About Southdowns Orienteers
Orienteering is an exciting, challenging sport that involves competitive navigation, usually in woodland or on open hillside. Each competitor uses a map and compass, choosing their own way, to find the red and white flags at the sites indicated by red circles on their map. Southdowns Orienteers is a friendly club offering local events throughout Sussex.
(Update September 2008) - Southdowns Orienteers offer midweek training sessions with the Southdowns Adventure Running Club. These sessions have a varied format, but generally all have running and navigation elements to them. A great opportunity to socialise, keep fit, and hone navigation techniques.
Posted by Chris Curtis on 19th Nov 07
Membership Details
Southdowns Orienteering Club (known as SO) is a friendly and active club covering the whole of Sussex in the South East Orienteering Association (SEOA). We organise many events during the year with all details and locations displayed on the Events section of the website. The best way to find out about us is to come along to an event where you will receive a very warm welcome and plenty of help to get you started.
Membership types
There are two main levels within British Orienteering – Local Membership and National Membership. You can choose to join us a senior (21 or over), junior (20 or under and students) or as a family (parents/guardians of young persons under 25).
The benefits of being a Local Member are:
* Eligibility to compete in all National, Regional and District events in all regions.
* Discount (£2) on entries to all national, regional and district events within the SEOA region.
* Insurance cover (liability to 3rd parties) at events registered with British Orienteering.
* Bi-annual newsletter from British Orienteering.
* SO’s own magazine, ‘The Southdowner’ about 5 times a year.
* Access to a National Badge and Ranking schemes.
* Access to a ‘Navigational Challenge’ and ‘Racing Challenge’ incentive scheme.
* Ability to vote at British Orienteering’s AGM.
* Free entry to all SO events for SO juniors.
* Discounts from national companies through the member benefits scheme.
* Participation in all SO events including training, street events, night events, the SOGallopen and Sprint series with their league tables, social events etc
Additional benefits of being a National Member are:
* Quarterly issue of the British Orienteering magazine, Focus.
* Discounted entry to National, Regional and District events throughout the UK.
* Opportunity to qualify to represent your country in international competitions.
Special Offers to new members of British Orienteering:
Your first year’s local membership of BO is free so you would just pay the SO club element of the fee. In addition, if you join between 1st September and 31st December 2011, your membership will run through to December 31st 2012 so 16 months for the price of 12!
Fees for 2012
The club element of subscriptions remains unchanged, there has been a small increase in the British Orienteering Levy and the SEOA Levy has been reintroduced at the following rates:
Juniors £1.00, Seniors £3.00 and Families £5.00.
Annual subscription for 2012: Junior, Senior, Family.
BO Local (year 1 only)
£4.50, £10.00, £15.50.
BO Local
£5.50, £21.25, £35.00.
BO National
£10.25, £35.00, £51.50.
2nd Club members
£4.00, £9.00, £14.00.
(For orienteers already members of another club.)
JOIN HERE
For new members and 2nd club members please contact me through the contacts page here.
For existing members please join online here.
Posted by Bridget Hooper on 27th Sep 11
SI at Events - Help Schedule
We use SportIdent (SI) electronic controls at events. For this, we set up a laptop for entries, downloads and results at each event.
If you would like to offer your help with this, please see the Help Schedule for SI at Events.
Posted by Paul Wilson on 22nd Aug 10
SO Clothing (Club Kit)
Southdowns Orienteers club colours are blue and yellow. Our club kit officer is Chris Jepson. Chris can provide a range of items for running (e.g long and short sleeved tops) and general clothing (fleeces, tee shirts, hats etc.). Chris can be contacted through the Contacts Page..
Southdowns “O” Kit
Club Kit on sale at a recent event. Chris doesn’t often take the whole range to events. Please contact her if you’d like her to take specific items to an event.
NB. All the items of clothing are available in various sizes (unless otherwise stated) please ask the Kit officer for advice on sizing.
Orienteering Clothing
– Royal Blue and Yellow
Fastrax Tops
Yellow Southdowns “Running Man” logo on front (Chest Left Hand Side). Yellow horizontal “SOUTHDOWNS” name on back.
Winter Long Sleeve £20.00
Summer Short Sleeve (NEW!) £22.00
Trimtex Trousers £20.00
General Clothing
– Navy Blue (some Royal Blue) with Yellow embroidered SO club logo
Fleeces
Mens (heavier weight fabric) £17.60
Ladies (lighter weight fabric) £14.00
Hoodies
Child (5-13) £8.00
Large Child (14-15) £9.50
Adult £12.00
Various
Childrens (or small adult!) Tee Shirt £4.00
Hats (one size) £3.90
Fleece Bands (one size) £3.20
Polo Shirts £6.50
Prices correct Dec 2009, but subject to change - Please confirm when ordering.
Click on the photo thumbnails for larger images.
More photos of kit items coming soon - please visit this page again.
Posted by Peter Chapman on 12th Dec 09
Event Procedure
What to do when you go to an orienteering event.
Event Procedure
What to do when you go to an orienteering event.
Orienteering Event Procedure
What You Need:
Essentials: Yourself(!);
Clothes for walking/running round a wood (N.B. full leg cover);
Your entry fee and S.I. dibber hire fee.
Preferables: A whistle for summoning help (only in an emergency);
Safety pins to attach the control descriptions; Compass.
You May Need (for a very low key event): A pen (preferably red); A clear plastic bag to protect
the map.
NB most SO events now provide maps with courses already printed on and are printed on waterproof "paper" - check pre-event details.
What You Need to Do: Ask if you
need additional help.
1. Choose a suitable course. Yellow is intended for absolute
beginners or juniors. A confident beginner would probably be able
to manage the orange course, which is mainly intended for junior
improvers or inexperienced orienteers who want a not too
technical run. Sogaloppens have yellow, orange, green and blue
courses, other Colour coded events have a larger range of courses
from short and technically easy to long and technically difficult.
2a. Pay at the at the registration car. In exchange for
your entry fee you may receive a special orienteering map (if
this has been pre-marked with a course you will receive this map
at the Start) together with a S.I. dibber and hire form for a
dibber if required*, and if you require postal results an
envelope (please return this addressed to yourself).
* If you are not members of an orienteering club write IND (short
for "independant") next to "CLUB". The class
is your gender (M for men and boys or W for women and girls)
followed by your orienteering age as shown in this table (for
2011):
2b. Then go to the S.I. dibber 'computer
registration' with your completed hire form to register your
dibber through a control box for use at this event, here you will
receive a control description sheet for the course you are doing.
| *Born
in |
Orienteering
Age |
Born
in |
Orienteering
Age |
| 1932
- 1936 1937 - 1941
1942 - 1946
1947 - 1951
1952 - 1956
1957 - 1961
1962 - 1966
1967 - 1971
1972 - 1976
|
75 70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
|
1977 - 1990
1991 - 1992
1993 - 1994
1995 - 1996
1997 - 1998
1999 - 2000
2001
after 2002
|
21
20
18
16
14
12
10
Your Real Age
|
If the maps are pre-marked paragraphs 3,4 and 6a are not
applicable.
3. You may need to copy map corrections from a map probably
near registration or the start, if there are changes to the area
since the map was produced. You only need to copy the corrections
relevant to your course.
4. When you are ready take your map, compass, red pen and
dibber to the Start. Colour coded event start times are sometimes
allocated at registration.
5. On the way to the Start there will be a control box on a
metal post labeled 'Clear' You must place your dibber in
this until there is a beep and a flash, so that it is ready for
use (takes about 5 secs). There will also be a 'Check' control at
some point before you Start. (This is to ensure that your dibber
has been cleared).
6a. You will then need to copy your course from the
appropriate Master Map. Carefully copy down the correct course
onto your own map. The triangle is the start and the double
circle the finish.
6b.For SOGaloppens the start and finish are usually fairly
close together. For other events they may be some distance a part.
Controls must be visited in the sequence on the control
description sheet for most events. Then go to the Start official
who will tell you when you can go.
7. You then put your dibber in the Start control and proceed
around the course, navigating the course in control order. At
each control (marked by a red and white flag) place your dibber
in the control if the control does not bleep and flash use the
pin punch on the stand and punch the map.
8. When you finish put your dibber in the finish control. Then
proceed to download which will be near the 'computer
registration'. Report to the download even if you don't
complete the course. If you do not have time to complete the
course return preferably via the finish to download. The
course closing time is usually on the control descriptions. For
SOGaloppens it is by default 12.30pm. unless stated otherwise.
9. Most Important: Have a good time and enjoy your
orienteering.
10. After the Event.
Have a look at the Results on the web http://www.vuggles.co.uk/results (usually available by the same evening) and look forward to some more orienteering adventures: Look at Southdowns Orienteers Fixtures.
return to membership home page
Posted by Jaquie Drake on 19th Jan 09
Clubmark
Southdowns Orienteers have achieved Sport England Clubmark accreditation. Clubmark is the Sport England cross sport quality accreditation for clubs with junior sections. Clubmark accreditation is awarded to clubs that comply with minimum operating standards in four areas:
The playing programme.
Duty of care and child protection.
Sports equity and ethics.
Club management.
For the list of relevant documents please see below:
Club Constitution
Child Protection Policy Statement
Equity Policy Statement
Code of Conduct for Participants
Code of Conduct for Officials and Volunteers
Code of Conduct for Parents/Carers
Junior Club Rules
Accident and Incident Policy
BOF Risk Assessment Form
Parental Consent Form
Posted by Neil Crickmore on 11th Mar 08
Club History
Southdowns Orienteers was formed in December 1976. For the last ten years SO has won the South East League and for the last seven years SO has reached the final of the Compass Sport Cup Final (National inter-club competition), the highest placing being 2nd in 2003. SO has produced British Champions in a wide range of age groups (and the occasional World Champion!). This list points out a few highlights along the way.
