Despite the hot weather and very recent completion of the Cle Elum relay,
 there was a solid turnout for our club orienteering meet at Stewart Gulch
 west.
<br>
<br>
The Advanced course was intended to provide more challenging route choice
 than usual, with a rough penalty for climb if the straight route was
 selected.  The course setter also managed to enhance the difficulty by
 misplacing the fence control next to Bogus Basin road (given confusion with
 the new construction up there.)  Despite the looming threats, there was
 plenty of competition out there.  It was greatly enhanced by the arrival of
 a crew training for a Candadian adventure race, determined to test their
 skills and endurance out in the hills.  I think they got their wish!  This
 crew included Jeff Marquez, Joell Ramirez, Jody Bradbury, and a fourth
 (whose name I neglected to write down, apparently) who finished with Jody.
 A new arrival, Dan Herring, started the course backwards but came back
 griping incohorently about the "broken ground" control.  He was still
 smiling, however.  (It was pointed out by the map maker that the area was
 really sandy ground...not sure how much it would have helped.)  The Cle Elum
 meet director himself, Sergey Velichko, couldn't pass up the challenge.
 While he blitzed through the course in just over an hour (when was the last
 time we kept him out that long?), on his return he promptly declared course
 setter Jeff Black "sadistic".  After admiring the scrapes on his thighs, he
 kept crying "The hills!  The hills!"
<br>
<br>
There were also plenty of takers for the Intermediate course, quite a bit
 shorter and at least possible to complete by trail, but still offering
 generous climbs for those with teeth left to clench.  Gabby Lorenzi, part of
 the adventure racing support crew, completed the course with grinning gusto.
 Andy and son Elijah gave it a whirl but quickly found nature more
 interesting than the controls themselves (Elijah may have a point here.)
 Dasha Velichko and Brian took top honors after a downhill sprint, even while
 carrying a pineapple as post finish/birthday celebration.  Karin Didesse
 made it down from the great white north, and came across the line while
 saying "Now what about that McCall meet this August?" and proceeded to lay
 out the maps for study.
<br>
<br>
Nicole Herring (Dan's daughter) walked the Beginner course to avoid
 aggravating an old injury (we must all return to fight another day), and the
 Sergey/Masha team blitzed through while picking up controls on the way.
<br>
<br>
All enjoyed the very tasty cake provided by Sergey and Natasha as thanks for
 the Cle Elum support - this might even bring us back next year...
<br>
<br>
<pre>
Beginner      1.4k     10m climb     5 controls
-------------------------------------------------
Nicole Herring                        30:30
Sergey and Masha Velichko              ? (n/a)

Intermediate  3.3k     375m climb    7 controls
-------------------------------------------------
Dasha Velichko/Brian                1:03:38
Karin Didisse                       1:12:00
Gabby Lorenzi                       1:15:20
Andy and Elijah Hill                  56:00 (DNF)

Advanced      5.0k     590m climb    9 controls
-------------------------------------------------
Sergey Velichko                     1:02:45
Jeff Marquez                        1:31:00
Jody Bradbury (+1 partner)          1:35:19
Joell Ramirez                       1:46:40
Dan Herring                         1:35:30 (DNF)
</pre>
<br>
Congrats to all who showed up to compete in the heat.  See you next month at
 Veteran's Park, where there is a bit more shade - Sergey will be meet
 director.
<br>
<br>
Jeff Black