Kilnsey is complicated for other reasons.  We learned at JK 2016 that relying on a field for parking in March/April is not a good idea.  Emergency arrangements were needed just before that event when it was clear that a nicely sloping parking field with top access and a lower exit used for maybe a thousand cars for the Kilnsey Show in the summer would just be too wet in March/April.  Threshfield Quarry is massive and can swallow up lots of cars on hard ground.  But it means a long walk to a start and from a finish.  It was thought that this would put a lot of people off, though in the end it didn’t.  Cars for the event easily fitted into the quarry with hardly any hold ups even though much of the parking near the quarry entrance was initially taken up by Fellsman Hilke competitors returning from their event.

Kilnsey South rises to 450m.  With a north wind and rain it can be a serious concern.  Competitors were warned when the event was first advertised that a waterproof hooded top might be compulsory.  A few days before the event all competitors were informed that such tops would be compulsory.  It was very cold on the day when the start team went off to set up and early starting helpers went off at 10 o’clock.  Later starters were a bit luckier.

The area is used for farming sheep and cattle.  This gives two problems.  There are lots of walls and fences to keep the animals where they should be, and where would the animals be on the day of the event?  To a non-farmer, the latter seems simple, but farmers often don’t know where their animals will have to be, as it depends on the weather, the progress of lambing and so many other jobs that have to be done.

Yorkshire Dales walls and fences are big and they need big stiles to cross them where there are no gates.  Competitors on the longer courses were treated to a variety of ladder stiles, milk crate steps, a crawl through and a specially built step stile near the end capable of taking 700 plus competitors at a rate of 4 or 5 a minute.

The highlights of the day came as the first competitors returned smiling and giving very positive comments about their courses and the arrangements.  At the same time the weather started to improve.  And then when it improved further the ice cream van started doing business and it was warm enough for competitors to be standing around looking at results and discussing their courses.

CLARO is a small club and this was the biggest event the club had ever taken on.  Some much appreciated help came from elsewhere, but members rose to the challenge and did an excellent job on the day.  For the rest of the year the club will revert to hosting evening and family events with regionals in June and September.  This will be a relative rest before helping with the JK in 2025.

Northern Championships 2024 results. 

Kilnsey planner Vicky Bailey's perspective

Planning on Kilnsey was a challenge for all the practical reasons Mike has mentioned, but also because as planners we had two hard acts to follow in the shape of 2016’s epic acts-of-God JK and AIRE’s sunny summer special in 2018. It seemed appropriate then that our event served up something in between; on the day, a moderately grim start melting into a modestly mild finish; in the lead up, a catalogue of every other available weather, never friendly enough for shorts but nothing so hostile that it saw us off the hill. No sun, no hail strikes, but come the day: a sunburst of primroses.

With the assembly area already fixed we were limited with how much we could vary from AIRE’s event, which had used the same quarry for car parking. Early efforts to find a novel start location were quickly abandoned – you didn’t want a longer walk to the start, did you? But for the finish we gambled on a short walk back to assembly for the fun of a combined finish with the White and Yellow courses in the caravan park. This also left us with a little more length in the courses, which meant a better share of Kilnsey proper for the shortest senior courses before the inevitable march off the hill. For the longer courses, Mike and Chris’s efforts with permissions and crossing points opened up access to additional areas not used since the JK – a big help for keeping things fresh. Planning tactics evolved over the thrashing-out process. Our early strategy of avoiding long legs crossing the walls resulted in somewhat bland Middle-style courses that lacked “story”. In the end, using the walls to set up macro route choices provided better structure, and made for some entertaining post-race analysis on Routegadget. Every crossing point was worth it, Mike, honest!

The most memorable part of planning at Kilnsey has been the efforts undertaken by so many volunteers to overcome its challenges. Fathomless feats of endurance and ingenuity! An alphabetised schedule of animal-dependent crossing point logistics. A 60kg sheep-proof control marking solution! Dauntless control collectors taking on longer loops than their original courses and a map layout for every permutation of scale and paper size. The amount of time and care that goes into these events is in equal parts scary and inspiring. My tip for anyone considering taking on something similar is to get yourself a co-planner. Find one who always finds time to be slightly less busy when you are super busy; who has a seemingly exhaustible supply of patience, and a very good recipe for flapjack – then no amount of trans-Pennine weather tantrums and late-night PDF checking can get you down for long!

