Haw Park Woods District Event. Planners Comments

Sunday, 4th Febuary 2007

This was my first experience of planning and my main aim was to plan interesting courses avoiding crossovers and ‘dog legs’ if at all possible.

This was a challenge on an area as small as Haw Park, especially when I found out in January that I could not use 2 of my more intricate sites due to Badger Sets, affecting Red, Green and Blue courses. However I still managed to achieve my aim on all the courses except the Blue, which had crossovers (an impossibility to avoid on this area). ‘Dog legs’ will depend to some degree on route choice.

Thanks to the people who have advised and helped me along the way, especially Rod Ryall for his helpful advice with OCAD (which was a new experience for me), Peter Watson for his constructive comments and David for keeping our children entertained on many occasions while I was busy planning. Also thanks to Mum and Dad for accompanying me to the woods at times and Alistair Tinto for helping hang and collect kites. Finally thanks to everyone else who helped at some point along the way – you know who you are.

We could not have wished for better weather and I’m sure this helped to bring you all out today. I apologise for the shortage of maps on some courses, it is amazing the variation in numbers turning out at these events and it is difficult to predict how many will run each course.

Anyway I have certainly enjoyed planning the courses and I just hope you enjoyed running them.

Emma Harrison