2011
June Club Handicap Champions: Senior: Jack Leitch, Junior: Charlie Waghorn.
May Jonathan Crickmore selected to represent GB in the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Portugal.
May Jonathan Crickmore selected to attend British Orienteering’s Talent Fulfilment Camp in July in Slovenia.
May JK Champions near Sheffield: M18E Jonathan Crickmore, M70L: Roger Maher.
2010
Nov 100th Club Night celebrated in Hove.
Aug Lakes 5 Days Champions: W65L: Bridget Hooper, M75L: Roger Maher.
Aug Jonathan Crickmore selected to run for GB at the Junior European Cup in September in Scotland.
July Alan Velecky selected to run in the Veteran Home International in Wales.
June British Sprint Champions: M12: Edward Lines, W40: Julia Jarvis.
June Club Handicap Champions: Senior: Karen Ashworth, Junior: Jamie Waghorn.
May Harvester Relay Champions at Eridge Old Park: Men’s Handicap: Jonathan Crickmore, Peter Chapman, Darrell High, Neil Crickmore, Kenny Leitch, Nicholas Jarvis, Alan Velecky.
Women’s Handicap: Rachel Collins, Elizabeth Bridge, Chris Jepson, Lucy Thraves, Julia Jarvis
April JK Champions in Devon: Women’s Short Open Relay: Rachel Collins, Shona Masson, Lucy Thraves, Combined Age Under 40: Alistair Masson, Matthew Leitch, Nicholas Jarvis.
2009
Dec SO win the SN Trophy for the best club at their Mytchett event.
Oct OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) Winners: Long Score Class: Darrell High (after many 2nd places) & Nigel Bunn (TVOC), Short Score Class: Jonathan Crickmore (just old enough to compete in his first mountain marathon) & Nick Barrable (SAX).
Oct Southdowns Orienteers finish 4th in the Compass Sport Cup Final in Rockingham Forest, Northamptonshire.
Aug Alan Velecky is selected to run for England at the Veterans Home International in the Peak District in November.
July The following juniors are selected for Summer Tours: Lagganlia: Shona Masson, Badaguish: Lucy Thraves, Halden: Jonathan Crickmore.
START Squad: M15: Jonathan Crickmore, W14: Lucy Thraves.
June Club Handicap Champions: Senior: John Morris, Junior: Jack Leitch.
April JK Sprint medals: W35 Gold: Julia Jarvis, M18E Silver: Jonathan Crickmore.
JK Champions M16: Jonathan Crickmore, Men’s Short Open Relay: Alan Velecky, Darrell High & Jonathan Crickmore.
Jonathan Crickmore awarded the “Best Male Performer” at JK 2009.
Mar Six trophies are won in the British Championships in the New Forest.
British Individual Champions: W75: Mary Fogo, M70: Roger Maher, M40: Alan Velecky, M16: Jonathan Crickmore.
British Relay Champions: Women’s Short Open: Laura Pearson, Julia Jarvis, Elizabeth Bridge. Men’s Short Open: Kenny Leitch, Alan Velecky, Jonathan Crickmore.
Jan SO achieve Clubmark accreditation.
Jan British Night Champions at Mytchett. W16: Rachel Collins, W20L: Bryony Crickmore, W65L: Ruth Rhodes, M18L: Jonathan Crickmore.
2008
Dec SO Junior Squad come third in the National Finals of the Yvette Baker Trophy at Sandringham.
Oct Jonathan Crickmore (M15) and Lucy Thraves (W14) are selected for the British Start Squad 2008/09.
Oct Jonathan Crickmore gets a podium place in the long distance and in the relays at the European Youth Championships.
Oct Lucy Thraves receives the Margaret Loveless Trophy in the SE Middle Distance Championships.
Sept SONiC (Southdowns Orienteers Night Cup) competition begins in Hawywards Heath.
Sept SO Junior Squad win the Joan George Trophy at the Peter Palmer Relays in Leeds.
Sept SO Club Night at Blatchington School, Hove is launched.
Aug Rachel Collins is awarded the Peter Burt Trophy for the most improved orienteer in SE England.
July Elizabeth Brown wins her second W90 Gold medal (in the long distance discipline) at the World Masters Orienteering Championship. More detail in this news item..
June Elizabeth Brown wins W90 Gold medal at World Master Sprint Orienteering Championship (held in Portugal).
June Anna Chapman selected to represent England in the W35 class at the Veteran Home Internationals (taking place in N. Ireland in October 2008). Andy Parkinson (M55), Alan Velecky (M40), and Julia Jarvis (W40) also selected as non-travelling reserves.
May Rachel Collins and Lucy Thraves are selected to go on the Summer Tour to Lagganlia and Jonathan Crickmore to the tour in Bagaduish.
April Kenny Leitch, Alan Velecky and Jonathan Crickmore win the British Men’s Schort Course Relay Championship in Culbin, Scotland.
