Possum Trot XII Meet Report
Bluffwoods Conservation Area
December 7, 2008
Submitted by Dick Neuburger, Meet Director

Well...it's official!  The Possum Trot is now a world-renowned event.    While we have had international visitors before (from Japan, England, Sweden), they have just happened to be in Kansas City for other reasons.  It started last year when 4 Manitoban orienteers came down I-29 from Canada.  Now, we have had someone come from halfway around the world just to compete in The Possum Trot.  Igor Postica travelled from Moldova (north of the Black Sea and bordered by Romania and Ukraine), to compete in Possum Trot XII.  Igor is on the national team of Moldova.  Their orienteering season had ended and the coach was looking for some additional competition opportunities.  Thank you, World Wide Web!

And there was another “first” for The Possum Trot.  Joe Barrett, age 12, became the youngest to complete a Possum Trot.  Joe did very well too, finishing 9th out of 38 competitors.  Our oldest orienteer, Mike Shifman, presented Joe a “Special” award for his accomplishment.

Possum Trot XII was another successful event.  The weather was almost perfect: fair skies with the temperature of 23 degrees at the start warming to 44 degrees at the end.  The refreshments after the run were perfect for a late fall day: hot potatoes and chili, cooked by Reta Roe, and Nick Hockman’s hot cider.

The 38 competitors were allowed to skip 2 non-consecutive controls.  There were no DNF’s (Did Not Finish) this year.  The results were listed in order of 2 skips, 3 skips, 4 skips, etc.,  so everyone got at least 56 all-time Possum Trot Standing points.  Maybe we’ll keep this tradition up.

Eric Buckley, of St. Louis Orienteering Club (SLOC), won his first “dead possum” in 12 attempts and moves into first place in the all-time Possum Trot Standings.  He is one of 3 that have attended every Possum Trot since 1997.  Justin Bakken, from Minnesota Orienteering Club (MNOC), was 2nd, about 7 minutes behind.  Igor Postica, from Moldova, was 3rd, 6 minutes behind Justin.  It should be noted that Igor went to all controls.  We’re not sure whether he didn’t understand the rules about skipping controls, or if he just wanted to get as much orienteering in as possible, having travelled so far for the event.  Pete Curtis, MNOC, and Michael Eglinski, OK, rounded out the first five finishers.

Ann Shafter-Skelton, SLOC, won her 2nd “dead possum” in as many tries.  She finished 8th overall.  Julia Bohnen, MNOC, was 2nd, 29 minutes behind Anna, and Sharon Crawford (RMOC), was 3rd.  Molly Moilanen, MNOC, and Melissa Kelley, SLOC, rounded out the first 5 women.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers: Mike Shifman, course setter; Reta Roe, registrar, chief cook, control pickup; Nick Hockman, hot drinks, control pickup; Paul Clatterbuck, vetter, results, control pickup; Peter Gogol, results; Norm King, firebuilder; Mary Jones, vetter, control hanging; Susy Stephens, Connie Carpenter, Geena, Nancy Neuburger, vetter, control pickup.
See you next year!