Course analysis – Walbundrie Interclub (Moderate)

Following is a briefing for how to attack the Moderate course from Interclub #4 at Walbundrie on 9 July 2023.

Overall, the course was at the easier end of the Moderate scale but with route choice and care needed on some legs. And the easier legs are always good for practicing technique – those things you should be doing on harder legs but that are too overwhelming to practice on those harder legs.

Compare the notes below to how you’d run the course, or how you did run the course if you’ve already done so. Everyone sees things differently and a well-designed course will encourage different choices – the notes below are intended to give you things to consider and compare to.

Analysis

S-1	C	90 : earth wall, NW end Control circle: Not control very close to fence and on boundary of open (yellow) and densish forest (light green)
	A	Convergence of earth wall, fence and forest
	R	Either along or parallel to fence until attack point Track (thumb) distance travelled using obvious features: the prominent large tree (green circle with white border) in open area, right on the leg line, should be visible from long range is about halfway to control. Note there are two other earth walls near the prominent large tree but they are in open land; the earth wall with the control is located on the edge of a forested/treed area.
	E	Ensure heading up gentle slope, heading WNW parallel to fence
1-2	C	97 : fence-track crossing
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Fenceline
	E	W along fence
2-3	C	80 : fence-fence junction Catching feature: Track bend just after the control (S edge of control circle) – if you get to that bend you’ve gone too far!
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Fenceline as long as not too rough, otherwise longer route on vehicle track If using vehicle track, be sure to carefully watch for control after the track returns close to the fenceline
	E	S on vehicle track
3-4	C	81 : small knoll (high point) Catching feature: Track bend just S of control location – if you start turning back to the W you’ve gone past the control
	A	Control feature should be easily visible from track but note small patch of open ground (yellow) on opposite side of track – the control is next to the start of open ground
	R	Track (possibly cutting corners but minimal time saving given short distance) Keep track (no pun intended) of direction changes so you always know where you are along the vehicle track
	E	Up to track from fence then S and E along track
4-5	C	91 : fence-fence junction Control circle: Minor watercourse – control next to watercourse-fence crossing point
	A	Control itself or watercourse depending on route choice
	R	Either: directly downhill to fence then S to control, or more direct course along leg line, but “aiming off” a bit to the W so as not to miss the fence or earth walls (“aiming off” is a technique where you deliberately choose a bearing slightly to one side of the intended course to help ensure you intersect a collecting or catching feature rather than missing it – in this case, aim for the N end of the patch of green that extends from the NE edge of the control circle so you intersect either the earth walls or fence and don’t keep going too far south) If taking the direct route, continue to the fence or go to second (western) earth wall then along it, joining the watercouse and following into the control
	E	Downhill (west), possibly avoiding the green by heading S on the track from control 4 and veering off at the second bend (on the edge of the control 4 circle)
5-6	C	83 : path-fence crossing
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Three choices: ESE uphill along path to watertanks then SW along path to control, or SW along fence to fence junction then ESE uphill along fence to control, possibly cutting corner near the fence junction to save distance/time, or ESE a short distance uphill to the open area with patches of bare rock (yellow and light grey areas) then direct route to control, perhaps aiming off (see notes above) a bit to the S to avoid missing the control (i.e. aim to intersect the fence just west of the control) Option 1 is fairly safe so long as you keep orientated, especially around the water tanks (be sure to head SW from the tanks!). Option 2 is the safest but slowest. It would be best to head in a more southerly direction of control 5 until you intersect the fence and then up the hill to the control – this cuts the corner and saves time. Option 3 is the shortest and fastest and fairly safe as the fence that the control is located on is a catching feature – you can’t go over it by mistake.
	E	Either SW along fence or E uphill, looking for path and open area
6-7	C	92 : fence bend Control circle: Note path right next to control, also hilltop next to control
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Cross fence then S along path/fenceline, either: follow fenceline to control, which is easiest after 75 m of following the path along the fence, take the path to the W that then bends to the SW and then S to control Option 2 may be faster if running along the fenceline is rough or the bush in the patch of green (slow running forest) on the N edge of the control circle is denser than expected.
	E	Over fence then SW on path
7-8	C	62 : small knoll (high point) Control circle: Control at small knoll on top of earth bank. Catching feature: Fence to NW
	A	Track-path junction just S of control (in control circle, just 15 m from control)
	R	W along path, crossing flatish hilltop then path branch to N just before hill starts decending more steeply (note path junction is where the contours become more closely spaced). Follow path down slope to track junction then turn W for a short distance to attack point at junction next to control. Estimating distances will help avoid over-shooting a junction.
	E	W along path (not north!)
8-9	C	93 : path-fence crossing
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Vehicle track to S and then onto path heading SE to control, being careful to take take the correct turn at each junction.
	E	Out to junction and then SW on track.
9-10	C	94 : small knowll (high point) Control circle: Control next to vehicle track
	A	Not really required as feature next to track. But note track-path junction on W edge of control circle – only 35 m to control from this junction.
	R	Choice: S on the path downhill then along vehicle track behind residential areas. Turn E at the track junction just after the 90° bend. More direct along leg line, using the path or vehicle track near the control as a collecting feature. If taking the direct route, you will intercept either the N-S path or the E-W track; you need to know which one. You should be able to know from the direction but you can be sure by the slope: the N-S path goes down the hill (across the contour lines) while the E-W track goes across the hill (parallel to the contour lines).
	E	Downhill on either the path or a direct line, depending on route choice.
10-11	C	95 : minor watercourse Control is in a distinct gully
	A	Track bend within the control circle. Or use the small cliff (rock face) on the north side of the track (printed over the north line before the control circle).
	R	Along vehicle track to either attack point then veer east (down, across the slope) into the gully.
	E	E along vehicle track
11-12	C	96 : fence junction
	A	Track bend and fence corner next to each other, before the control circle
	R	Up gully to track or fence, continue to attack point (fence bend) then along fence to control
	E	Up gully
12-13	C	85 : fence, E end
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Cross fence. Easy/safe option is N along fence to junction with crossing point, turn E along fence to control. Shorter/faster route is direct: note contour halfway along leg line indicates a gully and looking between controls 13 and 14 there is a saddle. So the route is simply up the left/west side of the gully towards the saddle, noting a prominent large tree on your right/east part way along (don’t get too close to the tree, otherwise you’re too far in the gully!) Keep eyes up as control is likely visible from a long distance
	E	Cross fence then NE up side of gully
13-14	C	88 : earth wall, S end
	A	Pair of prominent large trees in saddle
	R	Through the large, broad saddle using either the indisinct path or keeping a bit to the left/west of the saddle. Aim for the western (left-hand as you approach) prominent large tree then veer a bit to the left/north to control, only 50-60 m ahead.
	E	Up slope towards saddle
14-15	C	89 : earth wall-minor watercourse crossing
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Along earthwall
	E	N along earthwall
15-F	C	F : open area at assembly point
	A	Not required (the control itself is obvious)
	R	Downhill along watercourse to get to open area then direct to finish which should be visible
	E	Downhill along watercouse