#JKMemories : Clive Allen’s JK Diary Snippets – the 1970s

By Clive Allen, Former Chairman of British Orienteering Federation

Through the 70s the JK format over 4 days was Training-Individual-Relay-Rundown Event. In 1974 ‘Rundown’ became ‘Relaxation’ – a better image, one could say, but see below.

Had entered a JK Rundown Event once when it was close to home in Sheffield, but first, serious JK was in Scotland in 1973, my first O-event north of the border. A very inauspicious start in the Training Event, after a 40-minute walk from assembly area – 45 minutes to control 1! Ran from Start along the wrong stream, south of intended one, and got badly lost. This was Drumore Wood, Loch Ard: diary entry says “very difficult terrain – high heather, crags, tussocky moorland and unbrashed forest.” So much for the planned confidence-boost!

Individual race: South Achray. Can still remember the long climb to the start. Two bad mistakes lost me about 15 minutes – ended 72 out of 92 on M21B, 94-01 for 5.9 km. But “an excellent run-in to the finish” – and the views were good!

Not only the first time in Scotland but also the first time out on the first leg in a relay! ‘White Rose Jets’ were me, Ken Foster (EBOR) and Bill Hodgson (Patons OC) in class D, 3 km legs, 39 teams. Frantic start found 1 and 2 more by luck than any judgement, then “poor route choice 2-3, overshot 5, then took a long way round for safety, 5-6”. We all know that kind of story. But mistakes were widespread; I reached the “excellent scenic but overcrowded” change-over in 16^th place. And we ended up 12^th, “fifth British team to finish, beat Sweden VI, Switzerland I, II and III and N. Ireland.” 2 or 3 pints of ‘heavy’ were downed with some satisfaction that evening, for sure.

Rundown Event was lovely, on “scenic moorland and bushy pasture” at Balmaha and Strathcashell on a 1:20,000 3-colour map. Leg 9-10 along the shore of Loch Lomond.

JK 1974: Forest of Dean, a big contrast in terrain to the year before. Individual race in Speech House North (same finish field as BOC 2015). 13^th out of 116 on M21B (11.1 km) and Championship Gold! Control 5 was in the wrong depression of two reasonably close together, with a different-numbered control in the ‘correct’ depression – there was a protest, but the course wasn’t voided. Relay on Brierley South: ran the first leg again for an AIRE team in Class A. “An extremely fast course … superb run-in to changeover point. Slow to no. 10 – unmarked ride in front of the control.” The team ended 74^th out of 102.

After 2 delightful days with fast times, the so-called ‘Relaxation race’ on Trelleck Common & Beacon Hill. 10.9 km took me 125.29, and the winner took 92.43! 40 finished the course and 23 retired. “A very hard event in continuously difficult terrain – fallen trees, heavy brashings and brambles throughout. Steep climb for one control only to drop right down again. Map (4-col., 1:20,000) lacked considerable detail and often gave a false impression of runnability.” Or maybe I was just tired?

JK 1975: Star Posts, near Crowthorne in Berkshire, hosted the JK Individual. The end of March: cold and cloudy, and still big patches of snow in the forest. “Mistakes due to going too fast at crucial moments.” (Still doing that, 45 years later.) Just in the top half on M21B. Relay at Hawley and Hornley Commons; very cold on open assembly area (an old runway, if I recollect right), and it snowed heavily after the event. Ran leg 3 in Class A with Mike Smithard and Alistair Wood. “Complex area but very runnable, mistakes easy… well out for 9 (pit in featureless area), wrong area of forest for 10 (parallel feature) …”, but still pulled up 6 places!

Learnt the hard way in the Relaxation race, on Gallowstree Common in the Chilterns on a warm and sunny morning, that when rhododendron/juniper is shown on the map with full green it really is impenetrable. 5 minutes getting drenched for 10 metres of progress – 1 minute if I had gone round. Otherwise “an enjoyable run through beech woods and some plantation.” But the best bit of the day was the lunch and pint of Brakspears in ‘The Reformation’ with some West Cumberland folk afterwards, prior to the long drive home.

The JK 1976: quality Lake District terrain in lovely Eskdale – Dalegarth East and Dalegarth West. East for the Individual. First time in M21A, and 47^th out of 105 – Gold standard, well satisfied. “Very misty conditions on the moor, fine navigation essential in very detailed terrain … a lot of awkward walls and fences.” The AIRE relay team of Wood/Smithard/Allen ended 33^rd out of 96. “Very rocky (Dalegarth West) forest and a lot of uphill slog … bright, muggy day. Slow on last two and allowed Mike Wimpenny to get 5 seconds ahead.”

Relaxation race at Greystoke Forest: did a short course with 9-year-old daughter Sue (now an active W50), her first JK event. 

Back ‘down south’ for the JK 1977 edition. Training in Lower Bourne Forest – “pleasant, runnable” – then to Leith Hill for the Individual. 11.5 km with 480 m climb on M35A was too much for a very painful big toe, injured when it got trapped between rocks at Harrop Tarn 2 weeks earlier, so retired. “General view that course was too long … cold bright day with snow showers. Start ran 20 minutes late.” (Didn’t write down why). The relay in Eartham Wood, “a rather featureless beech wood, most controls either depressions or unusual trees (holly or yew).” Ran the last leg for a scratch AIRE team. Shadowed Sue in the Relaxation event – at Mytchett Common.

And so to JK 1978: a wholly different experience, as Event Director!

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