Well, it was quite the day at Peebles Island. The temperature wasn’t too bad (upper 30’s), and it didn’t rain, but the wind was sure blowing. Overnight Friday, I had heard the wind as I tried to sleep, and worried that some of the flags might actually get blown away (and, worse, take the SI stations with them). But, everything held up (which I will accept as validation of my knot tying technique).

We had a wonderful turnout, with 38 separate entries and over 50 persons participating. It was great to once again see some folks who have been otherwise occupied for a while, and equally nice to meet several brand new participants. Everyone seemed to enjoy the courses (which is satisfying to hear), and there were a number of very close times, including one dead heat (though while they were competing on the same course, they were in different Classes).

The Results are in two forms:

-By Course, showing the split times for each control, so you can compare how you did with all others (regardless of the Class);

-By Class, showing who won, who Silver Medaled, etc., in each of the age/sex Classes.

Some winners left before the results were certain, and thus did not receive their awards. If you won, and wish to receive your award, let me know, and we will try to get it to you at a future event.

If you see mistakes in name spelling or anything else, let me know, and I will try to correct them. There was one manually timed team on Red (Dorinda/Emmanuel) which thus doesn’t appear on the SI Timed results. Two notes about the two competitors who are listed as completing their courses but do not have a time for one control:

• Tyler Koziol on the White course was initially read as having missed one control. However, he was certain he was there, and the reading of that control box (after it was brought in from the course and I downloaded its contents) verifies that he was there. The SI box lists his stick (and name) but shows an error code, rather than the time. So, I can’t give him a time for that control, but he certainly tried to punch.
• More oddly, Gabor Bobok got no response from one SI box, and nothing appears in the download from the box. However, he knew before I even mentioned it that this particular box did not respond when he was there, after he had left his stick in for a while. I am, thus, certain he was there, and am giving him credit for completing the course, but again, without a time for that control. I have no idea why this happened this way. As an aside, you SHOULD punch your map with the pin punch if the SI unit fails to respond. This wasn’t the US Champs or anything, so we aren’t quite as demanding, but the rules are that you have to prove you were there, somehow (and some younger folks have gone to taking photos of the control with their cell phones to prove they were there, which may or may not be legit, but is a cool idea).

One question that came up from a few folks was what was going on with the “old boat” docked (and shrouded) across the river. I personally have no idea; I just know it was there at least since August, as I saw it back then. Eric Hamilton seemed to know about it, so I am passing the question along to him. If he has an answer, I will pass it along.

Many folks mentioned having run across quite a number of deer in their wanderings over the course. I did too, as I set the courses and picked up afterwards, including a buck or two who would have been highly prized by hunters. There have been some illegal hunting incidents there, but by and large they are safe on Peebles Island. However, I did, a couple years ago, see a doe swimming from the island down to the peninsula; wrong choice!

Finally, thanks to:

• The Red course runners who allowed their maps to be re-cycled when it turned out that I had not initially printed enough of them;
• Sue, who did a yeoman’s job keeping up with all the registration (after running off to the store on the way to the meet to get a few supplies), and then helped pick up controls;
• Frank, who did indeed remember to bring all of the disparate EMPO gear so we could get it consolidated;
• Eric Hamilton, who picked up the controls in the “Green Peninsula”;
• Marc, who helped set up the event, provided the shelter for registration, brought students form his school, trained them and course reviewed with them, and then picked up several controls.

There were some others who offered to help pick up, but there was overlap or someone still out, so that didn’t happen; but thanks for the offers.