Southern Night ChampsBroadstone Warren / North Ashdown - Sat 26 November, 2022

Near: Forest Row
Level of event: Regional
Type of event: Race, Night

Results

Report

Photos from the event.

A huge thank you to you all for coming to the Southern Night Championships on the Ashdown Forest! Luckily, the rain pretty much held off making the running much more enjoyable. I found planning this event quite a challenge as many of the best parts of the area were either OOB, covered in rhododendrons or covered in head high bracken. However, after 2 days of walking around the area I had found enough control sites (in relatively clean areas and with decent attack points) to be able to construct the courses. I like to include a longish leg somewhere on my courses and thought that the transition from the more open North Ashdown to the forested Broadstone Warren would be good for this and this transition certainly seemed to cause a lot of problems. In the end almost everyone completed (and seemed to enjoy) their course, and the winning times were pretty close to what I had anticipated. A lot of thanks have already been mentioned elsewhere but I would like to add my thanks to Steve Blount for thorough organisation, Neil Speers for his close scrutiny of my courses, Neil Crickmore and Clive Hawkes on the start, Joe Barrett and Penny Parker on SI duty, and my excellent control collection team of Rob Lines, Rob Leathley, Ed Lines, James Yule and Will Heap who ensured that we were able to leave the site soon after 9.30pm.

Organiser's Thank Yous:

Chris Hooker (Planner), Neil Spears (Controller), Penny & Joe (Si), Clive & Neil (Start), Anna, Emma, Jane, Jill, Penny, Ed, Garry, James, Liam, Nick, Rob, Rob, Roger, Steve & Will.


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

Final Details can be found here.

Start times can be found here.

Make a weekend of it and enter Saxons 50th Anniversary National Event at Hindleap on Sunday.

2021 Southern Night Champions who are able to attend this years event, are requested to bring the trophies with them. Those who are unable to attend are requested to arrange return of their trophy by a club mate who is. Thank you.

Location Info

Nearest town: Forest Row

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

Directions / Parking

On hard standing adjacent to Ashdown Forest Centre. Please park as directed by marshals. Signed from the junction of the A22 and Colemans Hatch Road.

Public Transport

Nearest train station East Grinstead.

Course Information

You can run any course you want to but if you are a member of an SEOA, SCOA or SWOA club and wish to compete in the championships, you should note which age classes are associated with each course:

Brown 8.1km 320m (M18 M20 M21 M35 M40)

Blue 6.0km 250m (M16 M45 M50 M55 W20 W21 W35 W40)

Green 4.1km 160m (M60 M65 W16 W18 W45 W50 W55)

Short Green 3.2km 110m (M70 M75 M80 W60 W65 W70 W75 W80)

Entry Details

Entries now closed - see your entry and start time at Racesignup, no entry on the day.

  • £12.00 BOF Senior/£6.00 BOF Junior up to 13 November 2022
  • £14.00 BOF Senior/£6.00 BOF Junior up to 24 November 2022 (subject to map availability)
  • £2 non-member supplement (Seniors only)
  • SO juniors free (use code SOjuniors)
  • Standard Dibber Hire: £1.00 Senior/£0.50 Junior
  • SIAC Hire: £2.00 Senior/£1.00 Junior

Registration

From 1645hrs - 1845hrs.

Start Times

From 1730hrs - 1900hrs. Courses close 2030hrs.

Map Details

A3. 1:10000 with 5m contours. Surveyed by Roger Maher March 2020.

Terrain Description

The area has been impacted by significant bracken growth this year. The thicker areas have been indicated by the undergrowth screen although this can also show areas of heather which can be deep in places. This may affect your route choices. Controls have not been placed in deep undergrowth and I have attempted to make all the sites fair, i.e. the feature and/or the kite should be obvious when in the vicinity. There are also some marshy sections including a couple showing the uncrossable marsh screen. If in the area I would recommend giving these a wide birth! All the other marshes were passable in late October. The whole area has a good network of paths and rides.
You will all run in 2 contrasting areas. To the west is Broadstone Warren which is a large, wooded area with deep valleys. There are a lot of rhododendrons here which are passable with care and will influence route choice. Most of the undergrowth is bracken in this area. To the east is North Ashdown which is an open area with small pockets of woodland. The woodland here is generally clean whilst the open parts have a mix of bracken, heather and grass which stronger runners will be able to push through.

Dog restrictions

Sorry no dogs in the centre or out on the courses. Now that entries have closed start times are visible on the racesignup page

Facilities

Within Ashdown Forest Centre: Hall, Toilets, Self-service tea/coffee/biscuits/cake.

Please no metal studded or muddy footwear in the hall or toilets

Miscellaneous

In addition to their main head torch all competitors must carry a back-up torch and a whistle.

In the of event of inclement weather, the wearing/carrying of cagoules may be compulsory

Prevous maps of Broadstone can be found here and North Ashdown here.

Trophies will award at the event to the following age class winners W16 W18 W20 W21 W35 W40 W45 W50 W55 W60 W65 W70 W75 W80 M16 M18 M20 M21 M35 M40 M45 M50 M55 M60 M65 M70 M75 M80

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Chris Hooker

Organiser: Steve Blount

Controller: Neil Speers DFOK

Photo Gallery

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