Christmas ScoreEartham WoodSat 27 December, 2025

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I never knew Elizabeth Brown, but it was an honour to plan an event in her memory; hopefully it was a fitting tribute despite being my first attempt at a Score event… I’ve not even competed in one yet!

A novice planner will always find lessons to learn. Today I learned that the woods are exceptionally dark at 5am. And still completely dark at 7am, which does make putting out 33 controls quite a challenge. I inadvertently added to that challenge by trying to follow a bearing using a compass held against a metal edge of a clipboard, sending the needle 90degrees adrift - not just once, but twice.

Other than that, I think it all went ok, and that was largely down to Steve Blount, who superbly guided me through the planning process, suggesting improvements and correcting things that I had yet to learn. Steve was also a tremendous help on the day - a steadying voice on the end of the phone when I called to say I didn’t think the course would be ready in time and had left a bag of kites at one of the control locations, (another inadvertent complication!) - he calmly amended plans and kept things organised. I did get the course set up in time, albeit with a couple of makeshift kites in place.

So many other wonderful people to thank as well: Gail for helping with preparation, as well as start and finish duties; Iron-Man for helping at the start (he bears a striking resemblance to Tim Hulley, doesn’t he?); Chris for mapping, Karen and Andy for the essential admin; the various landowners; Jill, Linda and those (Joe, Jane, Michael) who stepped in at the last minute for car parking; Neil for printing and equipment; everyone (Anna, Pete, Emma, Ben) who helped provide festive refreshments; five amazing control collectors (Euan, Jack, James, Liam, Sam)… I am in awe of how you guys manage to get round the course in super-fast times and still have the energy to retrieve controls in so quickly; and of course the SI team for keeping score - Joe and Mike doing that task today, and getting the results compiled incredibly efficiently; everyone else who played a part in the team including those who helped to pack up tents etc. And most importantly, thank you to every competitor for turning up, competing, appearing to enjoy yourselves and providing positive feedback afterwards, seemingly regardless of whether you topped the leaderboard, or supported it from lower down - those things make it worth everyone’s effort!

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

We will be offering free mulled wine, hot fruit punch and mince pies after the event. Please contribute some mince pies (or other such treats) to share if you can. Please also bring your own cup for the mulled wine.

Location Info

Nearest town: Fontwell

• Postcode: PO18 0NA *
• Lat,Lng:50.89286,-0.66781
• Grid Ref: SU935110
• 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

Parking will be signed 100m prior to turning off the A285, as the entrance to parking is narrow there will be no exit before 1100hrs. Competitors should only approach the event direct from the A285, please avoid travelling via Eartham village. Traffic on the A285 will be fast moving. Park as directed by marshals.

Grid Reference: SU935110

Post Code: PO18 0NA

What3words: cookies.budgeted.scarred

Public Transport

Nearest train station is Barnham.

Course Information

Welcome to the annual Christmas Score. There are two courses to choose from which are similar to a normal Orienteering event, only you choose which controls to visit and try to get back within the set time limit for hot punch and mince pies!

45 minute score

• Collect up to 20 different controls in any order.
• 10 points per control.
• Maximum score possible is 200 points.
• -10 points for every minute/part minute late

60 minute score

• Collect up to 30 different controls in any order
• 10 points per control
• Maximum score possible is 300 points
• -10 points for every minute/part minute late

Since the 60min course will simply be collecting all the controls, no loose descriptions will be provided.

There is a 800m (15 minute) walk from the car park to the start and back from the finish. The start and finish are 700m apart. There is no clothes drop.

You may run on which ever course you wish but to be eligible for the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Trophy or an age related prize you must enter as follows:

• Elizabeth Brown Memorial Trophy 60 Minute Score
• M/W14- 45 Minute Score
• M/W18- 60 Minute Score
• M/W Open 60 Minute Score
• M/W50+ 60 Minute Score
• M/W65+ 60 Minute Score

An age related points system is used to determine the winner of the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Trophy - From the BOF rulebook there are running speed ratios for age classes (male and female separately), in section 7 of Appendix B: Course Planning. The actual score is adjusted proportionately according to the ratio in the table (except for M10/W10 where we have applied sensible ratios ourselves because BOF use different course data for those classes) by dividing by the ratio. If anybody gets maximum points then their score is multiplied by 60 divided by their finishing time.

In addition to the Elizabeth Brown Trophy, there are prizes for the first female & male in each category.

Entry Details

Online entry only via Racesignup. Entries close 8pm on 26th December (no entry on the day) but from Dec 24th entry numbers will be limited by available map numbers.

SO/BOF members: Seniors £7.50, Juniors £3.75, SO Juniors free (use discount code SOjuniors).

Non members: Seniors £9.50, Juniors £3.75

'Dibber' hire: Electronic punching (SI) chips are available to hire. SIAC (contactless): £2.00 (£1.00 Juniors), non-SIAC (not contactless) £1.00 (50p juniors)

Registration

09.45am - 10.45am

Start Times

From 10.00am - 11.00am. Course closes 12.15pm.

Map Details

1:10000 with 5m contours. A4.

Terrain Description

Mixed forest with good network of paths/tracks

Dog restrictions

Keep dogs in sight and close-by; use a lead if they don’t always return when called. Always clean up after your dogs.

Facilities

None.

Miscellaneous

Safety Bearing: West to ride/boundary fence then south to the finish.

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

Biosecurity Measures: Before attending the event, please ensure that your orienteering footwear/gaiters are clean. After your run, please ensure you remove any excess soil/leaf litter/needles from footwear, gaiters and clothing before leaving the car park. On returning home thoroughly scrub footwear/gaiters, wash clothing and leave to dry for at least 48 hours before reuse.

Event History: On Boxing Day 1978 Elizabeth Brown founded - with a couple of her Orienteering friends - what was to eventually become the SO Xmas event. The first event was at Banstead Wood in Surrey, and over the years the event took a number of formats, but from 1997 on it has been a score event. For many years Elizabeth was the event organiser, and following her passing in May 2011 it was felt that it would be a fitting tribute to rename the annual Christmas event in her memory.

Elizabeth was a top-class Orienteer, in the early years of SO, Elizabeth was the club's undisputed star. She helped put SO on the map. She regularly won the British Championship and the JK throughout her Orienteering career, and twice won gold at the World Masters Championships, first as a W80, then 10 years later as a W90.

Elizabeth collected a lot of trophies along the way and the club are indebted to Elizabeth's family for donating a splendid and unique slate W70 trophy from the 1992 JK at Bigland in the Lake District to be presented each year at the "Elizabeth Brown Memorial" SO Xmas event.

Thank you to Forestry England for permission to use Eartham Wood and Mr B Brooks for the use of the parking field.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Marky Saunders

Organiser: Michael Merritt

Controller: