Teering race (Xmas 5 days) 30:06 [4] 3.42 km (8:48 / km) +129m 7:24 / km
ahr:129 max:152 shoes: VJ Bold
Macquarie Woods, Day 5, mp.
Ok so I've been doing the Xmas 5 Days for a long time, 8 times since 1996 in fact with wins in 1996 (Men B), 2011 (Men C) and 2012 (Men D). Since 1998 its been best 4 of 5 in the ones I've been in - for Men A in 1998 they had a chasing start for that and best 4 from 5 for the others. In 1996, it was all classes chasing start.
Even in Orange in 2002 it was best 4 from 5 - on Day 2 they organised a MTBO and ironically that was at Macquarie woods, todays venue. So in 2002 I took a day off the foot O and went in the MTBO.
This year however, it "appears" it was either all days count, or best 4 from 5 as long as you didn't mispunch one of the days - don't know which I didn't see any info on this point. Well I did MP today. In fact I gave myself multiple opporunities to do it and took 2.
Firstly, as I said I was planning to maybe pack yesterday in early if it wasn't technical enough - but it was.
Secondly, I thought maybe I wouldn't start today to give the feet a rest, but they weren't any worse, so I started.
Thirdly I went to the wrong no 1, but checked the code before punching.
Fourthly I went to the wrong no 4, punched, checked the code and got the right one, phew, so far so good.
Fifthly I blew no 8 spectacularly ending up running at 90 degrees to where I wanted to go and ending up at no. 11. So yep, decided the feet had had enough, thought I had the comp wrapped up anyway, I'm not going back for 8, 9 or 10.
Sixthly, no.13 was in the wrong spot. Got to the right feature, a cliff, no control. Checked around for a while, doing a comprehensive search of the cliffs below, no - no control. Then saw Rob Rapkins arrive at the right spot, look around for a bit and then go uphill and punch a control on a boulder near a creek. Strange I thought - I had seen that flag before, but seeing as it was a long way uphill and on a different feature I had thought well there is no way that is no. 13. Went up there with Geoff Peel, Rob Vincent and Shingo, who had all also first checked the right spot and yes it was code 46. Decided to move it.
However - I didn't punch it while I was transferring it - so second MP of the day.
Seventh opportunity - I punched the wrong last control on a fence, checked the code, not mine, oh yes, mine is that one across the road on a fence, go and get it. Terry Bluett mp on that one, but not me.
So there you go, I had 3 wins and a third place, a substantial lead, but no overall place apparantly.
More irony -had I not moved the control the course could well have been voided, gifting me the overall win.