Oh, where to begin?
1) First event of the Fall season.
2) National Orienteering Day.
3) Huge turnout of JROTC units for an informal getting-used-to-O non-competitive day.
4) Great weather (for 9/10 in Central Florida, at least).
5) A genuinely plush, fully equipped tour bus full of JROTC Cadets came from Orange County and turned a few envious heads.
6) And Helpers coming out of the woodwork!
Can’t ask for more.
First, a big “Thank You” to all the helpers: Ray Bruneau (who, as Event Director would ordinarily be thanking everyone in his own Report, but since he has generously offered to tote the Monster Results List for this event, I do this report and ‘thank’ him), Janet Putnam, Jonathan Linforth (Long-distance via Vermont), Greg Owens, Frank Kuhn, Cheryl McDonough, JROTC Unit Leader “TJ”, Jason Scott (who set controls, then went out on his firt ever cross country course - a blue!), A JROTC cadet at Finish table whose name I neglected to get (if you know who you are, tell me and we will edit this for posterity) but who did invaluable work, Kris Mante, Mike Dempsey, Tracy Acuff, Jack Cash, Joe Maliszewski and Jerry Sirmans. And no doubt there were a few more folks who pitched in, but I neglected to note their names, but Thanks, nonetheless.
We usually get a decent crowd at this first-of-Fall event, but this day’s attendance was a bit of a surprise. In fact over the preceding 2 weeks, Jonathan actually re-printed new batches of Yellow and Orange course maps twice to keep up with the incoming pre-notices of attending JROTC units. I haven’t done a head count yet but Ray has estimated 345, which if it holds will beat our old RSRSR attendance record of 339 in 2010 (which had beaten the previous RSRSR record of 338 in 2009). Ray’s count usually correct, so that means it is almost a certainty that among those attending the October 12 FLO event at Moss Park will be the 50,000th Starter.
Got that? 50,000! And if you’ve been with us for any length of time you know that at that moment we will stop the proceedings, present some prizes, maybe launch a million balloons, maybe fire off rockets or sacrifice a few sheep, but generally create Hoo-Hah in commemoration of that 50,000th person having stepped to the line for our favorite club. Be sure to be there for the Big Doin’s.
As for the day’s courses, I must admit that as Course Designer for RSRSR, I am consistently dismayed at the prospects and opportunities presented by this venue. On top of it all, the map is old - in the sense that a thorough re-mapping has not been done in 10 years. All we ever do is design the courses, then edit the map a little in the neighborhood of each control. There’s just not a lot of ‘white’ woods at RSRSR anyway and there is rather a lot of trackless palmetto prairie, especially for the advanced courses west of the paved road. And for this particular event, the big open northern fields were head high in dog fennel - and, the recently clear-cut Big Green abutting Bertha Road was not even pleasant due to its own fresh growth of dog fennel. Offsetting these discouraging factors are (1) the convenient flush toilets at the horse barn, plus (2) the newly cleared and mown shady oak area with picnic tables where we stage the event. All very nice and nicely prepared for our use by the Park Rangers I might add. Be sure to thank them when you see them.
Now, having explained why I don’t ever relish the prospect of designing courses at RSRSR, let me say how gratifying it is to have just about everyone come out of the woods saying they thought these were terrific courses. Wow! That felt nice; so “thank you” to everyone who took the time to notice and comment.
In light of the time of year, and the weather prospects (that is: still high-summertime Florida heat and humidity -it was roughly 90F and higher most of the day, with ‘typically‘ high humidity) I set the blue course length at a fairly short 5.9 km, telling everyone that “it would feel longer’. Testimonies confirmed that it did. All other courses were also shortened accordingly, in light of the heat, and competitors agreed they did still feel longer.
Check out the winning times on the various courses and you will find they are very close to recommended OUSA class “A” event finish times. Well, except for the Yellow, where some of the JROTC cadets from FMMA apparently had a blast, blasting around my 3km course at a pace under 10 min/km. Pretty good pace I must say, but also expected since the FMMA cadets, even if they are inexperienced, are well coached by unit leader Duane Adams.
This being National Orienteering Day, the Grand Prize offering to one of the First Timers attending is A year’s membership in OUSA including the magazine subscription. This year’s winner, selected by random drawing, is Andy Canelos Willer’s step daughter - entered here on Orange Course as “Bear Bait” - but of course I neglected to record her full name, so I’ll simply assure everyone that she will receive her prize via Andy, as soon as I can get in touch with her. Also part of N.O.D. were the complimentary OUSA bumper stickers (handed out to strategic JROTC and Scout Leaders) plus a number of complimentary copies of back issues of ONA, snapped up immediately, it should be noted.
Note, too that FLO’s own Dave Ashley (Dash), current member of the US Mountain-Trail-Bike Orienteering Team (just back from World Champs in Estonia), set the pace on Blue, then went out again on Red, then went out again on Green. Close by on that scheme was Canyoneros (Hien was actually running alone this day) who did Blue, then Green, then Orange. Pretty Good, Guys! Not to be outdone too much, Ron Eaglin went out again on Orange after finishing Blue right on Dash’s heels. Most gratifying to me personally was the arrival (at last!!) of Siemens colleague Gio Jordan as part of the SBF (Siemens Best Friends) Group, after my having badgered him for about 2 years now, and his travel schedule finally allowed for it.
