08.08.2019 - Orienteering is also a family sport
Wafts of mist still hung in the trees early in the morning. But already at the mountain station a girl complained tearfully about her forgotten sunglasses. Family support was needed with the encouragement that she would still find her route and run a good race.
The area around the small reservoir soon resembled a peaceful army camp from where one could believe to recognize possible route choices. In the program book, this “lovely stage” used charming expressions such as “a view far and wide” or “open pastures”. However, many competitors only realised after their start what kind of tough enigmas the area offered.
Even the most seasoned orienteers fought with finely structured terrain areas between the Hornflueh and Horntube. And after the finish, orienteers were telling stories about running around at times like headless chicken. Maybe, the name “Hüenerspil” (“chicken play”) of the hump between the peaks was aptly inspired by it.
The very young at the kids-O did not know of such problems. Their maps showed symbols they had to find in the labyrinth. Even though some of those youngsters were maybe still wearing pampers, their joy in punching the controls was not less than that of adults at the finish line.
Anyone observing the eagerness of the kids can only congratulate the SOW for their effort which ultimately benefits family sport done in nature. The proof provided a boy following the tape on the way from the Horneggli to the event centre. Under the eyes of his cheering parents, he skipped at high speed down the steep slope and then flew over some brush and landed headfirst in some cow dung, got up and kept on sprinting laughing it off.
«The lovely stage» was not stingy with surprises!
