Harry Goldingay on the Saturday Orienteering events and the need to get more club members involved in planning, organising and helping.

In the last edition of Pacemaker I looked back over what, in spite of the horrors of foot and mouth, has been a reasonably successful year for Happy Herts. The recent AGM was my first anniversary as club chairman and I would like to use this space to record my thanks to the whole committee, especially the three retiring members: Susie Hall who has worked so hard at publicity, Robin Barris who captained us so well and Gerry Elliott who has managed and coordinated our events programme over a very difficult period.

Where we have been less successful is in encouraging 'new' people to help, organise or plan at events. We had hoped that the Saturday Orienteering would attract the uninitiated but at the moment all the events are being run by one or other of the old stalwarts. If you have never helped or organised or planned, why not come along to the Verulamium event on 1st December, see what is involved in running things on the day and talk to me about being involved in one of the other low key events over the next few months. Alternatively ring me or email me at home (see page 2 for details). The committee will make sure you have a 'mentor' who will work with you, offering advice and assistance as needed.

The major event for the club in the coming year will be the National Event in Burnham Beeches in February. This is being organised by Neil and Jenny Gostick who have already appointed their team leaders but will need lots of other help. Why not ring and volunteer? [Details in the fixture list on page 31]

The National Event was nearly cancelled because of foot and mouth and other problems, but has now been given the go-ahead. During the negotiations, it appeared that English Nature, who are responsible for the Site of Special Scientific Interest status of Burnham asked the organisers to confirm that runners would 'keep to rides and major footpaths'. This was in order to minimise serious disruption to the wildlife. The organisers were fortunately able to persuade English Nature, via the Corporation of London who own the site, that this was not necessary, but it does illustrate the dilemma of our sport, which thinks of itself as environmentally sound. I think orienteers are generally concerned for the environment but often don't appreciate that, whereas 2 noisy hooligans on moto-cross bikes may sound awful to us, 500 well behaved and quiet orienteers may, in fact, do much more harm.

With this in mind, the committee has invited the BOF environmental officer Doug Kennedy, to speak at the club dinner on Friday 23rd November. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear the views of our governing body on the issues and to put to Doug any questions you might have. I look forward to seeing many of you at the dinner. [It is not too late to come - see page 15]