Christmas Score: Oldhouse Warren
I have literally not run a step for a month – a combination of norovirus (a version of gastro-enteritis) and its after-effects and an insanely busy time at work. It felt very odd to be preparing for an event, but as I drove the few miles to Oldhouse Warren (just south of Crawley) I was ready to have a go.
Each year my club (Southdowns Orienteers) runs a “Christmas Score” – one hour to find as many controls as you can with penalties for being back late. (There is also a less technical course of 45 minutes on offer). This year we were in Oldhouse Warren. I like this woodland. Most of it is compartmented working forest, but there are some deeply incised stream valleys with a lot of technical detail and other interest in the landscape.The controls I visited were genuinely interesting, kept me off the muddy rides and tracks and I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges set.
I managed 12 controls without time penalty. I struggled to keep going and was nothing like fast enough – still feeling rather post-viral – but I was fairly pleased with my navigation only making a mess of one control by misreading the vegetation. It was very good to be out and mostly on my own. The midwinter woods were dark and damp but although the day was grey it was mild. I enjoyed myself.