David Williams, the planner, identified a possible field for the arena, which we had never used previously; the field just to the south of the one we eventually used.   This allowed him to use the best of the area. He structured the courses Jan–March 2023 at the same time coordinating with Tony Thornley producing the completely revised map off new LIDAR data. By this time a year ago to allow review in competition condition the courses were more or less fully planned and controlled. Having had input during April 2023 from David Bowman assistant planner and Mark Garside (WCH) controller. Subsequently courses and map were given constant minor amendments and updates to take account of the storms, wet conditions and middle distance RWT rule changes.

The parking field has become a regular for us over the past 15 years, when we hold Regional events at Danefield.  We knew it was well drained.  It has coped admirably with the cars for all previous events.  We’ve checked it regularly throughout this very wet winter, and never had any doubts about it coping, despite having to accommodate three times the number of vehicles we have previously.  It meant quite a long walk to the arena, but we knew it was 100% reliable.

Last year by March the original assembly field was in prime condition.  This year we did a final check three weeks before the event, just before the map proofs were ready to be printed.  There was a strong chance the field would never drain sufficiently to take vehicles and 900+ pairs of feet.  This was when our brilliant hosts, Sue and Howard Cliff really came into their own.  They suggested we use the paddock and agreed to build us the bridge across the ditch leading to it.  It proved the best of arenas.  The grass didn’t cut up, and it was more compact than the original field which doubtless helped create the splendid atmosphere of the event.

The change of assembly field resulted in a few slight last-minute adjustments to the map, but did not affect the planning of the courses apart from the run-in.

We were able to pull the event off just using Aire members, which made recruitment and organising a good deal simpler than is often the case for a Major event.  From what I saw and heard on the day, all the teams did a pretty seamless job. 

At Danefield we were delighted to hear so many compliments about the courses and the organisation.  The rain held off, although a little more sunshine and a warm wind from the south would have been appreciated. I guess you can’t have everything.

We were pleased to see that both Rob and Lindsey King’s String Course and Maze were well used.

Results from the British Middle Championships 2024. 

Aire’s next large-scale events are the Sprint and Urban events in Leeds on 6–7 July 2024.

And the Dales Weekend in the Malham area on 14–15 September 2024.

Photos above (left to right):
Charlotte Ward from Humberside and Lincoln Orienteers (Photo credit: ActivNorth Photography).
Fiona Bunn from Thames Valley Orienteering Club (Photo credit: ActivNorth Photography).
Alice Leake from Southern Navigators (Photo credit: Rob Lines).

Above photo:  Clubs competing in a Women's Relay orienteering event.  (Photo credit:  Rob Lines)

In support of Women in Sport Week - here are two testimonials from two women who have got involved with the sport of orienteering.

ORIENTEERING

A busy Mum of two boys aged 9 and 6 years old living in Sheffield, Susan tells of how she took up the sport of orienteering.

Susan’s Story...

“I am a busy Mum with two boys aged 9 and 6 years old. We live in Sheffield and are members of South Yorkshire Orienteers.

Both boys regularly compete and take part in coaching sessions run by South Yorkshire Orienteers.

Pre children I used to go to the gym at least twice a week and occasionally played badminton with friends. Having children has changed my participation in sport. I no longer have the time or the finances to pay for the gym on the ad hoc basis that it would happen. I do enjoy exercising but it never is a top priority as a result of work and family life.

I discovered the sport of orienteering when I attended a small school in West Cumbria who had a teacher who regularly competed so I started at the aged 10. My first orienteering experiences were when the school teacher would take small groups of us to the local permanent orienteering courses at Whinlatter, Grizedale and Ennerdale and coach us. Those of us who were enthusiastic would then take part in the Cumbrian Gallopen and local club events run by West Cumberland Orienteering Club, Lakeland Orienteering Club and Border Liners orienteering Club.

We would go out in pairs and on our own, it was always an adventure and gave us all a great sense of freedom and independence. We competed in the Cumbrian Schools Championships and as a very small school had a lot of success in a 5 year period.

I gave up orienteering at 13 years old as my next school did not participate and my parents were less willing to drive around Cumbria to take me to events, instead I played Hockey and went fell walking.

