Congratulations to our 2021/2022 series winners:

• Women’s open – Eloise Lee
• Men’s Open – Richard Price
• Women’s Vets – Phil Dolphin
• Men’s Vets – John Leeson
• Women’s Super Vets – Jenny Uff
• Men’s Super Vets – Robert Vickers

Series co-ordinator John Leeson says:

HOC Night Street League 2021-22- Final Results

After HOC’s 2020-2021 Night Street League (NSL) was decimated by the coronavirus epidemic, we managed to put on a full series of events in 2021-22, despite uncertainties at the beginning as to whether or not we might not be able to take part in organised activities.

Some of the events that were planned for the previous season, like Ian Pickering’s one in St John’s in Worcester and Robert Vicker’s event in Stourbridge were resurrected successfully so the planning work from the previous season did not go to waste.

For the first time, all of the events were organised using OpenO Map and MapRun which some planners had not used before and I’d like to thank them in particular for getting to grips with this new way of putting on these local area events. The work that the planners put in will live on as we will add these events to the list of MapRun courses that HOC members and guests can use for training purposes, especially in the run up to the exciting Birmingham and Coventry urban races in June.

The series generated a total of 120 runs, averaging an attendance of 15 per event. Many of the events were followed by a meal in a local pub giving members a chance to catch up with colleagues after the enforced isolation of the pandemic.

Two rising stars swept all before them in the competition for the men’s and women’s open titles. Eloise Lee won all of the seven races she entered, as did Richard Price in the men’s open. New member, Simon Lanckham and Robert Rose tussled it out for second place in the men’s open, with Robert just keeping his nose in front. In the women’s open class, another new member, Sammy Pritchard, came second.

The women’s veteran competition was won by Phil Dolphin, followed in second place by Sally Ingram and in the men’s veteran competition John Leeson managed to just keep ahead of Peter Langmaid.

Some of the most consistent attendees of this years NSL series were in the ‘super-veterans’ classes with Jenny Uff and Robert Vickers both attending seven events. They both deserve their well-earned super-vets trophies.

Two juniors, Kieran Rose and Robin Lambe attended several of the events and acquitted themselves well towing their accompanying adults round impressive numbers of controls. They will be forces to be reckoned with as they achieve adult status.

Many thanks to the team of eight planners who provided us with interesting challenges from the leafy lanes of Bournville, to the freezing streets of Worcester. The event in Kinver village was quite special with lots of off-road paths to navigate including a steep climb up to the church. Special mention must be given to the hardy souls who turned out in torrential rain to attempt Adrian Bailey’s take on the Bewdley International Mountain Marathon, complete with bonus controls and a 90 minute time limit rather than the more comfortable 60 minute limit at the other events.

If anyone has come across an urban area that would be fun to navigate around, please let me know and we’ll find a place for it in next year’s series.

John Leeson,  NSL Coordinator