Considering all that was going on in the world on this weekend - as evidenced by our inability to muster up a full volunteer crew for this event, however much I pleaded - the turnout was respectable: 250 counting the JROTC.
Evidently, apart from the dedicated JROTC Contingents and a hundred or so faithful FLO'ers, lots of you had something else to do on that fine, beautiful Saturday. Can't say as I blame you, but 100 FLO'ers is a pretty small turnout - especially at Wekiwa where we have had 300+ of you in the past. Anyhow - It was a wonderful day to be doing anything at all outdoors. Florida Orienteering's idea of doing something outdoors was achieved with near perfection.
Here is where we take notice of the skeleton-crew Volunteers who did show - bless their collective hearts! Janet Putnam on registration from beginning to end, Jonathan Linforth (also the bringer-of-maps), Frank Kuhn (after his long 12 year absence, he's returned to FL and showed up bright & early), Jack Cash who did yeoman duty on Start/Finish for 3+ hours and then helped Kris Mante/Joe Maliszewski/Jerry Sirmans on Retrieval. I must also thank Damien Teehan, a colleague of mine from Siemens, who turned out a group of 40 from his church. Lastly, thanks go to Elliott Berman, who ran the JROTC tables like clockwork, despite my surprising him with the location of start/finish. Huge thanks to all.
That Start/Finish location for all courses: ¾ of a mile from Registration at Picnic Pavilion #5, all the way over in Split Oak Forest, was a surprise to everyone. It was a bit of a logistical challenge for JROTC who had to get a separate permit from Florida FWC to access Split Oak with vehicles, so they could set up tents, tables and Awards presentation stuff. Yes, I've apologized to them, but assured them I had my reasons and they were all in the interest of having a better orienteering experience. Everyone handled it well, I thought, and thank you all for taking it in good spirits - no one yelled at me, not even the one "regular" who simply decided not to orienteer after all when she saw the walk 'n all.
I thought it was important to break the pattern at Moss Park for a change. This Remote Start/Finish setup allowed decent course lengths for Orange through Blue courses without all that "Lost Distance' of traversing the causeway in both directions as had become customary. It also afforded the White and Yellow course folks an opportunity to see the Split Oak Forest (and the Split oak itself), since they are usually confined to Moss Park proper. Those White/Yellow folks also saw CONTOURS over there, which cannot otherwise be seen if the courses are all within Moss Park.
No one reported seeing anything else of note - most especially 'gators, on the Blue Course. I was tempted to set the Blue course so as to give a real route choice involving a canal swim but decided instead to avoid it. So yes, they crossed the canal, but everyone apparently had sense enough to use the one culvert crossing.
The Red course competitors had an unusually long 2.02 km leg. I couldn't help but smile as I explained it, but I think too it turned out to be very manageable, with long trail route choices. The results indicate OK winning times for White (41:10), Yellow (39:44), Orange(61:50 - a tad longish?) and Green (52:51), but then ...
A Red course winning time of 131:01 indicates either too much distance or too few competitors or too little running. Well, it was about 85F and sunny, with a decent bit of FL humidity, so I understand not running full out. But I think maybe all of them could have done it faster, in hindsight, since the course itself had so much trail.
A blue course winning time of 103:06 (congratulations Chris!) might also suggest I made it too tough, but in Florida, with the heat, and with a small field of only 4 parties, I don't regret giving those people their money's worth...although they may raise an eyebrow at my enthusiasm.
All in all. A fine and successful day. Thanks to all who turned out. Thanks to all who helped. If you detect anything in the Results below that requires correction, let me know via the web link elsewhere on the Flo site.
Bob Putnam
Related Links:
| Name | Time |
| Troop 99 Brandon (8) | 42:10 |
| Lightning Fast Kids (3) | 46:16 |
| Nikki Rupert | 65:50 |
| Hugo C (4) | 67:40 |
| Wild Indians (6) | 74:25 |
| Pack 84 Fireballs (5) | 76:56 |
| Nadine Peacock | 79:10 |
| Liz Capobano (6) | NTR |
| Kendall Keffler (5) | NTR |
| Jenny Arguello | NTR |
| Name | Time |
| Troop 99 Brandon #1 (4) | 39:44 |
| Missy & Amy Jo (2) | 45:37 |
| Jerri & Jeff Christian (2) | 49:45 |
| Troop 99 Brandon #2 (4) | 56:38 |
| Zachary Arguello (3) | 61:13 |
| Harry McLaughlin (5) | 63:48 |
| Maria Brooks | 70:13 |
| Phoenix Patrol (6) | 75:33 |
| Sills (4) | 136:02 |
| Holy Redeemer #2 (6) | NTR |
| Tom Braue | NTR |
| Name | Time |
| Falcon 1 (3) | 61:50 |
| Cindy Young | 66:10 |
| CHS Team #2 (2) | 85:32 |
| CHS Team #1 (2) | 89:25 |
| Chris Johnson #2 | 94:00 |
| AHS Team #2 (3) | 100:10 |
| Moira Roberts | 120:02 |
| CHS Team #3 (2) | 129:41 |
| Chris McGuire | 149:15 |
| Alex Besode (3) | 167:12 |
| AHS Team #3 (3) | 168:17 |
| AHS Team #6 (3) | 182:25OT |
| DHHS (4) | DNF |
| AHS Team #5 (3) | DNF |
| AHS Team #1 (3) | DNF |
| Name | Time |
| Duane Adams | 52:56 |
| Jack Cash | 106:11 |
| Taylor Gladding | 114:42 |
| DHHS Team #2 (2) | 128:00 |
| DHHS Team #3 (2) | 156:40 |
| Debra & Paul (2) | 163:00 |
| Dennis & Carolyn (2) | 168:50 |
| Hawkins & Lunt (2) | 205:08OT |
| Holy Redeemer #1 (3) | DNF |
| J. Warburton (4) | DNF |
| DHHS Team #1 (2) | NTR |
| Name | Time |
| Bill Burchfield | 131:01 |
| Jerry Sirmans | 133:01 |
| Kris Mante | 137:35 |
| Joe Maliszewski | 153:00 |
| John Griffin | 176:12 |
| Name | Time |
| Chris Johnson | 103:06 |
| Go Blue (2) | 129:08 |
| Team Meow Meow (3) | 198:35OT |
| Warburton | DNF |
| DNF | Did Not Finish |
| DQ | Disqualified (Missed Controls) |
| OT | Over 3 Hour Time Limit |