SOG A1Devils DykeSat 11 September, 2021

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Planner’s comment

I offered to plan this SOG as it had been a long time since I had done one and it was nice and close to home; I think I forgot how tiring it would be on the day! Getting the physicality of the courses right here is always tricky and early on I made the decision to keep the Green on the higher areas without a big climb; this seemed to be appreciated by many. There was no way the Blue was going to get away with that, so I tried to give you a control pick over on Summer Down followed by a classic route choice leg across the Dyke, with variation possible at the end. It certainly seemed to have led to some different route choices; I think you have to be below a certain age before you even contemplate going straight across the Dyke.

Many thanks to Andy for his patient negotiation of the various parts of the National Trust on what we were allowed to stick in the ground, and whether we could use the separate parking area and to the local National Trust people who opened up for us on the day.

The electric fence appeared a week or so ago and affected the Green course, so I tweaked that and then waited to see if they moved it just before the event. Luckily they didn’t, but the uncertainty meant that I added it by hand rather than on the actual print. The appearance of a work party using chainsaws and burning stuff was however a complete surprise.

Thanks also to Joe and the SI team who swung smoothly back into action and finally to Jane, Linda and Neil for all their help and support with special brownie points to Gary, who collected the controls at the bottom of the hill and saved me from going there again. Next time I might volunteer for somewhere flatter.

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: Poynings

• Postcode: BN1 8YL *
• Lat,Lng:50.88507,-0.21276
• Grid Ref: TQ258111
• 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

Drive through past the hotel to the end of the car parking. We will have access to the gravel square at the end until it is filled up. (This is now blocked off for the general public)

If that is full please just fill up spaces in the rest of the car park (note that this can include any of the car park on either side of the hotel)

Wherever you are parked, you need to do the Pay and Display. (Free for NT members, but you still need a ticket)

Pay & display parking at Devil’s Dyke as follows: £1.50 for up to 1 hour; £3 for up to 2 hours; £4 for up to 4 hours, £6 all day. Payment is by cash or PayByPhone. National Trust members, motorcycles and Blue Badge holders park free. National Trust members should scan their membership cards at the machine and collect the ticket to display in their car.

Course Information

Blue 5.6km 230m

Green 3.7km 120m

Orange 2.3km

Yellow 1.4km

Loose control descriptions will not be provided at the event. Control descriptions will be on the map and are available to download here.

Entry Details

SO and BOF senior (over 21) members £5, Juniors £2.50, SO Juniors free (use discount code SOjuniors)

Non-member supplements £2 senior, £1 junior

Standard dibber hire £1, Enhanced dibber hire (SIAC) £2

Enter online via racesignup

Registration open

9:45 to 10:45

Start Times

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

Map Details

1:10,000 5m contours.

Terrain Description

Competitors on the Blue course can expect to encounter some steep slopes and studded footwear is recommended.

Yellow, Orange and Green have been planned to avoid the steep slopes.

Facilities

Please be aware that there are no longer any public toilets at Devils’ Dyke, the ones at the back of the hotel have closed.

No key drop.

Please bring your own water to ensure adequate hydration.

Miscellaneous

Please:

• Allow others to social distance if they wish to do so.
• Avoid touching the start, finish and control units.
• Move away briskly from the start and all controls.
• Take time to recover before making your way to download.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Sue Crickmore

Organiser:

Controller: