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Post date: Jul 25, 2019 7:53:14 PM
The 2019 CorkO Summer League series drew to a close on Tuesday night in Farran Forest Park. After ten fiercely competitive events at varied locations around the city and county the league concluded with a fun relay race in the majestic surrounds of Farran Forest Park on the banks of the river Lee. We been exceptionally fortunate with the weather this summer and although it was overcast in the environs of the city on Tuesday night glorious sunshine greeted competitors as they arrive in Farran for the event.After ten events were individuals pitted their orienteering skills against one another in the battle to be crowned Summer league champion Tuesday’s relay race was all about team work. Each team had to complete a Short leg (~2km) and a Long leg (~3.5km). The objective being to pair up many of our regular Long course participants with some of our habitual Short course contestants. As the event also included a group start it provided the perfect opportunity for all our summer league followers to mingle. Furthermore, to celebrate the end of another very successful and enjoyable summer of orienteering the evening concluded with a BBQ and prize-giving ceremony in the National rowing centre.
While some participants came with pre-arranged partnerships other pairings were formed on the night. We did our best to keep the teams as even and fair as possible. Orienteering really is a sport for all the family and participants of all ages can par take and this was most evident in many of the alliances formed on Tuesday night. As is evident in the results there were plenty of family combinations with Bosonnet, O’Connor, Murphy, O’Brien, O’Mahony and O’Shea to name but a few families who’s members team up on the night.
Once all the teams were registered our planner gave a brief explanation of the handover process, then all 35 first leg runners were called to the start line. The maps were distributed and the countdown began. Once the GO instruction was issued most competitors sprinted off in all directions while others paused to get their bearings before embarking on their course.
In a relay race it can be easy for competitors to get distracted by the sight of other orienteers and follow them rather than read the map. Given the relatively small area covered by the course’s contestants’ paths would no doubt have crossed several times in the park. So, it was very important for participants to pay attention to their map and their control codes. Some of our regular long course participants may have got complacent over the shorter distance but the planner set out testing courses which included gaffling and a butterfly to keep competitors alert as they visited the various controls.All the second leg runners waited patiently in the handover area for their team mates to return. It also gave them and those watching an opportunity to cheer on their team mate and see some of the chasing that was taking place on the courses. Once tagged they needed to focus on their own controls as they set off on the second leg.Basked in the evening sun this beautiful and tranquil park proved a fitting setting for our relay race and following a very competitive race the 2019 Summer League Relay Champions were the mother and son team of Caroline Murray and Josh Hoare. They completed both their relay legs in a combined time of 37 minutes and 36 seconds. The fast pace of this pair means they received our fabulous first prize which was sponsored by Zipit Forest Adventures. Josh and his Mum Caroline will get to return to Farran Forest Park and transverse it from the tree tops and along the various zip lines as they experience the exhilarating and challenging Zipit aerial trails. All those participating in the Zipit experience on Tuesday certainly looked like they were having fun. Runners up on the night were the Bosonnet siblings, Joe and Chiara they were less than a minute behind our Champions and finished in a time of 38:21. Chasing them down on the night were the husband and wife duo of Brian Corbett and Liz Deane. They crossed the finish line in a time of 40:33.Following the race four teams were randomly picked for some spot prizes and the lucky winners were:
Team 32: Graham de Barra / Martin Conlon
Team 3: Gerald Duffy / Niamh Murphy
Team 24: Dave Collins / Hazel Collins & Laura Power
Team 2: Conrad Daly / Aobh Gallagher
Well done to all who embraced the novel relay format and participated on the night. Full team results are available at the following link:
http://www.orienteering.ie/result2?oaction=moreResult&id=22082
This week we extend a big thank you to Danny O’Hare for planning and organising a fun and exciting relay race. Thanks also to Conrad Daly, Dave O’Donovan, Gerald Duffy and John Scannell for taking care of team registration, ticket sales, data entry, starts and control collection on the night.
We are extremely grateful to Coillte for use of this fantastic amenity for our event and to the local park ranger Pat Malone for raising the barrier at the entrance to the park which gave us free entry on the night.
Huge thanks also to the folks at the Zipit Forest Adventures for sponsoring the fun Relay competitions and giving us a fantastic prize to award on the night.
Following all the relay excitement everyone made the short walk down to the National rowing centre to enjoy a very tasty BBQ in a stunning location which offered panoramic views across the river Lee and the Inniscarra Lake/Reservoirs. We are very thankful to Mick O’Callaghan and all the catering staff at the rowing centre for the fantastic food and friendly service. When everyone was suitably stuffed the summer league prize giving kicked off and our worthy champions and finishers received their prizes.
If you didn't manage to achieve one of the top places in the league don’t worry, as all league finishers will receive a specially designed t-shirt. Similar to last year to avoid waste and ensure that you receive a t-shirt that fits you we will order your desired size. Although our summer league boutique was open on Tuesday night, we may not have fitted everyone. If you haven’t already specified your desired size please let me know ASAP as we will be placing the order this week to ensure the t-shirts arrive in time for distribution to finishers at the first of our Autumn league events.
After all the sunshine and excitement of the 2019 Summer League we will be taking a short break for a few weeks but will be back in action again on Tuesday August 27th for the start of our Autumn league.
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