April Jonathan Crickmore takes gold in the 14-15 age group in both the select race and the middle race at the World Schools’ Championship in Scotland.
March: Jonathan Crickmore and Neil Crickmore win gold at the JK Sprints in Guildford.
Feb: OO Trophy winners - Roger Maher (Senior Men), Edward Lines (Junior Men).
Feb: Junior Southern Champions - Edward Lines (M10), Nicholas Jarvis (M12), Jonathan Crickmore (M16).
Feb: Lucy Thraves (W14), Julia Jarvis (W35) and Jonathan Crickmore (M16) are selected to compete in the Interland Competition in Holland.
Jan: SO win the SE round of the CompassSport Cup.
2007
Dec: SO win South East League.
Dec: Neil Crickmore becomes the SE Male Veteran after winning at White Downs. The Jarvis family win the SE family competition.
Nov: Jonathan Crickmore selected to compete in World Schools’ Championships in Scotland in 2008.
Nov: Edward Lines (JM2) wins the OK Nuts Junior Trophy at the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Nov: Jonathan Crickmore wins the ISF World Schools’ Selection Race at Gore Heath, Dorset.
Nov: SO Southern Champions.
Day: Nicholas Jarvis (M12), Julia Jarvis (W35).
Night: Jonathan Crickmore (M16), Bryony Crickmore (W18).
Nov: British Schools Champion at Bovington: Year 10 Jonathan Crickmore.
Oct: Kenny Leitch, with his partner Keith Masson, win the long score event in the Original Mountain Marathon in Southern Scotland.
Oct: SO come 8th in the Compass Sport Cup Final at Blidworth.
Oct: Nicholas Jarvis (year 7) wins gold in the British Schools’ Score Championships in Petworth Park.
June: Inauguration of the Sussex Sprint Championships organised by Rob Lines.
June: Southdowners of the Year - Kieran and Gillian Devine.
May: British Champion at Pwll Du: M14A Jonathan Crickmore.
May: Jonathan Crickmore wins the M14 trophy at the JK in the Forest of Dean.
May: Junior tour selection: Lagganlia junior tour - M14 Jonathan Crickmore.
April: Elizabeth Bridge selected for the GB Moutain Bike Orienteering team.
April: Silva Award for professional mapping - Roger Maher.
Feb: Jonathan Crickmore and Julia Jarvis selected to run for England in Belgium.
Feb: England team selection: Interland - Jonathan Crickmore.
Feb: SO win South East Night League.
2006
British Champions at Woolbeeding:
M14A Jonathan Crickmore, W70L Mary Fogo, Women’s Short Relay - Elizabeth Bridge, Anna Chapman, Julia Jarvis.
British Night Champion at Hawley & Hornley: W16 Bryony Crickmore.
England team selection:
Home Internationals - Jonathan Crickmore, Vince Joyce, Julia Jarvis, Alan Velecky. Interland - Bryony Crickmore and Clare Howes.
Junior tour selections:
Bryony Crickmore and Clare Howes selected for the M/W16 Summer Tour to Halden.
SO come 8th at the Compass Sport Cup final in Blidworth.
SO juniors come 12th in the Peter Palmer relay at Sutton Park.
SO juniors come 11th in the Yvette Baker Trophy at Newbury.
SO win South East League.
SO win South East Night League.
SO hold first Mobile Phone-O at Tilgate Park.
SO organise British Championsips individual day at Midhurst. Organisers (Barrie and Sue Pearson), planners (Neil and Sue Crickmore), mapper (Roger Maher) and many other SO helpers.
Sprint-O introduced to Park-O events.
Southdowner of the Year - Michael Merritt.
2005
Dec: Juniors come 4th in Yvette Baker Trophy final at Sherwood Pines.
Dec: Selected to represent England in Interland 2006: W35 Julia Jarvis, M35 Alan Velecky, M50/55 Vince Joyce.
Dec: Winners Southern Night Championships at Bulford Ridge: JM5L Matt Franklin, M35L Darrell High, M40L Neil Crickmore.
Dec: Hooper/Chapman Family win SE Families competition at Banstead Heath.
Nov: Nick Jarvis wins the OK Nuts Junior trophy at Esher Common.
Nov: Alan Velecky competes for England in the Veteran Home Internationals.
Oct: Ali High competes for Wales in the Senior Home Internationals in Ireland.
Jul: Vince Joyce wins the Silver Medal at the World Masters Championships in Canada.
Jun: SO win the junior Harvester Trophy at Pillar Woods, Lincs.
May: Nick Jarvis (M10), Jonathan Crickmore (M14), Matthew Franklin (M20), Margaret Kent (W65) and Mary Fogo (W70) all become Southern Champions at the Winterfold National Event.
May: The World Cup comes to the South East and SO organise the biggest event in it.
Mar: Darrell High, Vince Joyce and Alan Velecky come 2nd in the M120+relay at JK.
Mar: Jonathan Crickmore(M12) and Mary Fogo(W70) become JK Champions.
Mar: SO become South East Night League champions, and Vince Joyce and Neil Crickmore get 2nd and 3rd place.
Feb: SO win preliminary round of Compass Sport Cup again in blizzard conditions at Banstead Heath. (We finish 7th in the final at Clowbridge, Burnley).
Feb: SO win SE Score Championships at Holmwood Common.
2004
Dec: Jonathan Crickmore wins the OK Nuts junior trophy at Hankley Common.
Nov: Mary Fogo and Katie Howes win the senior ladies and junior ladies OO Trophies at the GO event on Chapel Common.
Oct: SOG events regularly exceed an average of 100 competitors.
Sep: Liz Bridge, Bridget Hooper and Mary Kent become Southern Champion’s in the Caddihoe Chase at Longleat.
May: SO win the Junior, Women’s and Handicap trophies at the South East Relays on Wimbledon Common.
May: SO Juniors and Ladies win trophies at The Harvester all night relay in Pippingford Park.
Apr: Elizabeth Bridge selected for the Junior World Championships in Poland, in July. Lucy Jepson is a reserve.
Mar: SO are through to the CSC Final for the third successive year! (We finish 4th at Pillars Post in Lincolnshire in May).
Mar: SO win SE League for the 7th consecutive time, equalling the South East record!
Feb: Bryony Crickmore selected for Interland at the GO National event.
Feb: SO win the SAXONS Shield! Vince is M50 British Night Champion.
2003
Nov: SO win SN Trophy for the 2nd year running. Lucy Jepson wins OO Trophy at GO Ambersham event.
Oct: Lucy Jepson and Luke Parker selected to run for England at the Junior Home International in Ireland.
Oct: Elizabeth Bridge selected to run for GB at the Junior European Championships in Germany.
Sep: Andy Parkinson selected to run for England at the Veteran Home International in Scotland.
May: Elizabeth Bridge selected as 1st reserve for Junior World Orienteering Championships in Latvia.
Mar: SO win 1st round of CSC for second year running! (We come 2nd in the final at Shouldham Warren in June).
Feb: Elizabeth Bridge selected for the ‘Interland 2003’ in Holland.
Jan: SO win the SE Score Championships at Long Valley!
2002
Dec: 2 page article about the club in CompassSport!
Nov: 25th Anniversary meal in Henfield.
Nov: Lucy Jepson is Year 12 British Schools Champion.
Mar: Club wins SE round of Compass-Sport Cup, eventually finishing 4th at the delayed Final on Titterstone Clee in November.
Jan: Lucy Jepson selected as reserve for British Schools team for World Schools Championships.
2001
Dec: Lucy Jepson is Year 11 British Schools Champion.
Oct: Vince Joyce is M45 British Champion! Stan ‘Envirocare’ Williams dies.
Feb-July: Foot and Mouth disease causes cancellation of ALL orienteering events.
Feb: SI equipment bought in conjunction with other SE clubs.
2000
Jul: Club web-site revamped.
May: Club is awarded £4380 lottery grant!
1999
Dec: SO trial ‘Emit’ electronic punching at Broadstone Warren Colour-coded event.
Apr: The Club provides ‘man’power for the JK at Holmbury & Leith Hill. Dave Peters is co-planner.
1998
Oct: We reach the (semi) finals of the Compass-Sport Cup held in Northumbria!
1997
Oct: Simon Ross selected for the GB Junior Squad.
Aug: Vince Joyce selected to run for England at the VHI.
May: Membership fees rise by up to 300%!
1996
May: Constitutional change allows Treasurer to stand for 6 years. Only the Chairman and Secretary are now limited to 3 years.
May: Dave Thompson elected President.
1995
Mar: The title ‘Southdowns Trophy’ is dropped from the clubs annual badge event.
Jan: SO has a homepage on the Internet.
1994
Dec: Founder member Fred Fraser dies.
July: Membership cards are distributed for the first time.
Mar: Club assists with BOC in Charlton Forest.
1993
Jun: 3-in-1 competition launched (as a follow-up to the infamous 1987 to 1989 M25 O-Ringen?).
May: Spring-in-the-South events in conjunction with SAX. (Subsequently with MV as well).
May: Mapping software OCAD purchased.
1992
May: Organised National event 3 and badge events at Friston. Much criticism received as to suitability of terrain for a National event.
1990
Sep: Permanent course opens at Lancing.
Aug: Founder member Dave Thompson moves away from area (to Milton Keynes and SMOC).
1989
Jun: Constitutional change to release non-Principal Officers from the ‘3 year rule’ .
Jun: Last SD10 due to falling receipts, rising costs, Brighton by-pass, organisation problems. (The last marathon was in 1984).
Apr: Vince Joyce ranked Number 2 in Ireland.
1988
Oct: 10 Oak and Beech trees planted at Stanmer (near the entrance lodges).
