Autumn League #1: Currabinny Wood, Tuesday August 27th Results and Report

Post date: Aug 29, 2019 11:35:18 PM

Currabinny Wood near Ringaskiddy was the destination for the first event in the CorkO Autumn League. The overcast evening didn’t deter our eager orienteers from venturing to Currabinny for another orienteering adventure. It was also the first opportunity for all our Summer League finishers to collect their hard-earned league finisher t-shirts. This year's colour proved popular with recipients and many donned them immediately for their evening run. The Short course on the night was a nice gentle loop around this picturesque hill taking in many of the unique features of the forest including the delightful summer house and the unusual giant’s grave. The Long course was a much more strenuous affair. The course began with a fast decline toward the lowest path on the northern slope. The damp conditions early in the day meant that many of the trails in the forest were a little greasy and slippery underfoot. Competitors were warned to take extra care on the terrain on the night. The first three controls had minimal climb but the leg from three to four was the start of the steep ground. Some may have been tempted to take on the undergrowth and take a more direct route to control four while others no doubt opted for the easier option along the path. From four there was a tough climb up and down to control five. Again, some might have elected to take the shorter routes here through the undergrowth. A few short legs followed with a scenic visit to the summer house. Hopefully many competitors took a moment to appreciate the fantastic view across the harbour before beginning the fast descent to control 8. A pleasant run along a stretch of the lowest trail followed before the punishing climb up towards the giants grave. Those that were forced to walk up some sections of this path may have spotted the cruise liner leaving the harbour. Although as the misty rain descended even this enormous vessel was difficult to see clearly on the night. Another few fast-short legs followed before a visit to perhaps one of the most challenging areas of the wood for control 13. This depression is difficult to find at the best of times but with the drizzle beginning to get heavier late in the evening several of our late starters had to endure darkened conditions in this deep forest. Once located participants had a fast drop down to control 15 before one final climb up the wide trail to control 16 and a fast fall to 17 and the finish.

On the testing Long course, a CorkO ex-pat took the spoils on the night. Bill Edwards was home for a visit and took in the first of our Autumn League events and he made light work of the hilly terrain in Currabinny. He completed the gruelling 4.6km course in a time of 34:21 to take the event winner honour. Bill had over two minutes to spare over runner up Dan McDonnell who finished in a time of 36:37. Third place went to Jonathan Lucey who covered the course in a time of 40:29. The fastest lady around this charming hillock on Tuesday night was our 2019 Summer League Ladies Champion Aoife O’Sullivan. She continued her winning ways when she punched all 17 controls in a time of 44:22. Runner up on the night was Trishia O’Mahony who traversed the forest in a time of 50:35. The final podium spot went to Maya Buckley when she punched the finish in a time of 56:01. There was a closely fought contest for the Short course event winner title on the night with just over a minute separating the top two finishers. Eve Buckley visited all 11 controls in a time of 25:11 to take the glory on the night. Hot on her heels was Chiara Bosonnet. She completed the 3km course in a time of 26:25. The final podium spot went to Billy Caball who finished in a time of 28:13. Well done to all who participated on the night. Full individual results with some interesting splits particularly for control 13 can be viewed at the following link:http://www.orienteering.ie/result2?oaction=moreResult&id=22094

Thanks to David Bosonnet for planning two challenging courses and to Joe Bosonnet for taking care of registration and download on the night.

Next week we won’t be venturing too far from the city centre when we gather in Tramore Valley Park. This year the park officially opened to the public and the area is comprised of open grass land and the going will surely be fast. As the location is so central please do encourage your family and friends to attend. Further location information and important instructions regarding entry to the park are available at the following link:

http://www.corko.net/calendar/tramore-valley-park

Hope you can join us on at Tramore Valley Park!