Here's a recap of the orienteering meet from this weekend in Stewart Gulch which will hence forth be referred to as the "Stewart Gulch Death March". With a sympathetic eye toward the competitors the meet director and co-meet director decided to move the meet start up to 9:00 A.M. to avoid those scorching temperatures. Little did we realize the decision would be fairly moot since the difference between "very, very hot" and "very, very, very hot" is intangible when you can no longer swallow and your tongue is a couple of sizes larger. Even with the "cooler" temperatures, the advanced division was hotly contested. Mike Tobin blazed through the course in an hour and 9 minutes to take top honors. Jeff Black was fired up enough to come in second, with Kristen hot on his trail. We had two DNFer's in this division who made wise decisions to jump from the fire back into the pan. Jim Byrne, an orienteering newbie (past experience is one park meet), made it through control 8. As he stood on the ridge above control 9, he could see his house a mere 1/4 mile away. I think his knees buckled as he thought of the cool air conditioning wafting through his house. A few minutes later he was back at the finish line and heading for home (besides overheating somewhat he was late for an appointment with his family, so I don't want you to think he didn't have the will). I've talked to him since and he says he took a lot of lessons away from this meet and vows to finish the next non-park meet. David Bergset also burned a trail home after completing a good portion of the course. In the Intermediate division we had a ringer run this course. Through no fault of his own, Sergey was incorrectly given the intermediate map. But even with very tough competition in this class he scorched the field in 32:20. Michael and his wife, first time orienteerer Merril, turned on the after-burners for second, with newcomer Robert Barrett taking third. Firery faced Karin, while DNFing, did run the course but elected to "wave" at most controls rather than increase her body temperature by climbing to the controls (good idea). Jeff Decker started out the course with his map upside down (not really) and ran to the last control first. He actually did run to the last control first and on such a hot day he decided to continue in that same direction. Masha once again blistered the beginning course in under 9 minutes! Jeff Decker's regular O mate, Donna, joined first timer, Lisa Hill, on the beginners course for second place, with first timers Ted (Dad) and Max (son) pulling in next. It's always great when we get families to do these events together and when youngsters get introduced to the sport. And Constanze, the Ritzenhaler's nanny, also got her feet wet in orienteering on the beginners course. I'll also take this opportunity to recognize two of our competitors from Saturday. Fortunately these awards will be presented pre-humously, as opposed to posthumously, but it was close. Whether we honor these competitors, look upon them with awe, or shake our heads and wonder what they were thinking, I'll leave up to each of you. Presented a "Wicked Witch of the West" award (remember she melted) are Michael Bading, who did both the advanced and intermediate courses for a total time of 3:54:57, and Bill Pilcher who endured 3:36:16 on the advanced course. Based on the weather conditions the turnout was awesome. Thanks for attending! Thanks to Jeff Black for all his control pickup. Thanks to Sergey for running out and checking on one of our competitors. And thanks to Jeff and Dondi for all the wonderfully delicious, watery fruit!!!! Bill Leahy Advanced Course: Mike Tobin 1:09:00 Jeff Black 1:23:38 Kristen Ritzenhaler 1:25:26 Ole Bergset 1:47:30 Michael Bading 2:32:42 Bill Pilcher 3:36:16 Jim Byrne 1:56:10 DNF David Bergset 2:02:40 DNF Intermediate Course: Sergey Velichko 0:32:20 Merril Hayden & Michael Badding 1:22:15 Robert Barrett 1:30:41 Jeff Decker 1:06:33 (did course in reverse) Karin Didisse 1:26:00 DNF Beginning Course: Masha Velichko 0:08:13 Donna Goodwin & 0:16:35 Lisa Hill Ted & Max Vavricka 0:17:48 Constanze & 0:30:03 a little bit of Kristen