FRA Navigation Weekend

Kettlewell, Friday, March 16, 2012

Mike Bennett

Nina brought up the topic of the FRA navigation course while a few of us were sat in the Spread Eagle following the Captain Cook race on New Years Day. Remembering Tom, Nigel and Shaun’s glowing reports of the course they did a few years back I figured it was time I stopped following people in races and tried finding my own way to the finish and got booked up.

Four Striders attended the weekend at Kettlewell, Nina, Jan, Mark and myself along with 26 other runners and walkers from far and wide. The activities were all based around the Youth Hostel at Kettlewell which was ours for the weekend. Food provided and cooked by the Youth Hostel staff all included in the total cost of £60 for the whole weekend for FRA members, (£85 for non members, £12 to join FRA! You do the maths, it’s a no brainer).

Mike.Jan.Mark.Nina.

photos courtesy and © Dave Taylor

A full programme of events relating to navigating were promised and the course certainly lived up to its reputation. With a ratio of 2 guides per group of 4-5 participants meant we were all under expert tuition the whole time. A short spell in the ‘classroom’ followed by the rest of the activities out on the Fells included small group activities then paired exercises culminating in a 10k solo event. There was even a night navigation session on the Fells in pairs with just map headtorch and compass. Sounds scary but it was amazing just how quickly you can pick up the basics and get going.

From being a bit of a map reading novice I now have a good basic level of competence, the rest is down to me to put into practice.

I can’t rate this weekend highly enough for walkers, orienteers and runners alike. Feedback from the other participants was in agreement with my experience.

Next event as far as I am aware is in Elterwater Youth hostel from 21st September, same format, different location.

A word of caution however, Nina and Mark both finished ahead of me in the solo event so don’t follow me just yet.

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