South West Britain ?

[oui oui]

as much as I thought the lack of 'uphill' at the last OMM was the only minus point, I hope it is Dartmoor.

I've never been and would probably never visit the place unless there was an event on there.
I'd expect some good hard navigation there 

and whilst it's about as far away as it gets from where I stay, Dartmoor would be a fair choice for anyone living in the south of England - afterall, they've shown more dedication over the years getting to events 'up north' , so this would be fair reward.

[boathund]

 Running on Dartmoor can give some interesting route choices even for the linear courses. You would not get many long deep tracks through the bogs like last year. Plenty of old mine workings for tricky controls if your nav is not spot on.
 True the climbs are not as long as some other areas but they are tough and its easy to run up the wrong valley.
 

[Hank]

I'd put money on Dartmoor.

Looking forward to the drive home already.

[Toreador]

Dartmoor would be a fair choice for anyone living in the south of England - afterall, they've shown more dedication over the years getting to events 'up north' , so this would be fair reward.

The opportunity to get up north should be reward enough

[Jon Brooke]

IF it's Dartmoor, that's a bit hard on Devon Orienteering club, who put on their Dartmoor long-O a month before the OMM.

They bill it as an OMM warm up, and in fact in recent years have got together with Quantock orienteers to put on 2 long-Os back to back on the weekend specifically for MMers.

Maybe IF it's Dartmoor, someone from the organisation should get onto Devon OC and tell them that half of their regular competitors will be banned from taking part this year !!!

Or maybe they could make sure the areas don't overlap so that people can still do both.

[Hank]

Interesting...

Although I'm not sure the OMM will seek to ban orienteers who happen to be doing O events on Dartmoor in the lead up to the event. Seems a bit harsh to me. Of course, it could well be of some advantage to those people, but I think that's just good luck for them. I'd be a bit miffed if someone told me I couldn't take part if I was a local orienteer (which unfortunately I'm not!). Also, the controllers and planners for the events are probably already in place. If they happen to be OMM competitors that's a tricky situation, especially as they'll know the area inside out.

[lickandapromise]

Damn, just don't know what to do. SW Britain was first interpreted as Dartmoor and after last years huge disapointment I vowed that if I got another warning like "lack of climb", I would not enter. However, the prospect of Brecon is tantalising.

[Lucy]

IF it's Dartmoor, that's a bit hard on Devon Orienteering club, who put on their Dartmoor long-O a month before the OMM.

They bill it as an OMM warm up, and in fact in recent years have got together with Quantock orienteers to put on 2 long-Os back to back on the weekend specifically for MMers.

Maybe IF it's Dartmoor, someone from the organisation should get onto Devon OC and tell them that half of their regular competitors will be banned from taking part this year !!!

Or maybe they could make sure the areas don't overlap so that people can still do both.

Think this eventutality has already been thought about as Long-O I believe has been scheduled for Hay Tor and Hound Tor which is isolated from the rest of the moor so wouldn't be part of the potential competition area. And if I have to run non-competively it wouldn't spoil my enjoymeny of the event, you still get listed in the results so whats the difference for 95% of competitor. 

[ellis]

although omm 2009 had its good points (usual fantastic organisation etc.) the area used ensured it will never go down as a classic. however beautiful Dartmoor is, will 2010 leave me with the same sense of anti-climax? after the incident in the lakes with "1800 unaccounted for" are there now tight constrictions on the organisers as to where these events can be held(insurance reasons). This event has Mountain in its title.

[Toreador]

Take a look at the locations of past events
http://www.theomm.com/forum/index.php?topic=65.0

The KIMM/OMM has always gone to both steep hilly areas like the Lakes, or Arran, or Arrochar; but also gentler terrain, like the Southern Uplands, or the Cowal Peninsula, or even (1982) Dartmoor.

If it's dramatic mountains you're after, go for the LAMM, or perhaps the SLMM. The OMM will often take you to places you probably wouldn't otherwise visit - which to my mind is one of it's advantages.

[Lucy]

although omm 2009 had its good points (usual fantastic organisation etc.) the area used ensured it will never go down as a classic. however beautiful Dartmoor is, will 2010 leave me with the same sense of anti-climax? after the incident in the lakes with "1800 unaccounted for" are there now tight constrictions on the organisers as to where these events can be held(insurance reasons). This event has Mountain in its title.

There can't be restrictions as that would be the same for the LAMM and SLMM for insurance purposes, but there are restrictions from landowners and tennant farmers on an event this size.  The OMM always has been to places where other MM don't, I think an OMM on Dartmoor every 28 years is justified and rewards all those Southerners who make the journey up north every year. (heres to a year off, hopefully)  I think people should enter, try it then pass comment.  I think many people seem to be unestimating the nature and challege of the terrain on Dartmoor.  Remember the Royal Marines believe it to be challenging enough to use it for their 30 miler element of there basic training.  So if it is Dartmoor then people should get down here and give it a go then give some constructive feedback.  See you on the start line. 

[Toreador]

I'm still not convinced it's going to be Dartmoor - but then again my success rate in guessing mountain marathon locations is currently 1 almost correct out of about 16

[gnarlyoldgoat]

I think that the "Dartmoor Mountain Marathon" (run by EnduranceLife) originally to be held last year, but now rescheduled to July 2010, has probably caused some confusion amongst OMM competitors.
Also for consideration: I've heard there are murmurings amongst the farming community in the Brecon Beacons. So all is most certainly not cut and dried.

[Hank]

I heard a rumour that it would be Dartmoor from a reliable source prior to the official "south-west" announcement, so I'm sticking with that. Also, what chance Wales two years on the bounce?

I don't know either Dartmoor or the Brecon Beacons, so both would be new to me. Brecon Beacons is a little less far to drive though!

[Toreador]

My "reliable" source told me somewhere entirely different! So was probably winding me up, or maybe it's where they're going next year...