Sunol Regional Wilderness 2009

By Mark Blair

My "weather kharma" is well known in BAOC. Whenever I'm the director of an event, you can usually count on the storm of the century to show up and put a wet blanket on everyone's day. I attempted to send Mother Nature a different kind of signal this year, but apparently I overdid it. Not only was there full sun all day long at the Sunol event, but temperatures actually climbed into the 90s (Fahrenheit). Oh well. Better smoking than soaking.

But the heat forecasted for that Sunday didn't seem to drive away the compass-wielding multitudes. Some 171 participants turned out to romp in the wildflower-strewn forests. As far back as I can remember, we've always made a point of setting the "standard 7" courses at Sunol: White and Yellow courses for beginners; an Orange course for intermediate-level navigators; and Brown, Green, Red, and Blue courses for advanced competitors. This year was no exception; tradition lives on.

It's always a challenge to engineer courses at Sunol. Deep streambeds form impassable barriers that crisscross much of the area, making it difficult to thread courses through that aren't too long or too short, and which aren't too physically taxing or dangerous. Considering what they were up against, first-time course setters Theo Verhoeven and Luc Poppe handled this challenge fairly well. One leg on the Brown course (#5 to #6) forced runners to cross a streambed at a fairly steep-walled point, and was perhaps a little too physically daunting for a course of this type. Yet only a single competitor on that course failed to make it through this leg. (And I suspect that's only because he DNF'ed to be a good guy and return in time to perform his volunteer duty. Thank you!) The Yellow course, though not overly difficult, took most competitors a lot longer than usual. But again only a single competitor failed to finish.

Enough excuses. Let's highlight some of the competitions:

On the White course, Daniel Sebo and COOL (California Outdoor Orienteering League) regular Elena Belk were fairly close as they placed first and second, with Karina Masalkovaite, another longtime COOL competitor, leading the rest of the pack.

Only 3 seconds separated the winning team of Garry & Linda Martinez from second-place COOL runner David Harrison on the Yellow course. Both these teams/individuals finished a full half hour ahead of the rest of the Yellow runners, led by veteran BAOC/GCO orienteer Marsha Jacobs. San Diego Orienteering's Matej Sebo ran the Orange course in less than 1 hour. Andy Belk and Fedor Karpelevitch were not far behind in second and third place.

On the somewhat greuling Brown course, 13 runners finished the course, but 11 did not. Dennis Wildfogel, senior sprintmeister of BAOC, powered through faster than anyone else in about an hour and 7 minutes. He was followed by Nicolay Chukamov and Rob Gendreau.

On the Green course, finish times were more closely spaced. Blas Lopez, a relative newcomer to BAOC from Spain, finished first. In what might be considered a minor upset, contourologist Kent Ohlund edged out the youthful Ben Legg as they finished second and third.

Winning times were even more closely spaced on the Red course, with Matthias "The Cheetah" Kohler powering to victory in an hour and a half. Steve Gregg, ever the competitor, was right on his heels with a second-place finish two minutes later. Third-place Alexander Brunette roared in two minutes after that.

The entire event's most stunning exhibition of sheer athletic force came from Mikkel Conradi, who blasted through the Blue course to win in a mere hour and 11 minutes, only to turn right around in the heat and run the Green course in a time that (if we put second course times in the same list with first course times) would have been the winning time on that course as well! Awesome, Mikkel! We are not worthy! Jonas Kjall finished the same course 4 minutes after Mikkel, which is also pretty awesome. Dennis Wilkinson bagged third place.

At 1:30 PM, in the shade under the oaks near the Registration, BAOC held its Annual General Meeting. Club president Nick Corsano highlighted club activities and accomplishments of the past year. All four of the past year's club officers (President: Nick Corsano; Event Coordinator: Alex Finch; Secretary: Trinka Gillis; Treasurer: Steve Beuerman) were officially re-elected for another year. Longtime BAOC club member Gavin "Scout-O" Wyatt-Mair made a presentation and fielded questions concerning his proposal for BAOC to be at the center of a USOF effort to hold the 2013 Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) in California.

The volunteer spirit in BAOC never ceases to overwhelm me. I've never seen or known of anything like it in any other volunteer organization. At our local events, where there's always so much to be done, I actually have to turn down people who offer to help because someone else has already volunteered for the task!

Let's roll the credits for Sunol ...

James Wilson heroically handled the event Registration all by himself right up until the close of Registration. Even though we offered to relieve him, he would hear of no such thing. Unfortunately, this didn't leave him sufficient time to complete his own course. Thank you, James!

The ever-industrious Jim Fish helped with early setup of the sunshades and then manned the White/Yellow start for periods of time throughout the day. Gavin Wyatt-Mair also ran this start during all the remaining time.

Steve Gregg, a teacher by trade, held his trademark Beginner clinics for orienteering newcomers.

Harold DeMoss singlehandedly manned the Finish line all day long.

Rosemary Johnson, Jeff Lanam, and Toby Ferguson monitored the SPORTident GeBE splits tag printer and helped put result tags on the results display line.

