SOG S3Abbots Wood North & CoachingSat 25 February, 2023

Report

Thank you all for coming to Abbots Wood today. It was in very good condition and we were blessed with great weather for racing! I was pleased to see that times were in the expected range.

I nearly always end up planning here so it's becoming a challenge to create courses that don't replicate those that I have done before. Luckily woodland evolves quite quickly so even familiar ground can take on a new feel! I was hoping that this would be the case as, over the years, we have visited pretty much every corner of the wood. Planning was made more interesting about 4 weeks ago when the FC threw in a curveball and made several areas OOB! However, I was able to thread the courses between these areas and, hopefully, keep them interesting. Abbots is a tricky area, mainly because it has relatively low visibility that makes it difficult to hold a straight line. With that in mind, I tried to make the courses as fair as possible so that they rewarded good technique and confident orienteering, I hope that I succeeded in this aim.

As always these events cannot take place without a large number of volunteers, often working behind the scenes. So I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Joe, Penny and Mike for SI, Einar, Amy and John for running the start, Little Dave, John, Vince, Chris, Maddie, Tim, Darren and Jo for control collecting, Mike for map printing, Steve and Andy for permissions, Di for pushing more volunteers my way and to everyone else who offered even though I had run out of jobs for them on the day! I think it was the first time that I've not had to collect controls at one of my SOGs!!

RouteGadget

Is a web app for sharing and comparing orienteering routes. You can draw your own route or upload a GPS track from your watch. It also allows you to watch an animated replay with a simulated mass start.

Location Info

Nearest town: Hailsham

• Postcode: BN26 6SJ *
• Lat,Lng:50.84399,0.21114
• Grid Ref: TQ557072
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

* Postcodes are not very precise in some areas, so don't rely on them for an exact location.

Directions / Parking

We will be using the main Abbots Wood car park (BN26 6SJ gets you to the Olde Oak pub which is about 0.5miles north of the car park).
Pay and Display £2.50 for 2 hrs, £4 for 2-4 hrs and £5 for the day. From Drusillas Zoo roundabout on the A27 at Berwick turn north. After about a mile take the first right (just before the level crossing). This road takes you to the Abbots Wood entrance after about 2 miles of twisty country lanes!

Public Transport

Regular buses to Hailsham (3 miles). Train station at Berwick (3 miles).

Course Information

Blue 5.5km, Green 4km, Short Green 3km, Orange 2.5km, Yellow 1.5km. Not much climb but don't be deceived, this is a physical area to run in.

Entry Details

Pre-entry via Racesignup.co.uk Newcomers are welcome and eligible for a free trial session - if you'd like to reserve a map or discuss the event please email our membership secretary.

Fees:

SO/BOF Senior members £5.00 (non-members £6),

Juniors £2.50 (SO Juniors free - use discount code SOjuniors).

'Dibber' hire: Electronic punching (SI) chips are available to hire. SIAC (contactless): £2, non-SIAC (not contactless) £1. Half price for juniors.

Registration open

9:45 to 10:45

Start Times

From 10.00am - 11.00am. Courses close at 1.00pm.

Map Details

Abbots Wood (South), 1:10000. Lidar based map surveyed and drawn to ISOM 2017 by Chris Hooker during 2019 with updates to Feb 2023.

Terrain Description

Managed woodland with a good path and track network. Some smaller paths have not been mapped. Much of the area is light green on the map which will mean a good deal of navigation in lowish visibility. Undergrowth is variable and predominantly bramble (gaiters advised). However, there are now large areas developing that are virtually bramble free. Courses have been planned to avoid the worst of the undergrowth although runners on the blue, green and short green courses may have to weave around some patches of bramble. The area is currently very muddy so wear appropriate footware.

Dog restrictions

Yes, under control

Facilities

Toilets in the car park. Play area. BBQ area. There may also be an ice-cream van! Well worth staying on for a walk afterwards. Also 2 pubs and 2+ tea rooms within a mile of the car park.

Miscellaneous

Safety bearing is west. This will bring you to the road where the car park entrance is.
This area is shared with the public including dog-walkers, horse-riders and cyclists. Please be courteous.
In the event of poor weather cagoules may be made compulsory. In extreme weather the event may have to be cancelled in which case every attempt will be made to give as much notice as possible on the website.
Access to this event has been granted by kind permission of the Forestry Commission. Access is normally restricted to public rights of way. Please respect these restrictions at all other times

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Chris Hooker

Organiser:

Controller: