Despite, the cold, there was still a reasonable turnout for the predominately outdoor exercises.  We started of with a course around the school using needle punches.  The same map was used for both the beginners and experienced runners.  The beginners went around the odd numbered controls, whereas the experienced members went around the even numbers which were all in the field requiring accurate navigation.  The odd numbered controls could be used as attack points for the even controls.  Everyone completed thesec ourses without errors.

The next exercise involved  a grid of 21 controls with maps of increasing difficulty.  Maps 1 and 2 showed th elocation of all controls, so that these could be used as handrails to navigate by. Maps 3 and 4 only showed the controls on that course, so again accurate navigation was required.  The evening finished off with two indoor courses also requiring compass bearings. The results for the four outdoor grids and the two indoor course are here.

No lost property this week (well there was a pair of glasses but they were quickly claimed), so only got the diamond encrusted watch left.

See you next Monday.  Next Saturday events - February 11th (Weelsby Woods, Grimsby) and February 18th (Beverley area, probably Swinemoor (but awaiting permission), parking on old road at Ticton).

There was a terrific turn out on a cold but sunny morning for HALO's first event in recent years at Hull's largest park.  East Park is full of things to do for all the family, a wildlife park, boating lake, gardens, model yacht lake and children's play areas, now Orienteering can be added to the list of activities.  Over 50 groups and individuals took part which made all the time spent on map making well worth the effort.  There were 22 members taking on the challenges that East Park offered but the majority of the participants were new to the sport.  All apeared to enjoy the event so much that they had a go at more than one course.  Many thanks to all the HALO helpers who helped with setting up, dealing with entries and collecting controls at the end.

Results and RouteGadget are now available - follow the East Park results link on the right hand side of the home page. Please add your routes if you can remember where you went!

Individual course results can be found here.

I hope the newcomers who came along today will take part in other HALO events, details are on this web-site. If you require any further information contact neil@halo-orienteering.org.uk

Cumulative standings after Round 2 can  be found here.  Mary Vickers is leading the Technical handicap league after two impressive performances.  Last year's chairman, John Butler is topping the Orange course standings.  The White course is jointly headed by Emily Brown and Bella Brittain. The Morrison Men after their victory at Cleethorpes are ahead on the Yellow course.

NOT Friday 3rd February - new date FRIDAY 17th FEBRUARY

Please see Entry List below!

HALO Event & Social - ALL INVITED!

Another cold crisp night - perfect for running about in the dark.  We started inside with the technical training, then we had a good run around outside.  Three seperate kites were placed around the school site - each kite had 3 stakes 50m away from it on different bearings.  The task was to find the correct stake by taking a bearing from the kite using a "white map" (Hence no relying on familiar features around the site).  Quite a difficult task but managed superbly well be everyone.

The evening was rounded off by a map symbol challenge in the Gym.  The "map" was 10 map symbols, these had to be converted into descriptions, then reading from a table converted again into a control code.  A memory exercise as well as learning map symbols.  For example if the first two symbols were a depression (31) followed by a marsh (35), then you had to go to control 31 then 35.  The codes were on the wall, so the trick was to see how many you could memorise.   Well done to Bella, Helena, Matthew and Lindsey for completing all four map symbol courses.

Results here for indoor exercises here.

Surprisingly no-one has yet claimed the diamond encrusted watch left on the 9th January.

Don't forget - East Park this Saturday.

The cold frosty night provided perfect conditions for orienteering training on the Longcroft School site.  Although you stood around at your peril.  So we started off indoors with technical traiingon compass bearings.  Then outside to put these skills into practise.  This was followed by the option of a long or short course using needle punches.  The long course required accurate compass bearings to find a few of the controls which were just a cane with a needle punch. Not easy to find in the dark.  However - everyone suceeded, which was pretty impressive.

The evening finished off with controls sited on stakes on a 5 by 4 grid at 15 metre intervals.  It was surprising how hard it was to see some of them.  There were six seperate courses to have a go at, the first two maps had control numbers, but not the final four - you had to be confident you were at the right control. Even though it was a relatively small grid, compass bearings were essential for navigation.  The sixth course was simply a sprint around the grid, punching the outside 12 controls.

Only one person completed all six, well done Lindsey.  Results for the outdoor timed exercises are here.

The League positions of the White, Yellow and Orange courses are here.

The League positions of the Technical course are here.

Full rules are here.

Next event is on Saturday January 28th at East Park, Hull (starts from 10am to 12noon)

It was good to see such a good turnout on the first Club Night of 2012, 20 altogether with a perfect 50:50 split of members and non-members.  The activities were all indoors (to the disappointment of some members who have a love of the cold and the dark!)  involving running exercises, map symbol relays, netball numbers (with a small dose of mental arithmetic) and finishing off with timed sprint courses using the SI equipment.  Example of one of the courses here.  Eight people (Jake, Helena, Jackie, Lindsey, Matthew, Mary, Ken and someone else) managed to complete all six courses.  Jake would have had the fastest time overall, except for a slow time on the last course when he gallantly helped one of the younger members with their course. Results for those timed activities are here.

Lost property - A diamond encrusted watch with black strap was found in the changing rooms (39 diamonds, 1 missing).  Contact Neil (neil@halo-orienteering.org.uk) if it is yours.  Due to the incredible value of this item, I will need some confirmation that it is yours - model, serial number, time showing, that sort of thing.

Hope to see you all next week - and a few more.  There will be some outdoor activities next week - unless the weather prevents us.

Cleethorpes Country Park on Saturday will be the first round in the new Saturday HALO League. Best four results from the next seven Winter Events to count.

Click here for details

HALO is organising for the third year the Final of the East Riding of Yorkshire Schools Orienteering Championships at 4 pm on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 at Burton Constable Hall.

Prior to that there will have been 13 cluster competitions for years 5 and 6 at various schools in the East Riding at which HALO has offered to have a presence at and to give a hand if required. (Last year over 500 children from 45 schools, many of whom had little or no experience of orienteering, took part in the cluster competitions.) The top 20 scorers from each of the cluster events are invited to take part in the Final. Awards are made to the first three and the best school in each year group.

In 2011 there were 200 young people from 29 schools in the Final, and in 2012 there could be even more - so we will need Club members’ help on the day. Don't wait to be asked - please let Neil Harvatt or John Butler know now that you are available.

Results for last Mondays timed activities are here.

Next Monday (19th) will be the last of this term and will be followed by the now traditional "feast" in the gym.  All welcome.

We will re-start on January 9th in the New Year.

The results for the first five standard courses can be found here.  Lindsey and Helena seem to be dominating the top spots with wins also for Bella and Paul.

The Snooker results are here.  Sorry they were not available on the night.  However there were very few errors on the course, only three disqualifications and two of  those from experienced club members.  They are shown in red on the results.  A few made mistakes but then realised and corrected so no disqualifications, these are shown in yellow on the results. Well done to George for comprehensively (2 seconds faster than Lindsey!) beating the rest of the field, not easy when you have to combine strategy with memory and both at speed.

The snooker map is here

HALO now has its own Facebook page and you can find the link to it on the HALO home page - click on the f top right hand side.

If you are a Facebook member Like the page and then you’ll receive regular updates about events, results, photos etc.

If you are not a Facebook member don’t worry, the website will continue to contain all the usual information too!

If you would like to add an update to the page, or have some photos to share,  send an email to either Helen Smith or Brian Ward and they’ll be happy to help.