Event report: Yetar Spring

Sunday saw a great turnout at Yetar Spring with over 100 orienteers venturing out into the bush. Pre-entries had been low, but an influx of junior camp participants and more casuals than usual, thanks in part to the recruitment efforts of Hadrien and Ellie at the Desert Fireball Network, got the numbers up.

We were lucky with the weather, with only minor drizzle and any real rain holding off until after the event. However, the forecast did ensure people were eager to get out early, making a busy pre-start right from the opening.

It had been quite a while since the setter had planned a formal event as the last one was a manual punching affair for SWOT somewhere near the turn of the millenium. Notwithstanding, the courses were well received by competitors and shadowers, with some coming back for seconds.

Liam Dufty took out first place in the H1 (and the X-loop), Sten Claessens in H2 (by 2 seconds), Simon Bradbury in H3, Tom Brownlie in H4 (after reaching the start triangle holding the moderate map), Tony Simpkins in H5, Jacob Oborne in M, Theo Yeates in E, and Ryan Lawrence + 1 in VE. Fastest females were Eleanor Sansom in H1 (with a last minute upgrade from H2), Amy Dufty in H3, Sarah Richards in H4, Wendy Hobley in H5, Daisy Goodchild in E, and Christine Brown in VE.

Many thanks are due to those who made the event happen. First – a big thank you to setter Nigel Wade, with assistance from Craig Dufty. Thanks also to Graham Braid for organising the permissions, and to the instructors, Rob and Lois West, who welcomed newcomers and introduced them to orienteering. And, of course, thanks to those who collected controls after the event – Simon Windsor, Rob West, Jack and Paul Dowling, Hadrien Devillepoix, Sharon and Riley McFarlane, Liisa Hirvonen, Rob Beattie and Ellie Sansom. Finally, thanks to the towers - Paul Dowling (toilet) and Jack Dowling (caravan).

Full results are in Eventor.
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Photo: Assembly area at Yetar Spring, by Liisa Hirvonen.