-
The event will be based at Cannich, in the Highlands of Scotland. Cannich is about 60 minutes drive from Inverness which can be reached by public transport by train or even by Citylink or Megabus buses. It is also certainly worth investigating flights to Inverness by Easyjet (from London Gatwick, London Luton, Belfast & Bristol), BMI (from London Heathrow), British Airways (from London Gatwick, Edinburgh & Glasgow) and Eastern Airways (from Birmingham & Manchester). Cannich can be reached from Inverness by a localbus service from Monday to Saturday.
Camping is available in the village while hostel accommodation will be provided by the organisers on a first come basis. Hostel accommodation consists of 4 or 2 bedded rooms with bed linen supplied. There is a large fully equipped Dining/Kitchen with fridges, freezers, cooker, microwave, pots & pans etc. There is also a large lounge with a log burning fire (not that we'll need it!), TV, Radio/CD and large amounts of reading matter. Ther are ample toilet/shower facilities with hot water available all day.
-
Days 1 & 2 - Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th August - Glen Affric
Planner: Brooner
-
Once again we have the pleasure of visiting a truely wonderful area which hasn't been used since Highland 1999. Some parts of this weekend's racing will visit areas never before used for orienteering while other parts were only seen by the orienteering elite taking part in the WOC Classic Finals in 1999.
This is an area with both a technical and physical challenge. There are tough slopes and areas of tough forest and open land in places, but on the whole it is mainly pleasant runability in this ancient caledonian pine forest. Throughout it there are areas of vague and intricate contour detail with plentiful rock details which offers a variety to the orienteering challenge. Emit punching will be used most likely and there should be commentary on both days as well as prizes for individual days and overall.
-
Here's a rough guide to the courses and their expected distances that will be on offer, these are the estimated Day 1 distances but expect Day 2 to be slightly easier! Those complaining about the lack of "proper" classic distance races in this country can expect a treat!
Mighty Thistle ~ 12km,
Technical Difficulty 5, The classic orienteering test, physically and technically demanding.
Big Thistle ~ 9km,
Technical Difficulty 5, a good tough orienteering test.
Medium Thistle ~ 5km,
Technical Difficulty 5, a shorter but technically tough test.
Small Thistle ~ 4km,
Technical Difficulty 3/4, a slightly easier and shorter course.
Baby Thistle ~ 3.5km,
Technical Difficulty 2/3, one for the younger orienteers.
Also available on the Friday or Monday, or over the weekend, it will be possible to take on the:
Classic Thistle - Mens ~ 15km,
Technical Difficulty 5, the WOC'99 Mens Classic Final
Classic Thistle - Womens ~ 10km,
Technical Difficulty 5, the WOC'99 Womens Classic Final
We will have controls out on these courses for you to test yourself against the best in the World. Bjørnar Valstad won the epic mens course in a time of 97:25 described it as "A perfect day on a perfect course" and said that "There was virtually no chance that I would make a mistake" - can you do the same?
- Like last year we would hope to provide a string course of some description and a map walk around the baby thistle course.
-
We aren't just going to provide you with orienteering throughout the weekend, we're offering the chance to get together with other people and have some fun away from the competing. Hopefully a huge party and feast for a prize giving, not to mention a whole lot more! There really will be something for everyone. And of course, the [nope] cartel will be involved in putting on a show of how to have some fun.
