SOG S2Chailey North & CoachingSat 15 February, 2025

Report

Today didn’t start well - as Maddie and I approached Chailey at 7am, I had a strong sense of having forgotten something - and having parked up and checked the contents of my van, I realised I’d left the maps at home. Luckily only a 30 minute round trip to go back and collect them, and with 2 of us involved, we were able to get all the controls out and checked in good time.

When we started planning the courses a few months back, I wasn’t convinced we could put on interesting enough courses just on the Red House Common part of the map, but Maddie’s first drafts convinced me otherwise, and avoiding a timed out road crossing to access the southern part of Chailey Common was definitely a bonus. Although Red House Common isn’t the most technically challenging area, the complex path network can be disorientating, and interpreting the vegetation changes also requires care. The map is getting a bit old now, but hopefully it was adequate to get you round your courses today.

Many thanks to our helpers today who made the event possible. Alan Williamson and Mark Saunders lined your vehicles up neatly, Bea Water was on hand to assist newcomers,Tim and Linda Hulley got you safely across the road, and Gary Greenstreet, Peter Stubberfield, Dave Cumins, and Sarah Lowe were enthusiastic control collectors. And as always the SI team were their usual competent and efficient selves. Neil Crickmore provided wise counsel as event advisor. Last but not least I should mention my rookie co-planner Maddie Bartlett who planned great first draft courses, was an enthusiastic control site taper and control hanger, and most importantly made the best chocolate brownies I’ve ever eaten to keep our energy levels up through the event.

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

This event will feature a FUN RELAY COACHING SESSION - mainly geared towards all of our juniors, but also suitable for older newcomers, or anyone doing a relay for the first time. Please meet promptly near the computer tent at 9:45am with all your gear, including a dibber, ready to run. We would like to all walk together to the relay start, which is approx 600m away. It is adjacent to the start for the main courses. We will have a shelter to store bags and coats if needed. The session will be around 1 hour and you will be able to go straight to the main event start, without returning to the car park.

For the coaching, please either sign up on Spond if you have it, or email Karen to let her know you'd like to attend the coaching and sign up for the event as normal.

Location Info

Nearest town: Chailey

• Postcode: BN8 4EF *
• Lat,Lng:50.97353,-0.02819
• Grid Ref: TQ382211
• 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

Chailey Heritage School car park. Please park as directed.

• Grid Reference: TQ382211
• Nearest Postcode: BN8 4EF
• What3words: mere.ferried.prepares

Public Transport

Nearest train station Haywards Heath (5.4 miles). Bus service from Haywards Heath

Course Information

Blue: 5.7k, 60m climb, 22 controls
Green: 4.3k, 55m climb, 18 controls
Short Green: 3.3k, 50m climb, 12 controls
Orange: 2.4k, 50m climb, 12 controls
Yellow: 1.5k, 15m climb, 11 controls

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.

BOF member fees: Seniors £6.50, Juniors £3.25, SO Juniors free (use code SOjuniors).
Non member fees: Seniors £7.50, Juniors £3.25.

If shadowing a junior or going as a family group with one map and one dibber, just enter one junior.

'Dibber' hire:
Electronic punching (SI) chips are available to hire. SIAC (contactless): £2 (juniors £1), non-SIAC (not contactless) £1 (juniors £0.5)

Registration open

9:45 to 10:45

Start Times

10:00 to 11:00. Courses close at 12:30.

Map Details

Red House Common 1:5000, 5m contours. Survey and cartography to ISOM 2017 using OCAD 20, 2021-25 by Chris Hooker.

Terrain Description

Heath and woodland with a good network of paths and areas with multiple gullies and depressions. The terrain is well used by dog walkers, new small paths can quickly appear, and not all may be mapped, so care is needed. The area is very muddy after recent rain. There are some patches of bramble, gaiters are recommended

Dog restrictions

On a lead in the car park. On the Common dogs are welcome under close control. Clear up after your dog

Facilities

None. Bring your own drinking water.

Miscellaneous

Safety Bearing: South to main road (juniors should then follow the line of the road West towards the finish but inside the fence – they should only cross the road at the marshalled point)

Road Crossing: This will be marshalled, but junior competitors must be supervised by parents/guardians when crossing the A272 from the car park to Red House Common and back again.

The area is popular with dog walkers and horse riders, please give them plenty of room to pass.

Exmoor ponies are currently grazing on the common, please do not approach.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Alan Velecky / Maddie Bartlett

Organiser:

Controller: