Southern Michigan Orienteering Club

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Silver Lake
April 3, 2010

Swelled by more than 60 members of the Michigan Adventurers Club, SMOC”s opening meet of the 2010 season apparently set a new record for total participation. One-hundred, sixty-four people appeared on the start lists for one of the five courses, with several more setting out without checking with the timer. For many, it was their first experience with the sport of orienteering.

Anticipating a larger than usual turnout, a number of the club veterans were on hand to give impromptu clinics. Their efforts contributed significantly to the event’s success, as the meet directors had their hands full at registration and timing.

The day began with a continuation of a warmer-than-usual run of temperatures, but the late afternoon brought some serious winds and even a few brief rain squalls. The latter phenomena caused some of the later starters to cut their courses short, thus producing a fair number of “OE’s” (Orienteering Experience) in the results.

Though the courses were (except for the 8.4K Red) of modest length, they were complicated by a number of factors. Some of those were of the natural world (i.e., some thick concentrations of autumn olive and wild rose), while others were of man’s making. Among the latter were a few controls with missing codes, two with no punches, and one which was clearly mislabeled on the clue sheet. The meet director asks for everyone’s understanding and forgiveness.