Autumn League #2: James Fort, Kinsale Tuesday September 4th Results and Report

The second event in the CorkO Autumn League saw a crowd of over 50 orienteers converge at the historic site of James Fort in Kinsale to do battle on Tuesday night for the event winner title. A fine fresh evening greeted all those who ventured west for the event. We were delighted to welcome so many Kinsale town residents to the event. We hope you all enjoyed the challenge of navigating around this familiar terrain.This compact area with its slopes down to the water is renowned for its physicality and with a double-sided map on the Long course competitors knew they would be traversing these slopes multiple times and in all possible directions. Both courses commenced with a run towards the Dock beach before a short climb onto the open terrain. From here the criss-crossing of the terrain commenced. The leg from 2 to 3 on the long course was the first of several visits to the Fort for all the long course competitors on the night. From here they descended down the north west slopes punching two controls en route. The planner set out a grueling leg from 5 to 6 which took competitors from the lowest point on the north west side to the lowest point on the north east side. The only way to avoid the climb here would have been to swim around the headland. As this option was definitely a non runner it was a tough climb back up the hill before a fast descent down the other side. From six there was a second visit through the Fort before another trip to the slopes on the north east and then another up and down this time to the northern block house.

From here competitors flipped over the map to do it all again. There was another circuit through the fort before a return to control 203 which had been visited on the first map. From here there was a sequence of short fast legs around the fort. No doubt many opted to use the infamous tunnels on some of these legs. Careful ducking was required to ensure sufficient clearance when venturing through these novel features. The planner had one last surprise in store for competitors as they enjoyed the fast descent from control 17 at the fort to control 18 the depression above the beach.Having reached the depression competitors had to then climb back up the hill to control 19 before one final climb up and over the hill to the final control. Despite all the grueling climbs both courses provided competitors with some spectacular views of Charlesfort, Kinsale harbour and the Bandon river for those who took the time to appreciate them.