Report

Many thanks to Chloe Thomas for organising this event and presenting the report.

Firstly, I want to say thank you to everyone who turned up on the night and who helped behind the scenes. Organising my first event was a bit daunting, but it went down a treat and I couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement. So, thank you (This will be the key phrase of this report).
This navigation run was named after my grandfather, Robert ‘Bob’ Lovelock, who would have been 77 last week. I knew I wanted my first event to be named after him, and this event lined up perfectly. I felt like I had big shoes to fill following Sion Matthews’ Winter Series, but was surprised to see the whole Matthews family on the event supporting. Again, thank you! We had a near-full entry of 11 crews, the final crew being Jason and Adam arriving just before route handout.

MTC 1 was situated at Llaethdy Glanrhyd, Pentir. Thanks to Daniel for allowing us to use the venue. I wasn’t sure if anyone did get a milkshake or any of the cakes, but it would’ve been good fuel for the ‘short and sweet’ 20 mile run around Snowdonia. The start was a mile around the corner, starting from the crossroads towards Rhiwlas. The first symbol was missed by a few crews, but the first NAM (Not As Map) was picked up by everyone.
After a run around Rhiwlas, we came back down to the crossroads and up to Llanddeiniolen where the first dud symbol was placed right across from Gors Bach, followed by a second dud at the bottom of Nant Garth after a shortcut through Seion. Car no. 5, Tomi and Peredur, would pick up both of these DUDs but scribbling out the first one before coming into MTC 2. Sadly, the second DUD cost them 2 points which would erase their lead over Elis and Lee Matthews.
The loop returned to Gors Bach and turned right for Pont-rug, using a 1.5-mile stretch of backroad that ran parallel to Afon Seiont. Then, it was onto the route of the J.J., passing Cilgwythwch Maenhir, slotting left at the crossroads then slot right to Ffordd Bryngwyn, and then returning to the backroads along the narrower route. By this point, I was really worrying about the timing of it all. It was past route handout and there were a few things that weren’t going to plan, such as forgetting that I placed down a S or 5 until the check sheets came back. But the finish was oh so close and we cracked on.

We then headed up to Clegir, running the more precarious route towards Llanberis. A few symbols were placed to ensure the crews slowed down, and a caution was noted for the worst sudden drop. There were two NAMs on Clegir, one which required a simple turn into the layby and the other which included a loop right around. Unfortunately, two crews got this NAM slightly off. Car 2, Merfyn and Iwan, got the symbols the incorrect way around while car 8, Robin and Sion, noted the wrong first letter; mistaking the V for a Y.
Llanberis proved a tricky area to plot, with the map not being very forgiving in layout. About half of the crews got all symbols correctly, while the other half missed one or two, or picked up the final dud. Luckily, the short route and generous MTC 2 due times meant that no one went OTL, even with the traffic lights right at the finish.

Thanks again to everyone who attended. The entry was really surprising and I’m glad that everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. This was also a return to Navigation Runs for a couple of crews, which makes it all the better when they’d ask ‘When will the next one be?’. The joint third place going to four crews did show a bit of an issue, that maybe on such a short route the symbols could have been put out better to catch some people out. I have a few ideas for next time, and will probably figure out a fun tie-breaker for the finish. Sadly, darts and pool were out of the question for our finish venue, Y Ddraig, as the backroom was occupied by the local pool team.
I received a lot of useful feedback which is always welcomed, so if you have any more or I wasn’t able to have a proper chat with you at finish, please let me know. Any feedback will help towards the next event as, despite the scars from stinging nettles and splinters, I would most definitely be happy to run another one! Finally, a massive thank you to Dion Bee and Emma Roberts who ran signing -on and collected the symbols after the crews. I really could not have done it without your support.

Diolch pawb!
Chloe.

Final Results:
1 - Tomi Williams and Peredur Davies
1 - Elis Matthews and Lee Matthews
3 - Stephen McEnhill and Simon Drakley
3 - Jill Clarke and Paul Clarke
3 - Merfyn Williams and Iwan Jones
3 - Iwan Evans and Sioned Evans
7 - Sion Matthews, Winnie Chen and Simon Chen
8 - Kyle Jones and Jacob Bolton
9 - Yvonne Matthews and John Evans
10 - Robin Jones and Sion Jones
11 - Jason Parry and Adam Burton

Information

This Navigation Run is the last of the season, but it is not part of the Winter Series, which finished with the March Hare Navigation Run. The Run is organised by our new club secretary, Chloe Thomas, and it's her first experience of organising and event for us. She is naming the event after her grandfather, who's birthday is in April. Chloe is being assisted by Dion Bee and Emma Roberts.
The start venue is at Llaethdy Glanrhyd, Glanrhyd Farm, Pentir, Bangor LL57 4EB. O.S. map reference 115/563 667¾; what3words ///aquatic.albums.bets. Llaethdy Glanrhyd is on the opposite side of the road to Glanrhyd Farm.
You will require map 115 (Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa) plus the usual navigation aids of poti, romer, pen/pencil, etc. Signing-on from 6:30pm with route handout from 7pm, and the entry fee is £10 per car.

Drivers and navigators need a valid club membership. Renew or join at Membership Application
Drivers and navigators also require a Motorsport UK competition licence of minimum grade RS Clubman. The RS Clubman licence is available free of charge at RS Clubman licence application