The Bubba Goat and Mini Goat are a southern orienteering tradition that rotates randomly between clubs in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. This year FLO stepped up to the plate to host the event.
The Goat events are copied on the highly popular annual Billy Goat event held for over thirty years in New England largely fun and social with enough competition to make it interesting.
By piggybacking on the same weekend as the Florida Orienteering Championships this year's Bubba attracted a large percentage of out-of- state orienteers and local adventure racers. Unfortunately many FLO regulars gave it a pass.
Twenty-one orienteers started and finished the Bubba Goat and nine its Mini-Goat alternative. After a preliminary 'handicap score orienteering' section Bubba participants changed maps and headed out for a 16 control, 13.8km course where each could leave out one control. First to the map exchange was David Onkst of Quantico OC followed closely by Sarah-Jane Gaffney of the UK. They and four others will able to use their handicap advantage to beat eventual winner, Nick Barrable of the UK to the exchange.
Barrable, who Florida orienteers might want to nickname Nick 'Incredible' after his fantastic races on the weekend, charged past all the competition, declined the option to miss out one control and finished the Bubba Goat in a time of 1:37:40. Second place went to Florida's David Ashley, better known in AR circles as 'Dash'. His time was 2:18:34, 41 minutes behind Barrable. Onkst took third just behind Dash. Sarah-Jane Gaffney (2:19:41) placed fourth and top female.
The Bubba Goat race is less about finishing first than it is about beating the three hour time limit. Here is where this race director had an uncommon case of mushy heart. Here is what happened: FLO orienteering stalwart Bob Putnam had test run the course a few days earlier and had taken 2:45, 15 minutes less than the scheduled cut-off. What could I do? Shorten the course? That would take away important route choices, allow participants to leave out more controls? More loss of route choice. Instead I just lifted the time limit. All who completed the course would earn the coveted tee-shirt. All completed their course, included two who took some less than optimal route choices and missed out on an official time. The final finishers walked in after 5 hours, three and a half after Barrrable. Good on them!
By contrast the 8 km Mini Goat was a quick event with lots of cooperation and a short time spread. Co-winners were Auri and Fabianna Copetti of Brazil in 1:27:50.
Two winners from Britain, two from Brazil? Come on FLO what happened to 'home field advantage'? Being gracious hosts seems to be more important.
We reached another milestone at this event when Tracy Acuff was the 48,000th person to finish at a FLO event! (our 286th event)
Big thanks to Steve Fluegel and LIse Hunter for stepping up to provide meet support, Jerry Sirmans and James Nici for help picking up the far-flung controls after the event.
Gord Hunter
Event Director
Related Links:
Photos - Lake Louisa - FLO Championships - 8 Dec 2012 Video - Lake Louisa - FLO Championships - 8 Dec 2012 Photos - Bubba Goat - Lake Louisa - 9 Dec 2012 Video - Mini Bubba Goat - 9 Dec 2012 Video - Full Bubba Goat - 9 Dec 2012 Master Map - Bubba Goat - Lake Louisa - 9 Dec 2012
| Name | Club | H'Cap | Prelim | Time |
| Nick Barrable | UK | 0 | 17:10 | 1:37:40 |
| David Ashley | FLO | 0 | 21:20 | 2:18:34 |
| David Onkst | QOC | 2 | 13:28 | 2:18:48 |
| Sarah-Jane Gaffney | UK | 2 | 14:20 | 2:19:41 |
| Tom Strat | QOC | 1 | 15:00 | 2:35:55 |
| Yuri Bulka | 1 | 18:00 | 2:42:18 | |
| Gareth Hearn | FLO | 0 | 24:26 | 2:42:45 |
| Bob Putnam | FLO | 3 | 15:25 | 2:45:15 |
| Ron Eaglin | FLO | 1 | 24:26 | 2:50:04 |
| Mike Minium | OCIN | 2 | 15:00 | 2:50:35 |
| May-Li Cuypers | FLO | 3 | 18:37 | 2:51:45 |
| James Nici | FLO | 3 | 17:36 | 2:51:47 |
| David Waller | 1 | 27:00 | 2:56:32 | |
| Jim Gorton | FLO | 0 | 24:21 | 2:59:04 |
| Taipo Halme | Finland | 2 | 15:20 | 3:04:43 |
| Allen Van Valkenberg | FLO | 0 | 28:50 | 3:11:25 |
| Greg Owen | FLO | 1 | 24:35 | 3:11:31 |
| Oliver Walser | FLO | 0 | 28:50 | 3:11:31 |
| Tracy Acuff | FLO | 3 | 20:42 | 3:48:44 |
| Donna Fluegel | FLO | 4 | 47:32 | 5:03:11 |
| Leigh Thomas | FLO | 3 | 47:30 | 5:03:11 |
| Vicki Bishop | FLO | 47:32 | 5:03:11 | |
| Jim Carr | FLO | 2 | 17:50 | NTR |
| Name | Club | Time |
| Copetti Auri | Brazil | 1:27:50 |
| Copetti Fabianna | Brazil | 1:27:50 |
| Rowley Kevin | FLO | 1:30:36 |
| Rowley Susan | FLO | 1:30:36 |
| Sirmans Jerry | FLO | 1:30:36 |
| Bruneau Ray | FLO | 1:30:36 |
| Onkst Heidi | QOC | 1:40:03 |
| Shane Rick | GAOC | 1:40:03 |
| Cichonski Mark | COK | 2:03:00 |
| NTR | No Time Recorded |