Apr: Run training day at JK at Selhurst Park. Roger Freeman is planner for individual day in Charlton Forest. SO provide early morning manpower for JK relays at Longmoor.
1987
Oct: Great Storm wrecks many areas. (Remember those lovely mature pines at Eartham?). 10th Anniversary dinner in Hove.
Sep: 2 day 10th Anniversary event at Houghton & Rewell. (Remember the rain on day 1?!). First appearance of ‘Chanctonbury Ring’ logo (by Linda Kelly).
Mar: Club made aware of industrial and residential building proposals in Tilgate.
1986
Sep: Free ‘Devil’ badge issued with every Southdowner!
1985
Oct: SO largest club in SEOA. 191 members out of a total 1500 in 10 clubs.
Sep: Orienteering is introduced to the ‘Inter-Town Festival of Sports’, an annual competition between Crawley, Horsham, Bognor, Worthing and Brighton & Hove, involving 12 sports.
Jul: Low-key summer events introduced. (Forerunner of Park-O’s).
Jun: Steve Ovett wins SD10 in record time (53.45).
Mar: Margaret Kent is on the front cover of ‘Compass-Sport’!
1984
Sep: SOGaloppens are officially launched. SO league is now dropped. (This was based on members performances in SE events and had been running since the start of the club).
1983
Sep: Full page article about the club appears in ‘The Orienteer’.
Aug: Ansaphone installed.
Jul: The ‘Devil’ wins by 2 votes, over ‘The Long Man’ as the club badge design, (there were 25 other entries!), although it is another three years before the badge appears!
May: Major involvement with BOC at Broadstone. (The Finish was located in a marsh!).
1982
Oct: We lose on a tie-break to SLOW in the first round of the very first Compass-Sport Cup!
Sep: Saturday morning training and novice events introduced. (Forerunner of Sogaloppens).
1981
Feb: Bob Glover elected President. He was the Principal of Portslade Community College.
Feb: SO joins ABBA. (Against Brighton By-pass Association).
1980
Feb: Dave Thompson made Vice-President and member for life! Elizabeth Brown wins W65 at the British Championships, her first of many National titles.
1979
Jun: SD10 Hill race and 3 Forts Marathon launched, based at Portslade.
1978
Aug: Dave Thompson and Roger Maher ‘star’ in the BBC TV programme ‘The Brain Game’.
Dec: E. Browns first Boxing Day event, later to become the annual Xmas Score event!
Feb: First SO Badge event ‘The Southdowns Trophy’ at Eartham Wood. Planners Steve Jarvis and Malcolm McNeill. It was so cold the orange juice froze at the finish!
1977
Oct: Permanent course at Stanmer opened by Steve Ovett.
May: Club badge design by K Robinson approved.
Apr: SO take over SAX involvement with JK Relays at Eartham Wood.
Feb/Mar: SAX CaTI events at Shaves Wood (Feb) and North Park Wood (Mar) renamed as SO events!
Jan: Inaugural meeting held at Portslade Community College. First newsletter noted that we had 47 members. By March this had risen to 118!
Jan: First SO event, at Stanmer Park. (The very first event at Stanmer was held in July 1974 by SAX).
1976
Dec: Formative meeting held by western members of SAXONS.
Posted by Anna Chapman on 27th Oct 07
Event Types - Club
SOGs are friendly club events where children and newcomers are very welcome. Yellow and Orange courses are suitable for children to run on their own with a bit of practice. Adults are welcome to shadow children until they are confident to go on their own. Green and Blue courses are run or walked by any age group - you can race competitively or just enjoy the woodland.
There are two series of events - autumn and spring, of approximately 10 events each.
Registration: 9.45 to 10.45 (Please no latecomers!)
Start times: 10.00 to 11.00
Courses: Yellow (1.5km), Orange (3.0km), Green (4.0km), Blue (6.0km).
Technical difficulty: Easy (yellow) to hard (Blue). See Planning Guidelines.
Courses close at 12.30.
SO members fees (please show membership card): SO Seniors £3.00, SO Juniors free.
Non member fees: Seniors £4.00, Juniors £1.00. Extra maps 50p.
Results: Published on the web, or SAE.
Electronic punching (SI) usually used. ‘Dibbers’ available for hire.
Help on the day always appreciated.
Visit the Contacts page if you would like more information.
Directions and any other final information on club answer-phone 01903 239186
Series Winners Information:
Best 6 to count for Blue and Green, best 4 for Orange and Yellow. Course winner gets 50 points, second 49, third 48 and so on. 48 points awarded to event planner/organiser. For Blue and Green, series certificates awarded to first man, first woman, first male veteran, first female veteran, first male junior and first female junior. For Orange and Yellow series certificates are awarded to first three on each course.
Orange and Green Series senior winners are expected to move up a course, or be non-competitive for the following series.
