The Newsletter of Orienteering New Brunswick
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Rob Hughes in Upper Kingsclear
Greetings. Now is the time to get out your cheque book and renew your ONB membership for this year. Go on! It's no use saying that after what happened last year you're not too sure, or your o-shoes have worn out. Just do it! The application form is included in this issue. If you are still hesitating, take this simple test. Ready? You have 10 seconds. Name three things (heck, one would do) that have not increased in price one single cent for the past two years. Time's up. You should have said membership in ONB. If anyone did actually think of anything else, please send details to me for inclusion in the next issue.
What else can be said at this time of year? It's winter. Christmas has come and gone. The only orienteering going on around here is virtual. It's cold. Err...hang on a minute. There was something else. Oh yes....ONB had its AGM last November. Hey! There's an idea. You can read about the meeting in this issue, since there is not much else to include. I warned you this might happen. If anyone notes any mistakes, send them to Stig.
So what do orienteers do in winter? Well, one thing's for sure. You're not going to find out about it in here. Whatever people are doing, they are keeping quiet about it. Which suggests they are probably having a good time doing something. Or conceivably, nothing. Either that or they are too busy flipping channels. Maybe the cat ate it.
Here are some suggestions for the winter. Read your back issues of ONB Notes. Read your COF magazine. Look up orienteering on the internet. That should take you at least an hour. Actually, you might find some interesting stuff about up and coming events later in the year.
My normal reminder....the email address for all submissions to ONB Notes is rustics@brunnet.net. Contributions in any format gladly accepted.
Have fun, whatever you are doing......
The Ed.
Top Orienteer Surveys Scene in Sweden
from our own correspondent
Stig Skarborn, live from Stockholm, Christmas 2000
The weather in Stockholm is meeting my expectations. No snow, 6 hours of daylight, and an overcast sky. The first positive outdoor experience occurred today when I discovered some wonderful woods around the corner from where my father now lives. I purchased a new pair of steel studded orienteering shoes and went for a run in the wide open pine forests of SW Stockholm suburbs. A variety of clearly marked trails extended out from a sports complex which included indoor tennis courts, an outdoor ice skating rink, and four soccer fields. Change and shower facilities, and a cafeteria were also on the premises. In addition to the above, the place was also blessed with a lit 1.9 km long night running and cross country skiing track (so far without snow). I selected a 5.1 km loop for running and it was great. The shorter loops were only a couple of km, the longest 14.1 km. During my run I came across a couple of guys clearing out the underbrush from the forests and raking the running trails to allow cross country skiing on a minimum of snow.
Even though this type of facility exists throughout Sweden, I just read an article which mirrors the Canadian experience. Never before have there been so many overweight Swedes. And over Christmas it will only get worse with the sales of Christmas hams, booze and electronic toys reaching new heights.
Stig
The ONB AGM was held on November 25 at the home of Ariane and Paul Looker. Ariane served excellent food to sustain the participants. It makes one wonder why not more members aim for participation at AGM's, since good food has become the rule. The major decisions were as follows:
- Mike Smith is the new President of ONB. Congratulations and thank you for helping sustain ONB. Other members of the executive are Robert Hughes, Vice President; Paul Looker, past President; Don Heron, Treasurer (9th straight year, kudos); and Theresa Whaley, Secretary (7th straight year, kudos again).
- ONB physically and financially survived holding the Canadian Orienteering Championships and associated events last year.
- A $2,000 commitment has been made by ONB to better publicize orienteering in year 2001.
- Every participant will be asked to sign a waiver form when participating in an orienteering event next season.
- ONB and participation fees will remain the same in 2001 as last year.
- Attempts will be made to update maps for Centennial and Odell Parks next year, and perhaps initiate mapping of a new area, if it can be found close to Moncton, Saint John or Fredericton.
- $800 will be made available for Elite/"A" pool members to compete at the 2-Day US championships in Cincinnati in March. Maximum amount per member is $200.
- A new schedule was agreed to for 2001. It promises a lot of interesting events, hopefully with more participants, and with variations on orienteering (see elsewhere).
- A number of reports, all interesting, were submitted at the AGM.
by
Ray St-Laurent
Orienteering's unfamiliarity can lead to serious misunderstandings. Below is a transcript of a police report from a LOL (Little Old Lady). It was some time before it was realized that the LOL had stumbled across an orienteering event.
I was walking Poopsie, that's my pedigree shih tzu, on a wooded trail in the park when I first noticed the commotion. There were young men and women running through the woods in tight fitting pajamas. This was right in the middle of the day too. They seemed to be chasing each other. They were panting and sweating. Some appeared to be enjoying themselves. Many had dazed looks about their faces. It was obvious they were not going about the Lord's work, if you understand what I mean.
Mind you, I like a good time just as much as the next person, right Poopsie. But Bingo is one thing; this was obviously something else. Being a good, citizen, I felt it was my duty to investigate this suspicious behaviour. With Poopsie to protect me, I moved off the trail to observe these perpetrators, I believe that's the term you use, more closely. I deduced that from what they were doing in the open, their must be a lot more unsavory things happening under the tree cover. Well two can play that game. I slinked from tree to tree always keeping in the shadows. I don't think they saw me at this point.
