Sunny Sussex WeekendEartham NSat 11 May, 2024

Report

Planners Report: Ed Nichols:

Firstly thank you to Southdowns Orienteers for the opportunity to plan at Eartham, in this pristine Beech forestry, and probably the most runnable forest I have ever encountered.

When I originally started thinking about planning, I wanted to avoid my three main dislikes at orienteering events: long walks from assembly areas to and from the start and finish, uphill runs out of the start, and uphill runs into the finish! All courses will have avoided these!

Of course, some climb was inevitable, which no doubt added physical challenge in what has been the hottest day of the year so far.

Hopefully other than the very shortest courses, everyone enjoyed running the majority of legs beneath the tree canopy without interruption from undergrowth.

It was absolutely brilliant to see so many orienteers out there today and so thank you to all of you for coming along - some of you had some really long journeys: I hope you found it worth while.

I was also staggered to see so many helpers - thank you to you too - it would be impossible to run these events without you.

There are too many to thank by name, but of course thank you to Eartham Organiser, David Wilson, for his organisation of the event (there is nothing David didn’t think of), and thank you to Controller Kieran Devine, whose experience, support and wise words resulted in the polished versions of courses you all competed on today.

And finally, it’s really rewarding to plan events and I would encourage you to have a go! There are some great resources on the Southdowns Orienteers website for Planners, and you will be really well supported. Give it go: you won’t regret it!

Organisers Report: David Wilson

Events at Orchard Cottage, Eartham, are really easy to organise. There’s a combination of a well-disposed landowner for the assembly field, campsite facilities, and the forest only yards away from assembly. Add in the runnability of the forest, looking at its prime at the moment, the view of the Downs and as an added bonus for campers, the auroral display on Friday night, and competitors are bound to be impressed.

I am as ever grateful to SO members who volunteered their services and doubly so to those who stepped in straight away. We were operating on a minimum number of helpers; three events on two days stretches the manpower available. This was compounded by traffic problems as people took advantage of the first sunny weekend of the year plus closed roads meant that reliefs were in some cases delayed and it was much appreciated that those doing the first shift stayed on a little longer than planned.

As cars departed for the Sprint event in Chichester, there was an amazing flowering of tents. In the end I believe there were about 32 tents or campers staying overnight.

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 003 Eartham is one of the most open and runnable forests in the south of England, one of those places where you can set a compass course and count on running it free of obstruction and undergrowth. Entries now closed. There will be limited entry on the day, subject to map availability. Camping available on-site.

Location Info

Nearest town: Slindon

• Postcode: GU28 0LZ *
• Lat,Lng:50.89500,-0.66101
• Grid Ref: SU940120
• 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

Please check road closures before you travel. The M25 is due to be closed between junction 9 & 10 both ways. There is also due to be a carriageway closure on the A27. Check National Highways for further information.

Parking is just off the A285 near Upwaltham between Chichester and Petworth GU28 0LZ, W3W //cured.bulk.scoop. A limit of 240 cars, please share if possible. There is a narrow entrance/exit onto a fast road so please arrive before 1300 and do not leave until after that.

Public Transport

The 99 bus runs from Chichester to Petworth and stops just by the entrance to the assembly field at the end of Selhurstpark Road. Use the 1215 from Chichester, return 1500 or 1700. This is a ‘semi-flexible’ service, varying its route according to demand, and to ensure it passes the event location you must contact Compass Bus, www.compass-travel.co.uk.

Course Information

Black (M18-40) 6.7km 190m climb
Brown (M16, M45-55, W21) 5.6km 160m climb
Blue (M60, W16-20, W35-45) 4.5km 135m climb
Green (M65-70, W50-55) 4.1 km 115m climb
Short Green (M75+, W60+) 3.3km 95m climb
Light Green (M14, W14) 2.9km 65m climb
Orange (M12, W12) 2.3km 65m climb
Yellow (M10, W10) 2.0km 70m climb
White (M10B, W10B) 1.4km 45m climb

Distance and climb subject to final controlling.

The suggested course/class combinations reflect the new British Orienteering Course Planning Guidance, effective from January 2024. Anybody however is free to run whatever course they want.

Entry Details

Entry via Racesignup.co.uk.

Entries before 8pm on Friday 10th May:

(Entries close at 8pm on 10th May, but maps numbers will be set from 8pm on 5th May. Enter whilst maps available.)

Seniors light green to black (British Orienteering Member) £14.00
Seniors light green to black (Non-member) £16.00
Seniors white, yellow, orange £8.00
SO Juniors Free
Other juniors £6.00

Discount codes

Family rates for non-SO members capped at the rate of 2 adults plus 1 child. Enter the first three competitors as normal, then second, third child etc. using discount code 'Family'.

SO juniors use discount code 'SOjuniors'.

Start Times

Punching starts from 1200 -1330. Courses close 1500. Both start and finish within 200m of assembly.

Terrain Description

Eartham is one of the most open and runnable forests in the south of England, one of those places where you can set a compass course and count on running it free of obstruction and undergrowth. There are lots of point features inside the blocks of forest to add challenge to the senior courses. The forest is 90% beech woodland, and should be looking at its best as the trees will just be opening fresh green leaves in May.
There is a gentle slope down from the start intersected by dry valleys – no streams, no marshes, no mud.
The assembly area has good downland views, is sheltered from the prevailing South-westerlies and will be available for camping for people who want to stay for the weekend.

Facilities

CATERING

Tom’s Catering will provide a great selection of food and drinks.

ORIENTEERING SHOP

We hope that Compass Point will be attending for all your Orienteering supplies.

OTHER

On-site camping, toilets, drinking water, first aid.

Miscellaneous

CAMPING

The assembly field is a regular campsite with toilets, shower, and drinking water. We have the exclusive use of the field for the whole weekend. If you want to camp there (£10 per adult per night, children free) please contact the owner, Mr Pirt, directly on ashie65@gmail.com. He can provide limited space on the Friday night outside the parking area. Because of space limitations, those arriving to camp on Saturday will need to wait until the assembly field is clear of cars after about 3pm before pitching their tents.

STRING COURSE

We plan to run a string course 300m from Assembly area. The area will not be used by the main courses. It does however have thinnings on the ground; the string will weave a path between these but there will still be some branches to step over and it could be quite adventurous for children under 7.

NEWCOMERS

These events are well suited to beginners, juniors and family groups who want to try orienteering or move up from school to forest orienteering.

Pre-enter as in the entry details section below. If you don't have a "dibber" (the electronic timing device) you can hire one - you will be allocated one to pick up at the Enquiries tent at the event. You will also pick up your map at the event - at the start.

The location information on the event web page will take you to the parking and / or the event centre (the Download flag and the tent will be where you pick up your dibber). At the event centre, club members (wearing yellow high visibility jackets) are there to help and advise. The start is usually very close to the event centre, but if not, there will be red and white tapes placed intermittently along the route that you follow to get between the event centre and the start and finish.

If you are new to this sport, please select the Yellow or Orange course. This may seem short but it's the best way to learn. Most families start with a “Yellow” level course which is about 2.5km long and will take around 30-45 minutes.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Ed Nichols

Organiser: David Wilson

Controller: Kieran Devine (BAOC)