Veterans are M/W55 and older
Juniors are M/W20 and younger
Posted by Admin on 01st Sep 07
RouteGadget
A web utility for drawing and comparing orienteering routes
This is an online utility for competitors to draw and compare their routes. RouteGadget not only shows the routes, it allows the race to be replayed, even simulating a mass start. You will actually see little squares run across the map.
Jarkko Ryyppö developed the Gadget as a hobby and offers it for free for non-commercial use. Jarkko has also been very helpful in resolving minor problems with the implementation. Visit his website.
You can also visit routegadget.co.uk for more information, help and tutorials.
How To View
The Gadget is quite intuitive and easy to use. It also has its own set of instructions. Here’s a short summary to give you a quick start:
- First you need to select an event.
- To view a race animation, you need to ‘Choose class/course’ select the course you want to view.
- You can move the map around by pressing and holding down the left mouse button somewhere on the map while moving the mouse in the desired direction. Now, locate the start triangle.
- Next, ‘Choose competitors’ whose routes you would like to view. Select up to 10 people who have drawn their route (those with a ‘*’ at the start of the name).
- To start the animation, press ‘View animation’ button, select ‘Mass start’ option (on by default), and press ‘Start’ button. Small squares representing the different competitors should start from the triangle.
- During the animation you can move and zoom the map. You can also increase/decrease the animation speed with ‘Speed+/Speed-’ buttons.
- You can also view the competitors’ routes, splits, and comments by clicking on ‘Show route’. Smooth scaling improves the quality of the image when you zoom out.
How to Draw
- Check the box "Draw your route", which is located in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Choose your class and name from the lists that appear when you check the box.
- Locate the starting point (the triangle) on the map. You can move the map around by pressing and holding down the left mouse button somewhere on the map while moving the mouse in the desired direction.
- Draw your route from the starting point to the first control by clicking the left mouse button in places where you changed direction. (The program will create a continuous route between these points that you plot.) Your route is drawn in red. The blue line shows the direction to your next control. When you have created a point close to the center of the ring marking the control, the Blue line switches to the next control. If you make a mistake while plotting the points, you can go back one or more points at any time by pressing "undo".
- Snap on/off, turn it off if you want to plot points near the centre of the control circle, otherwise it automatically snaps it to the centre.
- You can also move the map while drawing your route: Press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse in the desired direction.
- Draw your entire route from start to finish.
- When you have reached the finish, and you are satisfied with the result, type some short comments in the comment field and press "Save route".
Additional suggestions:
- The Gadget spreads your time out evenly along the route that you draw for each leg. This may not be accurate, particularly if you had trouble with any part of the leg. If you wandered around in some location make sure to include a lot of fine detail in your drawing, even if you don’t know exactly where you were. This will appear to slow the animation in that area (and not on the part of the leg where you did well). You can also artificially introduce a pause if, for example, you stood for a minute relocating. You can show this by creating a small tick mark across your route and oscillated back and forth in place on the tick mark for awhile when you are drawing the route. Then the animation will also appear to pause at the same location. You can press the +3sec button once or more to add your thinking time at a particular point.
- In some cases the routes will speak for themselves, but there is also a comment field for you to use. You can write to the comment field when you think of things while you are drawing your route. This can be particularly helpful for beginners looking at the animations and wondering what was going on. Was the route planned or accidental? If it was planned, what was the thinking? Make sure to include the leg number in the comment since the comment is associated with the entire course. For example:
- 1-2: Aimed for the fence corner to use it as an attack point.
- 4-5: Accidentally drifted much lower than planned. Saw the road and turned.
- 5-6: The undergrowth seemed much slower than mapped. So I switched to the stream bed for a faster route.
- 9-10: Was planning to use the trail bend to attack, but found the boulder and used that instead.
- If you make a mistake before you save it you can use the UNDO button to go back. If you realize that you made a drawing mistake after you have saved it contact the webmaster to have it deleted
See which events are available for you to view/plot route choices..
Posted by Admin on 01st Jan 07
Event Types - General
Orienteers can attend a wide range of different types of event including club, district, regional, national, championship and international.
CLUB EVENTS
These are small and informal and usually take place on Saturday mornings. SO organise these events for club members and beginners to the sport. Membership of British Orienteering is not necessary for these events during your first year. Subsequently all participants are required to become National or Local British Orienteering members. They are advertised in the Southdowner and on the SO ansaphone (see below for number). Examples of these events are the SO Gallopen series, where points scored at each event are combined to find the individual winner of the series over the whole season. Further information on these events can be found here.
There are several different types of events, which may be held as Local Events, either as part of one of the series or as individual events. Some of these are described below.
DISTRICT EVENTS
These events are open to all and will normally offer a range of colour coded courses. Colour coding is designed to provide comparability between the course standard at different events i.e. a green course at a SO event should be similar in length and technical difficulty to other green courses in Britain. Open events can always be entered on the day of the event (EOD).