In 2014, I then took the boys to the Longshaw Estate National Trust; Derwent Valley Orienteers were running a ‘come and try it’ event in the summer holidays. The boys were 6 and 3 at the time and we toddled round the course they seemed to enjoy it. From that event we then went to the South Yorkshire Orienteering Schools league event and then the Midlands Championships also at Longshaw. By the Christmas my eldest and I were members of South Yorkshire Orienteering Club.

It gets us out and about; we head out orienteering whatever the weather and in the boy’s case the muddier it is the more fun it is. I am exercising without paying attention to the miles I have done or how fast I have done it’s just the challenge and enjoyment of getting round the course. It also helps clear the mind and most of the time you are in new areas you have never been to before and would like to explore again. I am unlikely to come first, as I did as a child, but completing the course successfully with few errors and not being the last is my motivation.

The Jan Kjellstrom International Festival of Orienteering is held in different parts of the UK each year. I have participated in the event at Ulpha Fell in the Lake District. I was trying to keep an eye on my son. I lost him at one point as he is far faster at running than I am but I found him eventually! I got round at the Northern Championships this year and I competed in the British Long Championships in May this year. All of which I have the mantra just to get round and complete the course.

I love this sport for the challenge, I am not a natural runner at all, but that doesn’t matter. The art of reading a map is easily learned at a local club. You really don’t need to do the most technical courses to be successful. Getting out in the countryside be it open fell, woodland, moor or parklands makes you feel so much more happier and stress free. Plus it is a family friendly activity that you can all do your course and escape life’s pressures.”

Photo above:  JK International Festival of Orienteering Event at Lancaster University (Photo credit: Rob Lines)

ORIENTEERING

As a busy Mum of 3 children Jacky from Sheffield tells of how she took up the sport of orienteering.

Jacky’s Story...

“Two of my children orienteer. Although I did a variety of sports when I was younger, once I started working I didn't do any regular sport. I was very busy looking after my young children and didn't do any sport.

I enjoy exercise provided I don't realise that I'm doing it!

My son had been introduced to an orienteering taster session at school and then encouraged me and my daughter to go along to some after-school sessions run by South Yorkshire Orienteers. I only went because I had to accompany my son and it was a flat fee per family.

I only started orienteering myself because I had to accompany my son and daughter to events and got bored standing on the side lines. I don't specifically remember the first experience. However I do recall mud and bogs and realising that white trainers weren't useful! Proper sturdy shoes with grip were needed.

I have now been orienteering for 6 years and I am a member of South Yorkshire Orienteers.

The benefits I feel I have found from taking up orienteering is that I actually 'run'. I love going out on my own in unknown terrain and finding my way back to the finish.

I still feel nervous at the start of a big race - despite the fact that I'm never going to do that well, so on the face of it there's nothing to lose. But in a way, the adrenaline rush is all part of it. When I am orienteering I feel fantastic! There's nothing else which would induce me to set off for 5km and slog over physical terrain and I love the mental challenge.

I've already become an orienteering coach and have great satisfaction in seeing improvement in young teenage girls and boys.

I have now competed in various regional or national British Orienteering Major Events, such as the Jan Kjellstrom International Festival of Orienteering and the British Champions. I have also taken part in the British Nights and have enjoyed orienteering in the dark with a head torch! I didn’t do that well, but happy with my results, although there is plenty of room for improvement.

The fantastic thing about orienteering is that it truly is a 'mind and body workout'. So, you don't have to be the fastest, but you have to think. It's great to get a bit of time entirely to yourself, and just challenge yourself. Even if you are the last in the race, if it's an improvement on the previous race, then that is success. In orienteering you can set your own challenge.”

Photos above: Left:  Jacky enjoying taking part in orienteering (Photo source: J. Dakin).  Right:  An orienteering control point (Photo: British Orienteering).

British Orienteering is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year, 50 years as a Federation!

With the 50 year celebrations underway it is certainly a good time to take a closer look at the sport of orienteering. Most orienteering takes place in forests or moorland often in stunning scenery. However there are now several city-based orienteering courses too. There are many permanent orienteering courses installed around the country and local orienteering clubs across the UK. 

Find out ways in which you can enjoy this sport and go orienteering here.