Thanks to Bob Cooley and the BAOC Cartography Center, as usual, for incorporating our myriad map changes and printing the maps.

The citizen army of volunteers retrieving control markers included Denise Catalano, Greg Ehrensing, Toby Ferguson, Jim Fish, Peter Graube, Steve Haas, Darlene Harte, Francois Leonard, Nancy Lindeman, Marie-Josee Parayre, Laszlo Varga, and Kelly and Marley Wells.

Finally, I'd like to give special thanks to my two course setters Theo Verhoeven and Luc Poppe. In their very first effort at course setting, they took great pains to refine and sometimes redo the courses to fit the extensive technical guidelines, making many badly needed map updates in the process. The final 7 courses, while a bit on the difficult side, were quite successful overall. Theo and Luc also jumped into a number of spur-of-the-moment volunteer duties on the day of the event. Thanks, guys.

Pl  Name(s)                           Time

White Course   (2.0 km, 60 m climb, 10 controls)

   1  Daniel Sebo                       26:48
   2  Elena Belk (COOL)                 27:16
   3  Karina Masalkovaite (COOL)        31:09
   4  Rory Maclean (COOL)               32:07
   5  Sarah Petersen (COOL)             34:18
   6  Gabija Masalkovaite (COOL)        35:13
   7  Katie Petersen (COOL)             38:21
   8  Danya Karpelevitch                43:56
   9  Kate Tennant                      44:52
  10  Johanna Karras                    44:55
  11  Laszlo Varga                      52:30
  12  Ivan Korolev                      54:03

      Amity Binkert                     DNF  [1]
      Eileen Candelaria                 DNF  [2]
      Henry & Aaron Ha                  DNF  [3]
      Topper                            DNF  [4]
      Adrian Ng, Wendy Yeung            DNF  [5]

Yellow Course  (2.8 km, 120 m climb, 12 controls)

   1  Gary & Linda Martinez             50:35
   2  David Harrison (COOL)             50:38
   3  Marsha Jacobs                   1:20:10
   4  Stelka Marinova, Vida Swallow   1:27:01
   5  Ben Levine, Gina Steele         1:28:26
   6  Isabel & Christina Souto        1:29:54
   7  Derrick L., Vivian C.           1:35:37
   8  N. Rajagopel, V. Hanharan       1:37:47
   9  Penny, Daniel, & Kelly Martinez 1:50:42
  10  Shakondi Jackson, Lou Poitras   1:53:17
  11  Judy Koehler, Nancy Thomas      1:54:39
  12  Steegmans                       1:56:58
  13  Emma Shelton / Troop 206        2:09:34
  14  Cuong Nguyen                    2:13:49
  15  Brian House, Minh Dan Vuong     2:19:02
  16  Brent & Kurt Werder             2:21:05
  17  Ernesto Duque                   2:22:32
  18  Amelia & Jack Nugent            2:23:40
  19  Jimmy Chung (COOL)              2:47:06

      Ben Fedorov                       DNF  [6]

Orange Course  (4.0 km, 225 m climb, 15 controls)

   1  Matej Sebo (SDO)                  59:18
   2  Andy Belk                       1:06:59
   3  Fedor Karpelevitch              1:10:57
   4  Nick Giori                      1:13:49
   5  Nathan Binkert                  1:45:48
   6  Cecil Conkle                    1:48:10  (estimated Start)
   7  Eglute Martisiute (COOL)        1:57:25
   8  Henrique Miranda                2:02:00
   9  Sarah & Shannon Prior           2:21:37
  10  Laurens Fein                    2:24:41
  11  Lyubov Solomakha                2:29:04
  12  Luke & John Martin              2:39:41
  13  Kevin Walker                    2:56:50
  14  Randy Brett                     3:02:37

      Randy Borland                     DNF  [7]
      Patty Mueller                     DNF  [8]
      Paul & Kathy Li                   DNF  [9]
      Dave & Nina Kamalsky              DNF  [10]
      Jennifer Pang, Kelvin Cheng       DNF  [11]

Brown Course   (3.8 km, 195 m climb, 15 controls)

   1  Dennis Wildfogel                1:07:55
   2  Nicolay Chukamov                1:22:00
   3  Rob Gendreau                    1:29:08
   4  Devin Prouty                    1:36:43
   5  Ana Herreros                    1:52:12
   6  Michael Robinson                1:57:54
   7  Terry Gleason                   1:58:03
   8  Patty Clemo                     2:01:46
   9  Trevor & Gery Swallow           2:17:56
  10  Gwen Juha                       2:24:46
  11  Evan Custer                     2:27:13
  12  Jan Vanhoutte                   2:38:29
  13  Vic Revenko                     3:28:00

      Jeff Lanam                        DNF  [12]
      Ken & Ben Considine               DNF  [13]
      Jim Fish                          DNF  [14]
      Pia Kamlan                        DNF  [15]
      Nick Corsano                      DNF  [16]
      Leslie Minarik                    DNF  [17]
      Brian Tennant                     DNF  [18]
      Rosemary Johnson                  DNF  [19]
      Bjorn Widerstrom                  DNF  [20]
      Gary Kraght                       DNF  [21]
      Nancy Lindeman                    DNF  [22]