All in all a fabulously successful day, thanks to the great turnout and the multitude of smiles shining through the glistening sweaty faces at the finish line. Thanks to all for being a part.
Bob Putnam, Course Designer.
Name | Time |
Boone HS | 31:09 |
MDHS S/J | 33:50 |
MDHS | 48:47 |
Allen Team | 72:03 |
Name | Time |
FMMA Mcroy | 25:30 |
FMMA Leadingham | 27:09 |
FMMA Austin | 29:37 |
FMMA Hensley | 30:40 |
CRHS 1 | 34:14 |
Timber Creek 1 | 35:51 |
Vanguard HS Mitaia | 37:54 |
Timber Creek 2 | 42:28 |
Titusville HS 4 | 46:27 |
CCHS 5 | 46:44 |
UHS Knothds | 48:37 |
Titusville HS 8 | 49:29 |
CCHS 3 | 49:50 |
FMMA Emily | 50:12 |
UHS Meathds | 50:26 |
UHS Bonehds | 50:56 |
CCHS 8 | 51:11 |
FMMA Russ | 51:16 |
FMMA Braswell | 52:38 |
MDHS Bolton | 53:29 |
FMMA Petro | 53:38 |
CCHS 6 | 54:50 |
Vanguard HS 2 | 54:59 |
Titusville HS 5 | 55:04 |
Titusville HS 1 | 56:21 |
CCHS 2 | 57:12 |
CCHS 7 | 57:30 |
Vanguard HS 3 | 59:15 |
Hardman | 59:32 |
Titusville HS 9 | 60:06 |
CRHS 2 | 60:17 |
FMMA Gonzalez | 61:32 |
FMMA Samantha | 62:32 |
LHHS 1 | 64:02 |
BSA Den 7b | 65:02 |
Titusville HS 7 | 66:00 |
LHHS 2 | 66:01 |
BSA Den 7a | 66:02 |
Titusville HS 3 | 67:25 |
Titusville HS 2 | 67:34 |
FMMA Landry | 67:45 |
FMMA Clerici | 69:10 |
Vanguard HS 1 | 69:11 |
CCHS 4 | 69:34 |
CRHS 3 | 70:12 |
Firpi, F | 76:57 |
Woodall | 80:16 |
FMMA Rozier | 84:50 |
Titusville HS 2 | 85:30 |
FMMA Turner | 86:44 |
FMMA Summers | 89:00 |
Team Awesome | 90:45 |
BSA Troop 27 Np | 97:06 |
CCHS 1 | 115:01 |
Troop 263 | 131:15 |
Maynard Ehs | 133:22 |
Mcdonough, C | DNF |
FMMA Spivo | DNF |
Name | Time |
FMMA Price | 54:16 |
Canyoneros | 56:20 *3 |
Eaglin, R | 59:23 *2 |
Dempsey, M | 66:16 |
Konstanz | 69:47 |
Tusing, K | 73:20 |
WNHS 1 | 79:25 |
Balbaeham, R | 83:35 |
WNHS 3 | 91:32 |
UHS Minyard | 96:29 |
Vanguard HS Snyder | 101:20 |
Vanguard HS Evans | 102:54 |
FMMA Mallory | 104:54 |
Hamsmire, E | 106:30 |
CRHS 2 | 109:22 |
BSA Troop 27 Rp | 112:52 |
FMMA Dickens | 127:41 |
Bear Bait | 137:30 |
CCHS 2 | 139:03 |
WNHS 6 | 159:42 |
CRHS 1 | 163:55 |
Adams | 167:25 |
Pinoys | 171:44 |
CCHS 3 | DNF |
WNHS 4 | DNF |
WNHS 2 | DNF |
CCHS 1 | DNF |
Name | Time |
FMMA Keels | 42:38 |
FMMA Stabler | 54:19 |
Canyoneros | 57:28 *2 |
FMMA Vasquez | 58:39 |
FMMA Woodruff | 79:59 |
Crane, D | 81:02 |
Acuff, T | 83:06 |
Vanguard HS Kish | 89:56 |
FMMA Spiva | 91:56 |
Dennis/Carolyn | 114:33 |
Griffin, J | 114:52 |
Suckapauw! | 129:31 |
Summerfield | 137:10 |
CRHS 1 | 147:04 |
CRHS 2 | 158:52 |
BSA Troop 27 Vp | OT |
Team Meow | DNF |
Nichols, C | DQ |
Dash | DQ *3 |
Name | Time |
Dash | 48:09 *2 |
Bruneau, R | 55:34 |
Torregrosa, F | 100:22 |
Mante, K | 114:10 |
Haupt, C | 131:24 |
Buffcoats | 153:22 |
Thomas, L | 157:27 |
Haupt, J | 174:53 |
BSA Troop 27 | OT |
Name | Time |
Dash | 81:21 |
Eaglin, R | 87:06 |
Primal | 116:23 |
Canyoneros | 118:08 |
Feudner/Brault | 119:49 |
Shuman, D | 121:14 |
Jj | 126:00 |
Sbf's | 141:52 |
Unicorns | 145:09 |
Mathews, B | 164:18 |
Wright, N | DNF |
Scott, J | DNF |
DNF | Did Not Finish |
DQ | Disqualified (Missed/Wrong Controls) |
OT | Over 3 Hour Time Limit |
*2 *3 | Second or Third course |