ORIENTEERING TRIP REPORT

September 12, 2009
Jones Bridge Park

We were well represented Saturday with TWENTY people at the park!!! This was an especially good turn out considering that there were several major conflicts including Music on Main and the Cross Country meet - which is a great way to train for future orienteering meets :)

Check soon for posted results.

Parkview/Brookwood/Five Forks Attendees:

Students: William Gauspohl, Ben Hamilton, Joe Johnson, Jonathan Lemons, Richard Lemons, Victoria Lemons, Austin Messer, Mohan Mahadevia, Lennon Miller, Andres Piedrahita, John Pennell, Rob Romaine, Matt Stout, John Williams

Adults: Captain Silverio, Mr. Gauspohl, Mrs. Hamilton, Mr. Lemons, Mrs. Stout, Miss Williams

The team appreciated seeing Captain Silverio at the meet who came out to support the team. He was looking very sharp in his new Parkview Orienteering jersey, which is the envy of all the orienteering teams around!

Brookwood/Five Forks/Parkview Orienteers enjoyed the perks of National Orienteering Day at Jones Bridge Park in Alpharetta including free meet fees and a hot dog cookout, not to mention perfect weather for a stroll (or sprint) through the woods.

The newcomers were split into three training groups led by William Gauspohl, Rob Romaine, and Miss Williams. The goal was NOT to finish fast, but to learn a little bit about reading maps and using the compass along the way.

Austin Messer, a returning sophomore, moved up to Orange and found all the points on this much more challenging course.

William Gausphol, who always enjoys a challenge, after having led an earlier training session, headed out on the Advanced Score-O. In a Score-O (short for Orienteering), the runner can find the points in any order and must return within the 90 minute time limit or receive penalty points for each minute over the time limit. Easy/close controls (the name for the orange and white bags; aka flags, markers, points, bags) are worth a few points. Difficult/distant controls are worth more points.

Also, tackling the Score-O was newcomer Matt Stout from Five Forks Middle School. After completing a beginner course, he wanted a little more challenge and set out in the woods to find as many controls as he could. John Williams, who missed the morning activities, arrived just in time to retrieve controls for the club and so had his very own score-O, just without the points. He spent the summer orienteering in Europe where he competed in JWOC, the Junior World Orienteering Championships, in Primerio, Italy, the O-ringen (Swedish for orienteering) Academy, the Swedish Five Day, and the Scottish Six Day.

Most students calculated their 100-meter Pace Count. Do you remember yours?

Thank you to Captain Silverio, Mr. Gauspohl, Mr. Lemons, and Mrs. Hamilton for your support, assistance in the woods, and/or driving.

... A good time was had by all ...