Following a really busy few months from the NM team an executive decision was made that we should all be “treated” to an afternoon out orienteering in Roundhay Park and post action food and drink at the Roundhay Fox. I think everyone was in agreement as to where the real treat lay in these two elements to the day. The first part of the task was to all meet at the carpark at Roundhay park for 2pm sharp – surely with what was planned for the rest of the afternoon an inability to do this would not bode well yet I regret to report not all were on time. When we had full attendance we had to prepare ourselves through a simple warm-up which turned out to be far from simple. After much leg-kicking arm throwing and hugging ourselves we were ready for part one of the event. We were split into four teams of three, each of which we were told had a mix of brain and brawn, although I’m sure I class as both!!

This team environment also got our competitive spirits going, which in all honesty doesn’t take much encouragement. The first task was, in my view, a mini version of the Worlds Strongest Man Atlas Stones event except instead of weights from 100 – 160kg we were to carry 12 – 40kg and instead of putting them on pillars we ran with them in a relay race style – so in essence probably not much like said event after all. Each team completed the course and there time was recorded with the quickest team supposedly having a head start in the second and main event – the fastest team consisting of Dan Kondras, Jonny Duke and Jeannette Hirst. After this we were given some much needed recovery time whilst learning how to map read. Each team was provided with a map of the park and a number of questions which had numerical answers which could be put together to provide co-ordinates of various points within the park where we could find clues leading to a final answer. A clever twist meant the slowest team in the warm-up event were given a 90 second head start and each team set off in 90second intervals with the fastest team leaving last as they had the pace to catch up.

We had 2 hours in which to get to all check points and record the relevant clue at the point before returning to the base camp to finish. All teams set off on their way to lakes, statues, trees and other landmarks around the park and as far out as Oakwood Clock. Just 59 minutes later the winning team of Helena Krzeminski, Emma Thomson and Tom Fordham returned having SUSSED IT! and got to all 10 landmarks to record the relevant letters and symbols which ingeniously spelt SUSSED_IT! After a while the three other teams slowly started drifting in one having not made it to all check-points, one having not been able to use a map and one that spent 30 mins looking for a check point which didn’t exist due to a slight technical glitch with a co-ordinate from the answer to an initial question. Celebrating finishing the task with water and a tracker bar we all discussed the fun and frolics that were involved, conducted some post match interviews (which hopefully will never be broadcast) and then were ready to hit the Roundhay Fox. The usual Network Marketing couple of quiet drinks and a sophisticated meal followed and off we all went for a well earned sleep oblivious to the aches and pains that lay around the corner when we woke. It was a great afternoon and delivered above and beyond expectations. Big thanks go out to Phill and the rest of the Out-Fit team who we’d recommend to anyone looking for an outdoor orienteering / team building event and congratulations again to the winning team on the day of Helena, Emma and Tom. See the videos here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv4we5bfdpM http://www.youtube.com/user/NetworkMarketingJobs#p/a/u/0/Nm-MoGV14QI http://www.youtube.com/user/NetworkMarketingJobs#p/a/u/1/nOy9nIFIRmk