Shamrock Hunt Orienteering – Sunday, March 15 – Event Recap
The winds were howling, branches were falling, and thorns seemed hungry for shoelaces and sleeves or bare flesh — but that didn’t stop over 125 brave adventurers from diving headfirst into this year’s Shamrock Hunt!
From the very first punch, the forest was alive with the sounds of hope, determination,
and
the occasional “Wait… where IS control 7?!”
Participants battled swirling
gusts, twisting trails, and those mysterious map symbols that always look far more
obvious during
the briefing than they do in the wild.
The Joy of the Hunt
There were triumphant shouts echoing through the trees as runners spotted a bright orange-and-white flag just when they feared they’d overshot it. Compass needles were trusted, instincts were sharpened, and more than a few athletes sprinted in with grins that could outshine the sun. Along with a few frowns!!!
The Agony of the One That Got Away
But of course… every great orienteering story has a villain.
For some, it
was that control — the one hiding in a thicket, tucked behind a fallen log, or perched
on
the far side of a ravine that definitely looked smaller on the map. Many came close, circled, re‑calculated, and
muttered to themselves — only for it to slip away like a mischievous leprechaun guarding its treasure.
The forest won a few rounds… but the spirit of the runners never broke.
A massive shout‑out to our incredible volunteers from Bellbrook AFJROTC and the Boy Scouts, as well as Mike Minium, Matt Bond, Larry Berna, Nate Smith, and many others who kept the event running smoothly despite the chaos nature threw at us.
This year’s Varsity Green Individual performances were truly exceptional — some of the best we’ve seen! Once all results are finalized, we’ll move ahead with presenting the Junior Championship awards, including the four legendary traveling trophies.
Race Director: Ross Kidwell & Matt Bond
(Ross
steering his very first orienteering event — and doing it like a pro!)