Seven colours are used with each colour representing a certain level of difficulty (both technical and physical). The darker the colour the longer and harder the course. These courses are therefore not related to age as are the BOF National badge scheme courses.
| Colour |
Distance |
Difficulty |
Average finishing
time |
| White |
1 - 1.5K |
Very easy, written instructions |
30 mins |
| Yellow |
1.5 - 2.5K |
Easy, novices, line feature controls |
25 - 40 mins |
| Orange |
2.5 - 3.5K |
Easy, progressing novices |
35 - 55 mins |
| Red |
4.5 - 6K |
Medium, longer, simple route choice |
50 - 80 mins |
| Green |
3.5 - 5 K |
Hard, short, technical problems |
35 - 55 mins |
| Blue |
5.5 - 7K |
Hard, long with technical problems |
50 - 70 mins |
| Brown |
8K+ |
Hard, physically and technically |
60 - 80 mins |
REGIONAL EVENTS
These are medium-sized events, the timing of which is coordinated by the Regional Associations (SEOA in our case), the results sometimes are used to calculate the Club Leagues. Each Orienteer scores points for the club depending on his/her position in the race. A Regional/Badge Scheme also operates.
NATIONAL EVENTS
High class orienteering events which test the orienteering ability of the leading competitors in each class. Open to all National British Orienteering members.
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
High class orienteering events to decide the British Champions in each class. Open to all National British Orienteering members who hold a British passport or have been present in the UK for at least three of the six months preceding the competition.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
A variety of levels of competition for all orienteers from the elite to the novice. Southdowners regularly travel abroad to compete. Recent trips include Portugal, France, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Hungary.
Posted by Jaquie Drake on 01st Jan 07
Lyme Disease and Ticks
Jason Simpson, the Scottish Orienteering Sports Science Convenor has written a detailed article about Lyme Disease and Ticks. You need to read this if you ever go out in the forest!
Posted by Admin on 01st Jan 07
Organisers and Planners Resources
SO is keen to encourage new organisers planners and helpers. It’s a great way of meeting people too. If you are interested in organising, planning or helping at an event please contact the relevant SOG officials’ co-ordinators to register your interest and get some guidance:
North – Peter Chapman
East – Mike Baron
West - Michael Merritt
For help with planning your event contact your SOG event coordinator:
North - Vince Joyce
East - Mike Baron and Tom Crossett
West - Dave McTurk
The following guidelines give you an overview of what is involved:
The guidelines are in an Adobe Acrobat PDF file or MS Word document.
If you click on the icon it should open in your browser. If you want to save it onto your PC, right click and select ‘Save Target As..’ from the menu.
Planners Documents
Planning Courses for SO Events
Course planning using OCAD 9
Course planning using OCAD 8, OCAD 9 or Condes,
Video tutorials on the EckO website
Organisers Documents
SOG Organiser’s Guidelines.doc Updated Nov 08
Open Event Organiser’s Guidelines Updated Feb 08
Blank Event details form to submit your event details to the website. Updated Nov 07
Risk Assessment Form Updated Nov 08
Posted by Neil Crickmore on 01st Jan 07
Permanent Orienteering Courses
There are a number of Permanent Orienteering Courses in Sussex, which can be used to practise on.
How to use the courses
Maps are available for these courses, which show the location of around 20 controls. A number of possible courses have been suggested at the bottom of each map, however there is nothing to stop you starting from wherever you wish and visiting whichever controls you want in any order.
The controls are marked by square plaques split into one red and one white triangle. Most of these are fixed to posts, benches or trees. On each plaque is a number corresponding to that marked on the map, also on the plaque is a unique letter. Noting down this letter provides proof that you have visited the control. On the map is a series of boxes, one for each control. Each box contains the number of the control, a description of its location and a space into which to copy the letter from the plaque..
The Hawth, Crawley TQ278363
Hove Park, Hove TQ288063
Preston Park, Brighton TQ303064
The following locations have maps available on-site.
Lancing Ring, Lancing - TQ184055
Maps available from:
Impulse Leisure - Lancing Manor, Manor Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 0PH, Tel: 01903 524624
Southwater Country Park, Southwater - TQ159256
Maps available from:
Warden’s Office, Southwater Country Park, Cripplegate Lane, Southwater, W.Sussex. RH13 7UN. Tel.01403 731218
Horsham Park, Horsham - TQ173308
Maps available from:
Park House, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RL Tel.01403 215201 Tourist Info Centre, 9 The Causeway, Horsham, RH12 1HE Tel. 01403 211661
Borde Hill, Cuckfield - TQ324265
Maps available from:
The visitors centre at Borde Hill. Tel. 01444 450326
Devil’s Dyke, Brighton
Maps available from:
The National Trust Devil’s Dyke Estate Office, Saddlescombe Farm, Brighton, BN45 7DE. Tel 01273 857712
NT Website
Hotham Park, Bognor Regis - SZ941995
Maps available from Inspire Leisure concessions in Hotham Park (when these concessions are open) or from Arun Leisure Centre (Inspire Felpham), Felpham Way, Bognor Regis.
Posted by Admin on 01st Jan 07
