Our final City Race was held in the streets, parks and squares of elegant Bloomsbury, on a pleasant Sunday morning. We started from Birkbeck University at Torrington Square – coincidentally, exactly where Ian’s great grandfather and other family members lived for many years. He could have watched the whole event from his front doorstep. No doubt he would have been bemused to think that his great grandson had come to London over 100 years later, to compete in an orienteering race in the very same neighbourhood!
Torrington Square, arena for the final City Race, and former home of Ian’s great grandfather George
Ian on the doorstep of no 31
Today’s map was the easiest of the three, as the university was not too complex, and much of the course was in adjacent streets, as well as the pleasant parks and squares, including Russell Square, that Bloomsbury is famous for. You could almost picture the Georgian era nannies stepping out of the front of their Regency houses, and taking a turn around the park with their young charges.
Russell Square
Woburn Square (with control). George and the family would have spent many hours here
It was probably just as well that it was the shortest and easiest race, as neither brain nor legs were working too well. Our streeto skills came to the fore as we dodged taxis, buses, pedestrians and cyclists. Fun was had, and we thought the whole weekend was excellent. Here’s the wrap-up, and here’s a photo from yesterday as I struggled up a set of stairs beside the Thames.
Friday – Ian 12th of 44 in Mens Super Vets; Deb 12th of 17 in Womens Super Vets
Saturday – Ian 34th of 105 in MSV; Deb 39th of 63 in WSV (best result)
Sunday – Ian 13th of 49 in MSV; Deb 22nd of 34 in WSV (best result)
With orienteering gear packed away again, we are busy planning how to spend our last couple of days in London, and indeed on the trip. Or maybe we’ll just wander, in the hope of finding more random weirdness …
A Corinthian capital emerging from the footpath (naturally)
dipidydoo 