Green Course   (5.4 km, 270 m climb, 16 controls)

   1  Blas Lopez                      1:09:39
   2  Kent Ohlund                     1:11:10
   3  Benjamin Legg                   1:12:12
   4  Ido Green                       1:16:44
   5  Rex Winterbottom                1:17:52
   6  George Minarik                  1:19:14
   7  Misha Lipatov                   1:26:51
   8  Steve Haas                      1:28:54
   9  Bob Cooley                      1:34:13
  10  Mark Petersen                   1:36:59
  11  Gavin Wyatt-Mair                1:37:03
  12  Dan Greene                      1:37:24
  13  Greg Ehrensing                  1:42:07
  14  Shura Kretchetov                1:55:28
  15  Kevin Schoenfeld                1:56:15
  16  Chuck Spalding                  1:57:43
  17  Leon Berzins                    2:00:56
  18  Kelly & Marley Wells            2:04:36
  19  Bill Meldrum                    2:08:14
  20  Amri Wandel                     2:08:47
  21  Trinka Gillis                   2:10:50
  22  Tan Nguyen, John Gieng          2:16:02
  23  Johanna Merriss                 2:20:20
  24  Bud Laird                       2:27:22
  25  Judy, Tom & Zoey Cronin         2:28:50
  26  William Straka                  3:06:11
  27  Kevin Hinkley, Terri Hunt       3:23:02

      Jennifer Kerr                     DNF  [23]
      Debbie Wojtowicz                  DNF  [24]
      Stephanie Maclean                 DNF  [25]
      Lauren MacMullan                  DNF  [26]
      Michelle Daher                    DNF  [27]
      Janet Petersen                    DNF  [28]

  Second Course

      Mikkel Conradi                  1:03:11

Red Course     (6.5 km, 345 m climb, 16 controls)

   1  Matthias Kohler                 1:29:30
   2  Steve Gregg                     1:31:31
   3  Alexander Brunette              1:33:48
   4  Werner Haag                     1:34:44
   5  Travis Parker                   1:37:47
   6  Derek Maclean                   1:45:55
   7  Peter Graham                    1:48:01
   8  Manfred Kopisch                 1:57:26
   9  Steve Harrison                  1:59:44
  10  Lubomir Sebo                    2:09:58
  11  Bob Strauss                     2:16:16
  12  Joe Inkenbrandt                 2:39:35
  13  David R. Emme                   2:59:43
  14  Marina Keating                  3:39:59

      Mattias Vangbo                    DNF  [29]
      Russell Neilson                   DNF  [30]
      Tapio Karras                      DNF  [31]
      James Wilson                      DNF  [32]
      Eric Rosenzweig                   DNF  [33]

  Second Course

      Laszlo Varga                      DNF  [34]

Blue Course    (7.1 km, 420 m climb, 19 controls)

   1  Mikkel Conradi                  1:11:09
   2  Jonas Kjall                     1:15:22
   3  Dennis Wilkinson                1:43:59
   4  Toby Ferguson                   1:45:09
   5  Joe Maffei                      2:03:36
   6  Alex Finch                      2:12:54
   7  Peter Graube                    2:26:40
   8  Heidi Stenner                   3:04:08

      Andrejus Masalkovas               DNF  [35]
      Tokuro Yamaki                     DNF  [36]
      Lisa Tracy                        DNF  [37]

_______________

Notes:

1. Skipped controls #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10.
2. Skipped controls #6, #7, #8, #9, #10.
3. Skipped controls #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10.
   Mistakenly punched control units 60, 61, 62, 60, 126.
4. Skipped control #3.
5. Skipped controls #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10.
   Mistakenly punched control units 62, 63.
6. Skipped controls #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12.
7. Skipped control #3.
8. Skipped controls #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
9. Skipped control #2.
   Mistakenly punched control unit 61.
10. Skipped controls #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
11. Skipped controls #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
12. Skipped controls #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
13. Skipped controls #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
14. Skipped controls #11, #12, #13, #15.
15. Skipped controls #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
16. Skipped controls #9, #10, #12, #13, #15.
17. Skipped controls #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
18. Skipped control #13.
19. Skipped controls #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #13, #15.
20. Skipped controls #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
21. Skipped controls #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
22. Skipped controls #10, #11, #12, #13, #15.
23. Skipped controls #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
24. Skipped controls #11, #13.
25. Skipped controls #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
26. Skipped controls #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
27. Skipped controls #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
28. Skipped controls #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
29. Skipped controls #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
30. Skipped controls #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
31. Skipped controls #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
32. Skipped controls #7, #13, #14, #16.
33. Skipped controls #13, #14, #16.
34. Skipped controls #11, #12, #13, #14, #16.
35. Skipped control #10.
36. Skipped controls #16, #17, #18.
37. Skipped controls #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19.