Autumn League #4: Farran Forest Park Results and Report

Post date: Sep 20, 2012 12:9:43 AM

The fourth and final event in the Cork Orienteering Club Autumn League took place on Tuesday evening in the tranquil setting of Farran Forest Park. As this was the final opportunity of the year to participate in some Tuesday evening orienteering the event attracted an entry of 50 competitors. I’m sure some participants were also aiming to complete the Autumn League thus ensuring their name was entered in the draw for the numerous spot prizes!Although some individuals may have been very familiar with the terrain having attended the “Off-the-path” training event at this location on Saturday the 15th of September our club coach Danny O’Hare set out some challenging courses to really test our navigational skills. Furthermore, if the orienteering wasn’t taxing enough there was the added difficulty of actually recognising some of the controls that were missing their kites. Trying to spot white poles with SI boxes attached in a wood is a good test of one’s eye sight.The Long course made excellent use of the areas of forest run and numerous legs were planned to offer competitors the option to take the direct route to the next control. Legs 3-4, 12-13 and 13-14 presented several route options. However there was little time for complacency here as this tricky terrain contains repeating features of crags, hills and knolls thus making it very easy to overshoot a control and convince yourself that you haven’t. Looking at the split times it seems several folks spend valuable time exploring this area! All the courses took competitors around the boundary of the deer enclosure. For anyone who took the time to notice the deer within looked impressive in the evening light and I’m sure they were also watching the numerous orienteers lapping their enclosure.  

I think all would be in agreement that the lovely bright fresh evening and the testing courses provided a fitting way to end a most enjoyable series of Tuesday evening orienteering events organised by the club.

John Scannell who was marginally beaten for first place at the Currabinny wasn’t going to be pipped again and he took the honours this week with a time of 34:19. Conrad Daly claimed second place with a time of 35:50 just 24 seconds ahead of third place finisher Gerald Duffy with a time of 36:14.

The fastest lady on the night was Ailbhe Creedon with a time of 37:32 she saw off the challenge of second place finisher Niamh Corbett who completed the course in a time of 38:52. The impressive times by both these ladies also saw them finish 6th and 7th in the overall results. The final podium place went to Eibhlin Cleary who finished with a time of 49:49.

On the Short course Joe Bosonnet completed the course with an impressive time of just 12:56 and received first place for his efforts. Second place when to Aoife O’Sullivan with a time of 14:31 and Sean Bosonnet finished third with a time of 17:49.

The Trails courses this week took entrants on a delightful circuit around the park which took in a great mix of trails. Competitors had to complete the circuit twice to finish the course and only two competitors completed both laps. Fiona Craven was quickest around the complete trails course with a time of 54:39 thus earning her second first place finish of the league. Margaret O’Connell claimed second place finishing with a time of 96:50.

Full individual results with splits are available here. You’ll be delighted to see that Route Gadget is also back so please do add your routes.

A special thanks to Danny O’Hare for planning the three courses and to Gearoid Ryan for helping put out the controls and taking care of registration. Thanks also to Gerald Duffy who assisted with control collection.

SPOT PRIZES

Following the event the names of all the Autumn League finishers were entered in a draw for some spot prizes. The club would like to extend our gratitude to John Buckley Sports for the kind sponsorship of some of the spot prizes. In total there were 41 names in the draw drum and with 15 spot prizes that presented some good odds of claiming a prize. Joe Bosonnet likely assisted with pulling out the names and the lucky winners were:

Orlagh O’Sullivan – Puma Ladies Beanie (Sponsored by John Buckley Sports)

Timur Kelin – Puma Tech T-Shirt (Sponsored by John Buckley Sports)

Ailbhe Creedon – Puma Ladies Beanie (Sponsored by John Buckley Sports)

Fiona Craven – Box of Chocolates

Fed Calnan – Bottle of Wine

Jerry Moynihan – Gelert Headtorch

Sienna Bosonnet – Gelert Mini Camping Gas Stove

Elaine Sheridan – Harveys Magillicuddy Reeks Map

Brian Corbett – Bottle of Wine

Tom & Jerry – Bottle of Wine

Margaret O’Connell – Bottle of Wine

Clare Nuttall

Mark McCann

Dermot O’Sullivan

Pat Murphy

As the last four individuals were not in attendance at the draw they get to choose from the remaining prizes

Puma Tech T-shirt (Sponsored by John Buckley Sports)

Nike Shoebag

Life systems Survival Whistle

Orikaso Fold Flat Mug

It will be first come first pick so please do get in touch and we'll endeavour to get your prize to you as soon as we can.

The next club event is our circuit training class which kicks off next Tuesday evening. However, the next club orienteering event is the second event in our Cork League which will take place in Seefin (Nagles) on Sunday the 14th of October.