PWF Turkey Run Ridge

Course results can be seen below. Splits are available on Attackpoint or Winsplits.
To enter your routes and see how others went, head to RouteGadget.

For a mid-December orienteering meet, the weather was simply perfect, and the terrain lacked the snow we have sometimes had in past Decembers! We had 250 participants, a remarkable number, considering the distance to be travelled and the park fee. And we were treated to a masterpiece of challenging courses. (Regarding the park fee, we strongly recommend getting a season pass for this excellent venue!)

I’d like to thank Keg Good for designing a great set of challenging courses over an area of widely varying vegetation conditions. Keg’s consummate perfectionism was reflected in the design of each leg of each course and the locations were ‘spot on’. Those who read her course notes could easily see the diligence she paid to making them a course to remember!

Our setup crew, Laura and Aaron Linville did their usual fine job, tending to details that are often overlooked to the dismay of a Meet Director. Laura went on to help Valerie Meyer and Sandy Fillebrown with setting up the ‘digital-O platform’ that forms the heart of the at-event registration, status, and download process that goes on behind the scenes during a meet. Harry Jones and Karla Hulett were equally helpful by expertly handling the ‘manual’ portion of the registration process. Harry ran one of the courses and Karla supported the meet despite a recent knee replacement surgery.

The large area and relatively inaccessible area, the greater than usual number of controls, and the looming darkness of the shortest orienteering daylight during the year, put a special burden on those having to go back out into the woods once again, after a hard run, to retrieve the controls. I want to thank Matt Knight, Bill Wright, Charles Carrick, Pat Flaherty, Jana Seidlova, Gary and Ginny Quam, and Justin Green, for their ‘additional course’.

And very special thanks to Valerie Meyer, and to Sandy Fillebrown (who travelled down from Pennsylvania), for their great support handling the ‘digital-O platform’, along with Laura and Aaron Linville. Most participants probably don’t realize the behind-the-scenes activity that goes into a meet. Before the meet, Craig Shelden, Roger Meyer, Sandy, and Valerie spent hours printing, stuffing, and sealing maps and the electronic controls must be checked and adjusted. And during the meet, the crew keeps maintains situation awareness from registration through to check out. Prior to the meet, Greg Lennon keeps the event webpage up to date and creates and manages the online pre-registration and associated payments system.

For those who may not have noticed, Mike Kholodov setup and managed an excellent amateur radio direction finding (ARDF) course of 10 controls and will be doing so on future meets. Mike designs the course, sets the controls, and provides excellent instruction on using the equipment. Park restrictions required using a directed course instead of the customary ‘score orienteering’ format. Participants are urged to try doing a second course at one of the future meets that feature ARDF orienteering.

Finally, this meet would not have been successful without the excellent coaching—and patience—that Charles Carrick provided. Virginia meet directors are very fortunate to have someone like Charles who attends to many can-be-overlooked details and who helps with tasks such as setup and control pickup.

A lot of volunteer effort goes into staging a meet like this. But if you had a positive experience, you made it all worthwhile! Good Job!

John Organek
Event Director