Park-O 6East CourtSat 31 August, 2024

Near: East Grinstead
Level of event: Local
Type of event: Race

Results

Report

For RouteGadget, please add routes by manually drawing as GPS routes will not display correctly on the enlarged Maze part of the map.

Big thanks to Steve for his positive guidance, Mike for printing, Neil for kit, Euan for the updated map, Euan and Penny for the biggest challenge of the day - setting up the maze, Penny for SI, Garry and Sue for control collection, Linda and Tim for taking down the maze.

Lots of fiddly 50/50 route choice early on so time lost here was probably down to hesitations and not reading the fine detail. Then a few longer controls to get the heart thumping and the brain cells groaning as competitors entered the wooded section. Many overshot #16 having not adjusted their process to allow for the different terrain combined no doubt with a bit of oxygen debt and race fatigue. I hope you enjoyed the MAZE. Ideally the legs before the MAZE would have been shorter to prevent pre-planning but it looks like it produced enough of a challenge to still confuse a few of you.

Well done to all those that ran in the park run before the event. Great effort.

Thanks for coming. Will

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.

Read more about RouteGadget…

Pre event info

Park-O 6/8.

IMPORTANT: This Park-O includes a MAZE. The MAZE will be shown in enlarged format to the side of the main map. All controls in the MAZE must be PUNCHED. SIAC is not enabled for any controls within the MAZE.

Park-O Series Scoring: Best 4 scores to count on the Sprint course, Orange and Yellow courses. Points are awarded by a fiendish algorithm involving average times and standard deviations. For the Sprint course medals are awarded to 1st,2nd, 3rd Junior (M/W16-), 1st Senior (M/W18-35), 1st Veteran (M/W40-50), 1st Super Veteran (M/W55-60) and 1st Ultra Veteran (M/W65+). For the Orange course medals are awarded for 1st,2nd, 3rd M/W14- and for the Yellow course medals are awarded for 1st,2nd, 3rd M/W12-.

Park O Series Info

Park-Os are friendly club events, usually in parks or school grounds, where children and newcomers are very welcome. These are fun events where you can get a feeling for the sport – you can walk or run, go as a group or on your own or challenge your navigation at high speed against some of our top competitive orienteers. 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. Sprint courses are run or walked by any age group.

The Park-O series takes place in the early summer and early Autumn and is 8 events this year. Certificates are awarded for the best placed in a variety of age categories.

Volunteer here

Enquiries here

Read more about this series

Location Info

Nearest town: East Grinstead

* Postcodes are not very precise in some areas, so don't rely on them for an exact location.

Directions / Parking

East Court Mansion, College Lane, East Grinstead, RH19 3LT. Park in the designated parking spaces.

Overflow parking available 500m approx down Estcots Drive. Enter the area via the green space to the north leading into Lower East Court car park.

Public Transport

1.5km walk from East Grinstead Railway Station to venue.

Course Information

Sprint 2.4km / 50m

Orange 1.4km / 30m

Yellow 1.2km / 25m


Entry Details

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.

Entry fees: Sprint £5.00, Orange £2.50, Yellow £2.50 (SO Juniors free - use code SOJuniors)

SI card hire: Seniors £1 (£2 for SIAC), Juniors 50p (£1 for SIAC)

Registration

10:00am - 11:00am

Start Times

10:15am - 11:15am Courses close at 12:30pm

Map Details

A4 1:4000 with 5m contours.
Map updated by Euan Marsh Aug 2024
The map includes a MAZE which will be shown in enlarged format beside the map.

Terrain Description

Mix of mansion house and gardens, parkland and woodland.

The flower beds and terraces surrounding the mansion house are OUT OF BOUNDS and marked with the pink hatched symbol. Do not enter this area.

There is also a memorial area on the map and competitiors should be respectful in this area in the event that they encounter public paying their respects.

The estate of East Court covers some 48.6 hectares and consists of a large Georgian house with ancillary buildings, gardens, parkland, lake, playing fields and woodland. It provides civic, community, recreational and sporting facilities for the general public as well as housing the headquarters of the East Grinstead Town Council.

The house was built in 1769 and the estate was expanded in the early-19th century. The house was let from 1863, and had fallen into a state of disrepair by 1906, when it was bought by Ernest Cooper. He restored and extended the house and developed the grounds. The existence today of the main house, together with its surrounding grounds, is due in no small measure to Alfred Wagg who, after World War 2, purchased the property through the Manor Charitable Trust.

Dog restrictions

Dogs allowed

Facilities

Basic first aid at registration.

Please bring your own drinks and refreshments.

Toilet block in carpark which is normally open.

Miscellaneous

Route to start and registration will be signed from the car park by the mansion.

All courses involve crossing internal roads and car parks with a 15mph speed limit. Please take care of moving vehicles. The Sprint course uses the woodland in the eastern part of the area which is likely to be very green in July. Whilst the courses have been planned with a view to runners using the paths through the woodland some of those paths may become restricted by undergrowth and you may be more comfortable in full leg cover. Additionally the paths are rough, rooty and potentially muddy so rubber studded shoes are recommended.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Will Heap

Organiser:

Controller: Steve Jarvis