Organiser's Comments

Overall I think a very successful day showing the high quality of sprint orienteering available at HMS Sultan! Orienteering is virtually unknown in the RN, with a lot of people I speak to imagining that it involves donning a pair of hiking boots and going for a bimble. So to put on an event like this, right inside a Naval Establishment, is great for people to see what orienteering is really about. Unfortunately its unfamiliarity adds to the challenges of organising; many questions were asked, mainly to do with health and safety, but I found that with some explanation people were generally quite helpful.

In my opinion one of the best parts of the course is the northern fort (Fort Rowner). It was a challenge to use it for this event with health and safety issues and the necessity to fence in the resident grass cutters (9 goats), but in the future a couple of things may prevent its use altogether: the pedestrian access gate is due to be shut permanently preventing its use as a route choice, and there are rumours that the whole fort may be placed outside the perimeter wire in order to transfer the cost of upkeep to English Heritage. As such I would encourage you to send me your comments ( ) about its excellent use as part of the HMS Sultan orienteering area, so that I can at least try and prevent its removal from the area!

Finally a thank you to all that made the event possible: the Commodore of HMS Sultan and his PT Department, the Planner Maj Richard Barrett AGC SPS, the Course Controller Capt Polly Parrott REME, the Mapper Maj (Retd) Hugh Drummond and assistants on the day Mr Jerry Newcombe for stats and results, Lt Col (Retd) Tim Sands, Maj Emil Tessem-Cotton REME and Lt Andy Jenner RN.

Lt Andy Beverley, RN