 9 and fighting brambles. Took a long time in the woods getting there. Followed this by F-ing up 15 properly. Didn't see the lovely road on the map that makes it a yellow leg and had real trouble trying to go straight line - stopping a bit too early as were a few other (little) contours features similar to mapped. Seems only 60-90s based on Dan's time.
Long leg to 16 did pretty much same as 10 but changing bearing half way. Missed 16 and overshot - carried on until I saw end of woods and doubled back. Somehow had caught Dan back on route choice and had a case of double vision as Peter Dobra also here and both wearing same clothes, same back pack, same facial hair etc. Think it was Dan's line I took out and had the legs to drop Peter.
Thrown offline on 19 - too far north and had a hunch that was the case as I didn't hit the junction I expected. Corrected and it worked out, helped I'd checked 19 earlier. No dramas at the end.
Overall, navigation was ok. Flow not brilliant as really wanted to keep contact with map. Execution was good most of time. Forest terrain pace was very slow - hence why I don't do much of it any more. Grass terrain also not as quick as it needed to be for a good time as was struggling in tussocks and went flying many times.
Enjoyable though. Glad we got to run here again.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2902446012