All the Way from Hong Kong

Well not quite, some members of this extended orienteering family are living and working here in the UK.  I spotted them sorting out their race numbers whilst I was waiting in the assembly area at today's Middle Race venue, Tankersley Woods, north of Sheffield.  I was waiting for one of the officials to come and give me an all controls map so that I could go out and take my photos and this family kindly obliged me by posing in front of their flag.

Not the best of days.  Tankersley was bombed heavily during the war and is also full of bell pits from mining so it's a very technical and physical area, not the best terrain for my knee.  I was going very carefully and avoiding going down the steepest hills and being careful on the brashings on the woodland floor when I slipped, fell heavily, twisting my bad leg in the process.  At this point I had walked quite a long way into the wood in a bid to catch the elite runners who would be visiting the furthest controls, but thankfully I was near to the industrial estate road which borders the wood.  After sitting for ten minutes to gauge the extent of the injury, I managed to get up and hobble down the slope to the pavement where I rang the Safety Officer who sent the Medical Team out in their landrover to pick me up.

After they had ministered to my very painful knee, they helped me to the finish where one of the officials had kindly set up a chair from which I took my photos. Unfortunately, by the time Tony returned from his run, took down the club tent and drove our car to the assembly air, my knee had stiffened considerably.  Thankfully one of the medical team came to assist Tony carrying me to the car.

So, that's the weekend finished for me.  There is no way I can attend the last two days.  I've had two hours sleep on the settee and I guess if it is no better on Tuesday, it will be back to the Doc's!