A group of 6 participants, including myself turned up for the first WightO training day which was held in Parkhurst Forest on Saturday 31st October. The day was a fine one and the forest was resplendent in autumn hues.
Carol Tavener aided by Ben Windsor an Nina Williams, had organised a program of areas of development to help with honing our orienteering skills.
Carol told us that the first exercise was a competitive thinking and memory training to develop our memory capability. By matching fragments of map on two separate tables 30 meters apart where speed was encouraged to install a competitive mindset.
We then split into three groups to use the permanent Parkhurst course to develop a range of skills which included distance judgement and scale, bearings and vegetation change, route choices – paths or bearing to paths, path running and contours.
Everyone agreed to the usefulness of the exercises and another day is planned soon.
Thanks to Carol for organising the schedule and Carol, Ben and Nina for carrying out the coaching.
Tony Tutton
Chairman
