Swanson Road Natural Area

Despite the threat of rain showers, we saw a respectable turnout at QOC’s inaugural event at Swanson Road Natural Area - a total of 98 starts by 93 individuals/groups. A good mixture of club members (53) and non-members (including 23 students from Patuxent High School’s JROTC program) showed up for the premiere of the map. Probably some potential newcomers were scared off by the threat of rain showers so course setter Jon Torrance is thankful to the first-time orienteers from Patuxent HS for coming and making up the numbers on the beginner and intermediate courses, even if their high representation on yellow and orange make comparing the completion rate for those courses to his last set somewhat apples and oranges. Still, based on the results, he'll try to take things down another notch on his next courses.

In any case, the day turned out a little chilly for early fall but not excessively so - great weather for orienteering - and while the looming storm clouds dropped a few sprinkles on us while the courses were open, the heavier downpours held off until after everyone and everything was packed up and on their way. Despite the small-ish size of the park, most people found the courses and terrain to be both navigationally and physically challenging.

If you weren't there towards, maybe a bit before the official beginning of the start window, sad to say you missed a rare occurrence at QOC meets in that the event was overflown at low altitude by several fighter jets, presumably out of Andrews Air Force Base.

Big thanks to everyone who pitched in and helped to make this event work:

Frantisek Brabec, Heather Maher, Kim Jepsen, and Liz O’Connell got everyone registered and handed out maps and clue sheets.

Dave Linthicum and Jody Landers provided instructions to beginners. Dave Linthicum also helped hang the controls early Saturday morning and, of course, made the map in the first place.

The controls flags and punch boxes: were ably extracted from the woods by Jon Pifer, Scott Pleban, Greg Lennon, Tim Good, Mark Walderhaug and Jon Torrance.

Heidi Onkst, Amy Louden, and Jon Torrance got people started with e-punch, collected their results and made sure that everyone was back safe and sound before we packed up and hit the road. And Amy also spoiled us as usual by bringing home-baked cookies.

Thanks also go out to Ted Good, Kathleen Lennon, and Mike Newman for staying to help pack up the club’s gear and supplies at the end of the day.

Mike Newman produced the quote of the day on looking at some printed results fairly late in the day, including those for the Brown course he ran, and uttering the immortal words "I won!?!?". Then he wept that there were no more worlds to conquer. Perhaps he'll not be too disappointed that a late finisher ended up a few minutes faster than him on Brown.

- Dave Levine, Meet Director