It was then that I noticed where they were going. There was a small, brazen-coloured kite hanging in one spot. I spent at least five minutes watching. The perpetrators would run up to it, bend over and touch something near it to a something else they held in their hand. Then they would hunch over some sort of talisman and consult a scroll they all carried. Then they would bolt upright and run off in a direction, clearly possessed.
It was worse than I had feared. I originally thought that I had stumbled across some sort of sex orgy, probably with drugs. But obviously there is only one possibility that can explain this evidence. I had stumbled across a coven of witches practicing some occult ritual. I have heard these evil rituals often lead to the sacrifice of a virgin. Now I was really scared.
I scrambled back to the trail, raced down it as fast as these old legs could manage. I held Poopsie tight with one hand and clutched the cross around my neck with the other. When I rounded one bend near the edge of the forest, I thought I was almost free of this evil place. Then I saw their control center. They were everywhere. I was shocked. They were of all ages, even little children. Their corruption was everywhere. At extreme peril to myself, I took time to notice details. What I had thought were pajamas were obviously satanic uniforms. I'm not sure how their hierarchy works but there were several kinds of uniforms. Some did not appear to be wearing uniforms at all. They could have been new recruits ready to be possessed. Or even worse, they could have been captured for sacrificing.
When I realized that, I must have flinched and hurt Poopsie. Or so I thought at the time. Poor, innocent Poopsie. I think she saved my life. She yelped, leaped from my arms and ran behind me. I turned and stood face to face with one of the leaders, in full uniform, walking towards me. It all happened so fast. Within arm's reach he bent over and scooped up my brave shih tzu in a single swipe saying, "Got you". I'll never forget his demonic voice. It sounded so normal. But that's how they trick you.
I don't know where I got the strength, but I squeezed harder on my cross, rushed over, grabbed Poopsie, turned and fled yelling, "Be gone Satan spawn".
It was enough. After about ten steps, I glanced over my shoulder. I had stopped him in his tracks. He just stood there with a dazed look on his face, no doubt in a trance trying to possess my mind. But we were too smart and righteous for him, weren't we Poopsie?
I ran to my car and was racing directly to the police station when I was caught. And that's why I should not get a speeding ticket, officer.
More special festive coverage, direct from Sweden!
The devouring of herring, ham, fish, browned cabbage in cream, head cheese, ordinary cheese, etc., continues. All topped off with a dessert of some sort. On boxing day, I again became convinced that the time had come for exercise, and headed out in the woods to the SW of Tullinge, the community where my father now lives. From the athletic centre of Brantvik, I decided that a 10.4 km long marked loop would be appropriate. It was not. The massive amounts of food I had consumed slowed me down considerably, but after a 62 minute long struggle on excellent trails I came back to where I had started.
The day after this run I visited one of my cousins, Olof, and his orienteering family. During the afternoons conversation the subject of orienteering came up. He first orienteered at Mactaquac over 20 years ago when he came to visit us. His result was deplorable, but once his kids, two girls, were of orienteering age he felt an urge to take up the activity in a more serious manner. He joined the local club, and found himself out learning how to orienteer three days or nights a week. He and his two orienteering girls now compete in approximately 35-40 races per year, seldom on a repeat map. He claims to have improved since he discovered Mactaquac, and has now abandoned the open classes for more serious pursuits in the M45 category. O-Ringen, the Swedish five day event is taking place just outside Stockholm in July, and he thought that this should be my next visit to Sweden. Marianne may have some input into that decision.
I digress. Olof gave me a map of the 25 sq km recreation area, Lida in Tumba-Tullinge, in which I have taken my runs. The terrain has many trails, occasional farmed or logged areas, indistinct and distinct open marshes, and between these mostly very detailed areas full of small contour features, cliffs, boulders and other point features. Today I obviously took the map with me and the 5.1 km long loop I ran today took on a new life. Reading the map on the go, made the time pass much more quickly than when I just go for a run. Even getting to and from the area was fun since I criss-crossed through a large complex subdivision which was also on the map. Today was just great, especially since the ground was covered with 10 cm new snow, the first of the season.
Stig
The O-puzzle included in the last issue of ONB Notes remains uncracked. The Editor is therefore pleased to offer encryption services for all your business and other needs. Apply within.
Stig Skarborn
Course Setters often hear complaints about their courses. Here is your opportunity to set a course yourself, to show that you are an organizing force to be reckoned with, and to give you the opportunity to hear others complain about your course. If you would like to try your hand at setting a course (or up to four courses) for this event, please contact me at skarborn@brunnet.net. I will send you a blank map of Mactaquac Provincial Park with the start and finish areas, and the location of the last control. No later than June 1, you should mail me the map back with your theoretical proposed course(s). You do not have to field check the proposed control locations. I will do so, in my role as the official course setter. The courses should comply with the course setting guidelines of the COF "B" Meet Manual. A copy can be ordered from the COF at a cost of $10, or I can send you copies of the relevant pages.
If several courses are submitted for each level of difficulty (1 to 4), I will select the one from each category which I think is best. If a proposed control location is unsuitable, I will change the location to a suitable nearby feature. The prize for the competition will consist of the enjoyment of having had competitors on your course and, of course, being on hand to hear their critique when they arrive back at the finish.
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