Sunny Sussex Weekend 2019Arundel UrbanSat 18 May, 2019

Near: Arundel
Level of event: Regional
Type of event: Race, Urban

Results

Report

Thank you for taking part in our urban race around the picturesque streets of Arundel. Officials comments now available.

Planner's comments from Alex Lines:

I hope you enjoyed your runs up and down the streets of Arundel. Although the map is relatively small it was nice to plan on an area never previously used for orienteering. I tried to ensure the two adult courses had a few short legs in the technical section near the start/finish area and some more basic route choice legs round the streets to get in the distance. I opted to cross the bridges several times from the north to avoid a tedious run all the way along the southern road. I’ve really enjoyed seeing which different route choices were made on Routegadget.

My apologies to anyone on Course B affected by a formatting error that caused a control number to cover up one of the roads - although many of you identified that on the ground the road was obviously accessible, I fully appreciate that for those planning ahead it could have influenced route choice.

Huge thanks to everybody who helped make the event possible, particularly Neil for controlling and helping make the process so easy and Ian for all the hard work organising everything positively for the day.

Organiser's comments from Ian Curtis:

Thank you all for coming to our event. I hope that you enjoyed your time in the beautiful town of Arundel. Thanks have to go to Arun District Council and the Arundel Castle Trustees.

If anyone accidently picked up a thumb compass at the junior maze I shall be grateful if you will get in touch so we can return it to one of our juniors. I also seem to have acquired a cool bag- so just let me know if it is yours.

We started organising and planning in 2018, with Neil producing the map of the town, and Alex and I being appointed Planner and Organiser respectively, with Neil Controlling. I think we all worked well together as a supportive team throughout.

I identified the Mill Road parking overflow early as an ideal site for the event centre, but things didn’t look promising when my first conversations regarding permission for the site were met with the comment “You’ve got no chance in hell of that ever happening”; a year ago the site was 12 inches under water and, as I was reminded last night, in January 2019, following extensive drainage works, the site looked like a photo of the aftermath of the Battle of the Somme. Other sites were difficult to secure and our idea to use the football club as a base proved tricky owing to a clash with their president’s birthday celebrations. The Arundel castle trustees have been great to work with, even though they have been busy with their run up to the open season. If you’ve never been to an event at Arundel castle I can thoroughly recommend.

Co-ordination of 3 events in 2 days is tough. Anna oversaw preparations and co-ordination brilliantly- her equipment spreadsheet was a work of military precision. Anna never stopping smiling whilst moving Jan, Jennie and I forward. She stepped in when needed and is a huge factor in the success of the weekend. She also calmly offered to stand in when it was looking a possibility that I may have got stuck in Bulgaria – but thankfully I got home at 1.30, the morning of the event.

Anna, Jan, Jennie and I all worked well as a team, managing to retain a sense of humour even when deciding for the umpteenth time the suite of event prizes, and during gear transfers. I did feel for Jennie when leaving her the kit from Arundel at 21:40, knowing she still had signs to create and kit to load into a car ready for a v. early start on Sunday morning.

Thank you to Karen for picking up the juniors maze with only a few weeks to go, Alex for planning so well and also providing positive and supportive comments throughout, Neil and Sue for controlling and the map, Les and Joe on Si, and all of our helpers many of whom ran and helped at several events, and also all the people working behind the scenes on risk assessments, map printing, advice and support. I’m sure the number of roles to make the whole weekend happen exceed 100 - so a massive thanks to all. I look forward to seeing you next time. Ian!

Save the date for next year's Sunny Sussex around Eastbourne on 16th and 17th May 2020.

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.

Pre event info

World Orienteering Day Event. Try some fun urban orienteering around the picturesque town of Arundel and take advantage of the local inns afterwards.

Entry on the day subject to map availability. Prizes on offer for 1st place in age class bands. Newcomers and families welcome.

Sunny Sussex Weekend 2019 Series Info

A weekend of orienteering in the South Downs National Park, centred around the historic town of Arundel. Take part in a high energy middle distance race at Rewell SW and Quarry. Head over to Arundel for the evening urban race and finish the weekend off with a long distance national event at the newly mapped West Angmering. Pre-enter all three events and receive a £3 discount per adult. The weekend coordinator is Anna Chapman.

Location Info

Nearest town: Arundel

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

Directions / Parking

Parking in Mill Road Car Park. BN18 9PA. Vehicle height restriction (2.06m).

Leave the A27 at the roundabout south of Arundel, follow the Causeway NNW, and then Queen street over the river Arun. Turn right at the next roundabout onto Mill Road. Follow Mill road for approx. 100m and turn right into Mill Road Car park. Avoid other approaches to the car park. Car parking is charged till 6pm and costs £2.50 to 3 hours, £3.50 for 3-4 hours, £5 for > 4 hours. Cash or cards (£1.50 extra for cards). No blue badge privileges.

Public Transport

Arundel rail station. Registration is approx.1 km NNW of station. Buses limited on Saturday and in evenings – check before travel.

Course Information

Course 1 2.9km 70m climb (M/W16-50)

Course 2 2.5km 65m climb (M/W55+)

Course 3 1.3km 10m climb (M/W12-14)

Children’s Fun Maze Course

Prizes on offer for men and women who achieve first place in the following age categories: M/W 12, 14, 16, 18, 20-40, 45-50, 55-60, 65+

Note that you have to be 16 years or older (actual age) on the day of the event to run course 1 or 2

12+ on day of event and normally running green to run junior course unaccompanied

Accompanied juniors may run any course.

SPORTident timing will be in use. The controls will be enabled for contactless punching but will work as normal for those that don’t have a SIAC dibber. Contactless dibbers (SIAC) can be hired for £2/day. Normal dibber (SI) hire charge £1/day.

Entry Details

Entry on the day (subject to map availability)

Seniors (British Orienteering Member) £9.00
Seniors (Non-member) £11.00
SO Juniors Free
Other juniors £3.00

Family rates capped at the rate of 2 adults plus 1 child.

Registration

From 6.15pm – 7.45pm (Please no latecomers!)

Start Times

From 6.30pm – 8.00pm. Courses close 8.30pm Start and finish is 250m from assembly.

Map Details

1:4,000 with 5m contours. The map was newly created by Neil Crickmore in October 2018 to ISOM 2000 standard. The course overprint is in accordance with ISSOM 2007.

Terrain Description

Come and take part in an evening urban race along the riverbanks and up and down the cobbled streets of Arundel. Run times will be fast with plenty of changes of direction in the small but picturesque market town. A perfect opportunity for a short run to keep your legs moving and brain ticking before Sunday’s national race at West Angmering!

Dog restrictions

Dogs allowed

Facilities

Set right in the heart of Arundel, so plenty of access to local inns and cafes. Public toilets are available in the car park at a fee of 20p.

Miscellaneous

Based around historic Arundel, with its Medieval Castle, Wildfowl and Wetland Centre, boating on the River Arun and plentiful inns and cafes. Tourist information can be found here. Camping and caravan options can be found here.

Arundel visitor centre, museum and castle are all adjacent to assembly. Arundel visitor centre and museum close at 4pm. Castle closes at 5pm.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Alex Lines

Organiser: Ian Curtis email webmanager@southdowns-orienteers.org.uk

Controller: Neil Crickmore

Photo Gallery

click/tap photos for a larger version

Prizegiving - Junior Classes

Prizegiving - Junior Classes

Prizegiving - Senior Classes

Prizegiving - Senior Classes

Assembly Area

Assembly Area

Castle Maze kept the kids busy

Castle Maze kept the kids busy