Event report: Bush 3

The season’s second low-key bush event was held at Armadale PS. Rain during the previous day had slowed the pre-entries, but entries on the day brought the total number of competitors to 57. The weather in the morning was mostly nice, although there was one heavy shower midway through the event.

This map had not been used for a long time and was recently updated by Nick Dale. It features a steep hill with mostly open forest with several paths and plenty of granite in the way of boulder, cliffs and bare rock surfaces.

Being a low-key event, only four courses were available. Craig and Liam Dufty were only 24 seconds apart as the fastest on the Hard Long Course. Nick Dale was first on the Hard Short, with Eli Goodchild within a minute and Carol Brownlie was the first woman. In the Moderate it was Troy Kingma first and a commendable effort from Fraser Brownlie to be second. In the Easy Course the Harris family came first and Christine Brown was second.

Many thanks go to the main setter Rob West, Mike Sibbald for his enthusiastic assistance with the setting, and Liisa Hirvonen as a very efficient organiser. Thanks to Lois West and Nicole Sibbald for setting up the arena, and Rob Beattie for helping to pack up. The control collectors did a great job; they were, Jack & Sue Dowling, Sharon McFarlane, Riley McFarlane, Nigel Wade and Nick Dale. Admin and results work was ably undertaken by Melinda Richards and Kate Klyukina.

This event also provided some extra activities with Kate Klyukina setting up a maze, Rachel West did a string course, Sue Dowling ran cake stall fundraiser for Kate Braid and Rob Beattie’s Family gave him a surprise fancy dress surprise 70^th birthday party.

A big thank you also to Armadale PS for the use of the school.

Full results are available on Eventor, and some routes on Livelox.

Photos: (top) Family finishing; (bottom) surprise party for Rob Beattie, taken by Rob West.