Orienteering race (Newcastle O Club) 1:40:53 [4] ***** 9.53 km (10:35 / km) +235m 9:25 / km
spiked:16/24c slept:6.6 weight:64kg shoes: Nike Air Pegasus 30 (blue)
"Something Different", Cessnock. Hard Long. Finished at/near the bottom of the list (26th/28). Best leg #6 (8th). Best pos 19th (#4). Head not in the game today. Most mistakes were due to just missing controls and running past. #2 (lost 40"). #5 (-3'). #8 (-3'). #10 (-5'), #10 (-1:20) looking for intermediate track junction, #19 (-3'), #21 (-2:20), #23 (-2:20). Est 20:40 time lost. Just passed 1000 controls in the Nike Pegasuses. The uppers are fraying a bit although the soles are still fine. 19°C.
Note
Event promoted as: "The new area was being prepared for the Christmas 5-day event, but Cessnock Council wanted to do some construction work on part of the area and did not want anyone in the area at that time. We have been granted permission to use the area before any construction starts, for what maybe the first and last time. The area had been mapped because of its unique features created by its previous mining history. Most of the area has been affected by open cut and/or underground coal mining. The underground mining has left mine subsidence effects such as pits and dry ditches. The open cut mining has left large quarries with massive rock/earth cliffs. The earth and gravel slopes can be treacherous (up, down or across). All but the smallest gravel slopes should be treated with caution or avoided. The overburden has formed knolls and small hills, as well as being scattered across large areas, which now present as boulders, mounds, rocky ground and broken ground. The open quarries have suffered from considerable dumping (mainly building refuse). The natural bushland can vary from open/fast to very thick areas of rigid and/or spiky vegetation. Even the light green and white may include isolated pieces of the spiky scrub. In many of the very detailed areas, only the dominant feature can be shown on the map. Like all Cessnock areas, trail bikes and 4WDs are regular visitors. It is difficult to keep the track network up to date on the map."