| Normanby Park lived up to its reputation as the most difficult Poacher area. The myriad of small paths coupled with lively vegetation disguising knolls and depressions did their best to confuse the most experienced orienteers. Planner Pete Harris produced technical courses that required the utmost concentration. Control sites were visited more than once but each time from a different direction. Plaudits must be awarded to the many competitors who successfully completed their course despite taking a considerable amount of time. Their determination is to be admired. Reigning junior champion Jake Field returned to form with a win on the Short course ahead of fellow junior Jack Robinson. HALO chairman John Butler, despite being held back by a long term knee problem, revelled in the technical difficulty of the area with a great third place. The Long Course saw its closest finish in Poacher history with Poacher web master Martin Kullich holding off Normanby Park expert Neil Harvatt by a mere 1 second. Several others excelled on the night including the Isle of Axeholme's Andy Holden, Lincoln's Andy Furnell and a top ten finish for Mary Carrick. It was her best ever Poacher performance. Next week sees a return to Foxdale at the northern end of Pillar Wood, a runnable area where hopefully double leg cover might not be so vital. |