SOG S1Eartham SouthSat 01 February, 2025

Near: Slindon
Level of event: Local
Type of event: Race

Results

Report

Navigation in these woods should be be fairly straightforward for experienced orienteers. However, one block of woods looks much the same as the next. Get yourself in the wrong block and confusion can quickly set in, as I found out on my first recce.
Front of house were the awesome foursome of Steve, Jill, Di and Mike, so runners arrived at the start in good spirits. Their morning ended with print outs provided by the equally redoubtable SI team of Penny, Joe, Mike, Paul, Judith and Samantha.

I just hope you all enjoyed the bit in between!

Thanks to Chris Hooker for checking the courses, Mike Gammon for printing the maps at very short notice, and Andy Hanniford for his patience with Forestry England.
Thanks also to Sarah, Hal, Ian and Peter S. for collecting in the controls. Last but not least, my Man Friday, Peter D, gave up his (you guessed it) Friday to assist with the set-up, and also managed the start lanes on race day . I have been blessed with the best possible team of helpers for this event.

There is another SOG in Eartham Woods on April 5th, using the northern half of the map.

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.

SOG Series Info

SOGs are friendly club events where children and newcomers are very welcome. Yellow and Orange courses are suitable for children to run on their own with a bit of practice. Adults are welcome to shadow children until they are confident to go on their own. Green and Blue courses are run or walked by any age group - you can race competitively or just enjoy the woodland.

There are two series of events - autumn and spring of approximately 8 events each. Electronic timing (SI) is used.

Help on the day always appreciated.

Volunteer here

Enquiries here

Location Info

Nearest town: Slindon

* 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. Competitors should only approach the event direct from the A285, please avoid travelling via Eartham village. Traffic on the A285 will be fast moving.

Grid Reference: SU935110

Post Code: PO18 0NA

What3words: cookies.budgeted.scarred

Public Transport

Nearest train station is Barnham.

Course Information

There is a 1.0km (20 minute) walk for all courses to the start and back from the finish.

Blue 6.3 k 180m climb
Green 4.8 k 135m
Short Green 3.5 k 100m
Orange 2.3 k 70m
Yellow 1.7 k 40m

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.
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

1:10000 with 5m contours. A4. Surveyed by Peel Land Surveys 2022 with seasonal updates by Chris Hooker September 2023.

Out of bounds areas on the map are to protect vulnerable fauna.

Terrain Description

Courses use the southern half of the Eartham map and run through the blocks of wood on either side of Stane Street ( the main track running in a north-easterly direction from Eartham Lane, the road in the south-west corner of the map)
Stane Street (Stane is Old English for stone) is the Roman road that links London with Chichester and passes by other well known orienteering venues such as Ranmore Common, Holmwood Common and Leith Hill. It has an average width of 24 ft and has drainage ditches on either side up to 90 ft apart, making it one of the broadest roads in the country at the time it was built (1st century AD) The metalling is around 1 ft deep and constructed with local resources such as sandstone and flint, and it has a pronounced camber. There were regular posting stations (called mansiones) along the way, including a nearby one at Hardham. Much of the route is now followed by modern roads, but the section that runs through Eartham Woods probably looks much the same today as it did when the legions left Britain.

The area is mainly beech woodland on the dip slope of the South Downs. It is very runnable, so fast times are likely. There is a profusion of large pits and depressions, and three shallow, dry valleys run downwards from the north.

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. Dogs must be kept on leads where signs indicate livestock are grazing.

Facilities

Registration and download will be in the car parking field, please park as directed by marshals. Bring your own water.

Miscellaneous

Safety Bearing: West

Biosecurity Measures: Before attending the event please ensure that your orienteering footwear/gaiters are clean. When you leave the car parking field to go to the start you will be asked to disinfect your footwear/gaiters before running in the forest. 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

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

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: Neil Watts

Organiser:

Controller: