Chichester Urban Sat 11 October, 2025

Report

Planners report to follow...

Organiser's Comments (Steve Blount)

Thank you to Chichester College and Chichester District Council.

As aways the event wouldn’t have happened without the following fine souls giving freely of their time:

Euan M, Sue C, Joe B, Penny P, Jill B, Jane L, Penny M, Sue P, Barry P, Joe H, Robin W, David W, Jon M, Garry G, Roger M, Ian C, James C, Neil C, Liam M and of course the SO Club Committee.

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

The traditional urban event the day before the New Forest (aka November) Classic is being held in Chichester this year on a brand new map. For those interested in the Southern England Orienteering Urban League this provides one of the last few opportunities to gain crucial points.

Location Info

Nearest town: Chichester

• Postcode: PO19 3JT *
• Lat,Lng: 50.83469,-0.79243
• Grid Ref: SU851046
• 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

From the A27 Fishbourne roundabout follow the A259 into Chichester.

Chichester College student car park will be open to competitors 0900hrs - 1600hrs. Signed off the A259. Please park within marked bays. There is no charge for parking. ANPR cameras will be switched off for the duration of the event.

Grid Reference: SU850046

Nearest Postcode (Tesco Superstore): PO19 3JT

What3words: mining.structure.secret

Public Transport

Chichester train and bus stations are 800m walk from the event centre.

Course Information

Competitors wishing to score in the 2025 SEOUL league should enter the course number associated with the age class they wish to obtain a scoring run in.

• Course 1 (11.6km) - Men Open
• Course 2 (10.3km) - Veteran Men (M40+); Women Open
• Course 3 (7.9km) - Super Veteran Men (M55+), Veteran Women (W40+)
• Course 4 (6.4km) - Ultra Veteran Men (M65+), Super Veteran Women (W55+)
• Course 5 (5.4km) - Hyper Veteran Men (M75+); Ultra Veteran Women (W65+); Hyper Veteran Women (W75+)
• Course 6 (4.8km) - Junior Men (M16-); Junior Women (W16-)
• Course 7 (2.1km) - Young Junior Men (M12-), Young Junior Women (W12-)

Course lengths given are optimal and are subject to final controlling. There is negligible climb.

Courses 1-5 have a 1.4km (20 minute) walk from the event centre to the far start. Follow red/white tapes.

Courses 6-7 have a 100m walk to the near start within the grounds of Chichester College. Follow signs.

Courses 3, 4 & 5 have a timed out road crossing (60 seconds).

All courses finish adjacent to the event centre in Chichester College.

Punching start and finish. All other controls will be SIAC enabled.

There are no allocated start times. Call up -3.

Blank maps will not be displayed in the start lane. A previous map of the area can be seen here.

Entry Details

Online entries have now closed. Late entries may still be possible - e-mail [email protected] if you would like to request one.

• £14.00 BOF Senior/£6.00 BOF Junior up to 9^th October 2025 (subject to map availability)
• £2.00 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 09.30am - 12.15pm.

Start Times

From 10.30am - 12.30pm. Courses close 2.30pm

Map Details

1:4000 with 2.5m contours. A3.

Terrain Description

Courses are designed to encourage competitors to make full use of bridges, underpasses, pedestrian crossings etc. All level crossings and some roads will be marked as out of bounds.
The nature of the city centre terrain means that most road crossings are no more than 100m from a pedestrian crossing point, or a road junction where the vehicles will have to slow down or stop. Competitors are strongly advised to use these crossings.

Dog restrictions

Dogs in car park only. On a lead at all times. Clean up after your dog.

Facilities

Event centre is in Chichester College sports centre main hall. 100m walk from the eastern edge of the car park.

Toilets.

Key/bag drop.

Sports centre staff will be selling tea/coffee/soft drinks/snacks.

Miscellaneous

Safety Bearing: Head towards the cathedral spire and ask for directions to Chichester College.

• Exercise caution when crossing roads, exiting alleyways and rounding blind corners. Due to ever expanding fences and building work around the college, those walking to and from the car park to the event centre will potentially share the path with runners on their courses. Please take care as there is one pinch point where the path is only wide enough for one person and be aware of other pedestrians.
  
• Competitors must use bridges when crossing railway lines. All level crossings and some roads are marked as out of bounds.
• Courses 1-6 may visit a multistorey car park that is marked as out of bounds. Competitors must run around the outside of the car park. Not through it
  
• High visibility or bright clothing is strongly recommended for all competitors and is compulsory for competitors under 16 years.
• Competitors are permitted to run in shorts.
• Competitors under 12 years may only run on Course 7. They can run unaccompanied if normally able to complete a yellow course. Part of course 7 leaves the college grounds to travel alongside a quiet road.
• Competitors under 16 years (age on day of race) may run on Course 6. They can run unaccompanied if normally able to complete a light green course.
• Competitors under 16 years (age on day of race) wishing to run on courses 1-5 must be accompanied by an adult.

Avoid crossing any sports pitches which are in use.

There is no clothing dump but competitors may, at their own risk, leave clothing at their respective start provided they return to collect it after they have run.

SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF JUNIORS

Parents and Guardians are responsible for their children, or children in their charge, at all events. Advice is available from the Event Organiser regarding courses that are suitable for the participation of children. If you wish to know more about child safety in Orienteering please refer to the safety page on the SO website.

• Under 12’s may only run course 7 - M/W12. They can run unaccompanied if normally able to complete a yellow course.
• Under 16’s (age on day of race) may run course 6 - M/W16. They can run unaccompanied if normally able to complete a light green course.
• Under 16’s (age on day of race) may not run any of the adult courses (1-5) unaccompanied.
• Unaccompanied juniors must wear high visibility or bright clothing.
• Unaccompanied juniors are encouraged to run with a mobile phone for emergency use.
  
• Parents are responsible for ensuring their children are briefed with safety information as follows:
  • Take care crossing roads, even very quiet ones within the College grounds.
  • Be courteous of other people in the area and be particularly careful when rounding corners or exiting alleys.
  • If lost, phone the number on the map and say which buildings/shops you are close to and someone will come to find you.
  • Don’t talk to strangers.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Euan Marsh

Organiser: Steve Blount

Controller / Event Adviser: Sue Crickmore