Easter - The remaining days

Day 1 & 2 were on the same area, a new map called Highlands, about 15km from Nimmitabel on the Great Dividing Range sitting at an elevation of 1100m. Unfortunately the weather forecast was abysmal for the next two days. Maximum involving a single digit, rain and possible snow! Eeek not what we had ordered.

I arrived before sunset on Friday to find the course setters and controller planning the blue start. Glad to run into them as I didn't actually know where the arena was having never visited there before! I also heard that both the pink and yellow starts were up and ready! Secretly my anxiety levels reduced a little. Still once Day 1 with its three starts (2 remote and the other involving a mass start) were over, the sooner my life would be plain sailing!

And despite being super organised, things always pop up. For example, the start lists were not fully printed and the clocks (according to some) were not synched correctly - both of which needed to be done the morning of the event.

So my arrival at the blue start was a little later than expected and we were slightly under the pump. The start area was exposed and the windy conditions created havoc on the control descriptions. When the competitors started to file through we realised the pre-start  and start clocks were displaying the same time!! In hindsight,  the problem arose, when the clocks were synched by the tech team this morning, they had put them back in the wrong boxes - so the blue start had two pre start clocks and the yellow start had two start clocks! Unable to change the times on these without a computer, Andy luckily happened to come by with the 4WD and took off to retrieve the start from the yellow start. It wasn't long before he returned and we were back on track again. Apart from that hiccup, we had lots of people who missed their start arriving late as the drive and walk took them longer than expected. By 12.30pm all the 800 competitors had filed through and were out enjoying the snow gums and moss covered boulders in wild conditions.

From there, the car was packed and I drove to Day 2's start (one and only!) It was on located on a fire trail and protected by the surrounding forest. All was set up by the time Cath returned from her tasks of organising for Day 2 and we drove to the now deserted arena. No one keen to hang around in the freezing conditions.

Together with Maurice, we all sat down for a breather and compared today's tales over chips and beer. Cath, Andy and I all keen for a shower and warmth, drove into Cooma to where Eoin and the girls were staying. It was a quick clean up before heading out for dinner at a local pub. Food was delicious and we heard about the girls adventures on their courses and day in general.

 

Back to the arena, it was a cold night, with sleep disrupted by the sounds of rain / sleet hitting the tent fly adding to my worry levels and wondering what tomorrow would bring. I needn't had worried, as the start ran like clockwork. Our start team was now like a well oiled machine! We all knew the drill and what to look out for! Competitors were braced for freezing conditions turning up in thermal and beanies and we still had fair few late starters. However the starts were wrapped up again by 1pm. I arrived back at the arena while there were still people there! From reports, the weather at the arena was terrible - hail at times; cold and very windy. I watched the finish tent nearly get blown away. The finish team did a fantastic job in such trying conditions to keep the computers dry and functioning!

After a bit of lunch, I once again hit the road traveling via Cooma to Day 3 - Teapot Creek where a set up crew was being organised by Valerie. I had the wonderful help from a lovely family who drove their ute up through the rough paddock tracks to the start. We laid out as much as we could with the equipment we had all before sunset!

From there I continued on to Jindabyne where our family was converging! I was looking forward to a hot shower, nice dinner and warm bed and generally being out of the elements.

Day 3 dawned with sunshine! Al and I drove out together to the event. Andy and the girls came out too, in the 4WD ute which we would need to get the remainder of the equipment to the start.

The final days starts were slightly complicated. All at the same location but a normal start for the majority and chasing starts for the M and W 21 E and Sledge. Again the start teams were amazing resulting an an efficient smooth start.

The start was located on on a grazed hillside, and with the sun mostly shinning was almost warm! It was nice to catch moments - gaze out across farmland and to the Snowy Mountains in the far distance while reflecting on the start coordinator role, the ups and downs, stresses and the wonderful crew by my side whom I was grateful to work with.

The start was packed up and we were back in the arena before the presentations had started. I was glad to unload and deposit all of the start equipment at Maurice's truck. My job was done! Time to eat, drink, relax and soak up the last of the carnival atmosphere. 

Was lovely to see Katy win the W14 class. Ella placed 13th in the W16 - not running her best with two sizeable mistakes on Day 1 & 2. Both enjoyed the event.