Report

Thanks once again to Sion Matthews for this report.

Another good turn-out of entries for the March 2023 Navigation Run. Lee and Yvonne went and put the symbols out an hour ahead of the crews, whilst Sion and Dafydd signed everyone on. After a short crew briefing they were given their packs.
In places the roads were a bit narrow and the tarmac in poor condition. The route was set out so it started off easy and then got harder to navigate which showed in the check sheets. Symbols where mostly easy to see with the odd sneaky one placed for deciders.
Starting from the David Hughes Sports Hall, Menai Bridge, the route was divided into 4 sections, using grid references:

Section 1 - “Back of Tesco” to “Seion Crossroads”. Heading to the back of Tesco, using NAM 1 (Not As Map), a triangle junction where the correct route was the short way round, although many presumed it would be the usual long way, so recorded the wrong dud symbol. The route then headed towards the back of Y Felinheli, using the marine front then heading back towards Greenwood Park heading to Seion, passing the dud symbol on the B-road by Gors Bach Inn.
Section 2 - “Seion Crossroads” to “Bethesda”. NAM 2 which was a wide gateway entrance lead up through Waen-Wen, through the Llandygai ford, around a small white loop around Tal Y Bont, making their way up towards Bethesda.
Section 3 - “Bethesda” to “Hendre hairpin”. This is where it got really tricky for most crews, using hard to find “street” whites and NAM3 in the village They then headed towards Rachub, which some crews missed or went up one of several dead-end roads.
Section 4 - “Hendre hairpin” to “Llanfairfechan”. Down Hendre hill, following the Crymlyn road to Abergwyngregyn, before joining the A55 to the next junction for the Llanfairfechan final loop, which was basically following the outer top Mountain Road, with one hard to find “street” white in the village which only the winner managed to find. Then to the finish in the Split Willow by 10:05pm.
The check sheets seem to show what we thought would happen, started off well then got harder catching the less experienced crews out. Some crews missed chunks of symbols when they went the wrong way, particularly in built up areas, and also wrote down the B-road dud symbols earlier in the route.
Results are below, well done to Ilan, Daniel and Aled on the win, only missing 3 symbols, and getting the last hard to find “street” white (76) Dion and Cory finished 2nd . They were on for the win but missed the last “street” white, missing these 2 symbols, one being the “double” Cymru”. Duncan and Kay only missed a few symbols on the last section, finishing 3rd. Owi and Liam, missed one more to finish in 4th. Lee and Sion were furthest cleanest of 3three crews, all missing different symbols. Emyr and Aron were 2nd furthest cleanest on the same points although very happy to see them finish on time for a change. Tomos and Gethin third furthest cleanest. Iwan, Liam and Iago wrote down the “K” dud that was on the B road in Section 1 and missed a few towards the end. John and Iwan went the wrong way in Y Felinheli and Rachub villages. Jill and Paul missed the end of Llanfairfechan, although were doing well up until then. “The Dylan’s” wrote the two duds down in section 1, and then missed a few in the Bethesda and Rachub areas. Aron and Tom appear to have got lost in Bethesda and then cut out the Llanfairfechan loop. There were 79 points available.

Well done to all on a tough route, see you at the next Navigation Run. A big thank you to Sion for organising the event, Dafydd Edwards for signing on duties, Jamie Jones for DSO duties, Lee and Yvonne Matthews for symbol setup and pull down, and Endaf Davies for the banter at the Give Way route check.

RESULTS
1. Ifan Roberts / Daniel Jones - Ford Transit: 76 points.
2. Dion Rowlands / Cory Thomas - Ford Transit Custom; 75 pts.
3. Duncan Littler / Kay Littler - VW Caddy; 72 pts.
4. Owi Roberts / Liam Hughes - VW Golf; 71 pts.
5. Lee Threadgold / Sion Jones - Peugeot RCZ; 69 pts.*
6. Emyr Owen / Aron Jones - Suzuki Vitara; 69 pts.*
7. Tomos Parry / Gethin Jones - Ford Ranger; 69 pts.*
8. Iwan Jones / Liam Jones / Iago Edwards - Ford Fiesta; 65 pts.
9. John Evans / Iwan Evans - Ford Focus ST; 63 pts.
10. Jill Clarke / Paul Clarke - Nissan Qashqai; 62 pts.
11. Dylan Roberts / Dylan Bargate - Mazda MX5; 58.5 pts.
12. Aron Evans / Tom Lindstrom - BMW E36; 53 pts.

Reserves:
Gavin Jones/Anthony Williams; Geraint Jones/Cameron Hazelgrove; Robin Jones/Huw Jones; Deian Williams/Gethin Rees; Ieuan Pritchard/Gwion Annwyl/Andrew Emberton; Callum Jones/Evie Jones; Osian Gwyn/Moi Williams.

Information

This will be the sixth and final round in the series for Duncan's Romer, held on Thursday, 2nd March 2023. With six qualifying rounds being held, four scores from six will count towards the award.

Navigation Runs are ideal for learning to plot a route and read a map, and provide good practice for anyone aspiring to compete in a road rally anytime soon. The event is again organised by Sion Matthews and although the start venue is on Anglesey, much of the route will be on the mainland.

The start venue is the David Hughes Leisure Centre, Menai Bridge, LL59 5SS, at the rear of Ysgol David Hughes - Ordnance Survey map 115 (Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa), reference 547 723. what3words location is ///airbase.prayers.germinate.
Sign on at 18.30 hours, and route handouts at 19.00 hours. Finish at 22.00 hours, in Llanfairfechan.
You will require OS map 115 (Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa), plus the usual navigation aids of poti, romer, pen/pencil, etc.

Drivers and navigators need a valid club membership, expiring 31st October 2023. Renew or join at Membership Application