SOG S7 Oldhouse Warren & Cowdray Forest Sat 03 May, 2025

Report

Event photos are here.

We've had reports of ticks out in the forest today, so please check thoroughly for any that might have attached themselves to you.

It was great to see so many people attending today's event, what a glorious day and the woods were the best that I can ever recall. Oldhouse must have seemed so runnable for those of you who also endured my courses at Houghton last Sunday.... Looking at the times taken, my courses do appear to have properly tested many of you today. Some of my aims when planning the more technical courses include trying to limit the amount of track running and to keep you concentrating the whole time. Sometimes that's just not possible, but I think I probably succeeded today - From feedback received it seems that most of you did enjoy the challenge, even if you may not have had that elusive perfect run....

As always, loads of people to thank. Before the day: - Steve B for arranging permission with the always very supportive landowners / land agents at quite late notice (we were originally expecting to go to Gravetye). Julia for vetting my courses, Tim for helping hanging controls on Friday evening, Neil for arranging all the equipment. On the day, our marvellous SI team (Joe, Penny & Mike) - always amongst the very first to arrive and the last to leave, Alan Y & Vince for manning the entrance gate (plus David & Amaryllis at the end), all the car parkers (Robin, Anna, Pete, Ben, Alan W - and apologies if I've missed anyone), then Alan V, Garry, Peter & Maddie for collecting the controls back in. Considering that at 1230 (course closing time) there were still a handful of people who hadn't made it back to download, it was quite an achievement to have left the site, locking the gate behind us within an hour! Thank-you to anyone who may have abandoned their course to ensure we weren't having to wait around to collect in the controls.
Steve Jarvis

RouteGadget

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Location Info

Nearest town: Crawley

• Postcode: RH10 5NY *
• Lat,Lng: 51.09964,-0.14634
• Grid Ref: TQ299253
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
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* Postcodes are not very precise in some areas, so don't rely on them for an exact location.

Directions / Parking

Signed from the junction of the B2036/M23 (Jct 10a).

Grid Reference: TQ299353

Nearest Postcode: RH10 5NY

What3Words: beams.lines.fallen

Driving slowly, follow the track SW approximately 700 metres to the assembly area and park as directed. This track is unmade with many potholes, and is NOT suitable for low sporty cars.

For anyone being dropped off, please walk in from the gate, following the edge of the track to the assembly area.

To avoid two-way traffic on the narrow track, please do not leave the parking area before 1100hrs.

Public Transport

Nearest railway station is Three Bridges. 2.7km walk to area.

Course Information

Blue 5.8km, 170m climb, 18 controls

Green 4.2km, 100m climb, 16 controls

Short Green 3.1km, 85 m climb, 14 controls

Orange 2.6km, 55m climb, 8 controls

Yellow 1.5km, 30m climb, 6 controls

Start/Finish: Close together, both are approx 150m SW from the car park - further along the same access track that you came in on.

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 (use code SOjuniors).
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.

Terrain Description

Mixed deciduous/coniferous woodland. Ride/path network.

Dog restrictions

Sorry no dogs.

Facilities

Note that no water will be provided on the course or at the finish. Please consider carrying your own if you feel that you are likely to be out for a long time, especially as it may well be quite warm for an event in early May.

Miscellaneous

Safety bearing. Head north-west to the track running alongside the fence which borders the M23. If you meet the track which was driven along to reach the car parking area you should turn left (and beware of traffic). Otherwise turn right until you reach the car park. Blue course competitors will cross into Cowdray Forest for part of their course - from there you should head north until you initially meet the east-west bridleway (that you crossed earlier) and then continue northwards as per the instructions above.

Fence crossings:- There are no fences that will need to be crossed on the Yellow, Orange, Short Green or Green courses, which are entirely within Oldhouse Warren. Note that the Blue course heads out and back into Cowdray Forest for part of the course, which involves crossing the barbed wire fences which border the east-west bridleway between Oldhouse Warren and Cowdray Forest. The northern fence is generally quite derelict and in most places is easily crossed with care. The southern fence is far newer, generally very stable and in most places can be easily crossed with care. Please consider changing to another course if you are concerned about your ability to cross barbed wire fences.

Phytophthora Ramorum - An area has been marked out of bounds (on the map with purple hashing) due to the presence of Phytophthora Ramorum . This is a highly destructive, algae-like organism called a water mould, it can cause extensive damage and death to more than 150 plant species. Please ensure you do not enter the Out of Bounds area for any reason, and take the following measures to reduce the possibility of spreading the disease to other forest areas:
Remove excess soil/leaf litter/needles from footwear, gaiters and clothing before leaving the forest at the end of the event.
On returning home thoroughly scrub footwear/gaiters, wash clothing and leave to dry for at least 48 hours before reuse.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Steve Jarvis

Organiser:

Controller / Event Adviser: