Park-O P5Hampden ParkSat 13 July, 2024

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

Results

Report

There were times when it was unusual to get over 30 runners at
Hampden Park so I was very pleased to see 46 of you today. Thank
you for making the effort and I hope you enjoyed the courses. Thank
you for all the positive feedback too and, for a change at my recent
events, the rain stayed away!

The challenge when planning this event was to keep on top of the
rapid summer growth that we’ve had! I paid a few visits to the area
and took a pair of secateurs with me on the final 2 to trim back part
of the bramble invasion. Some of it was so bad though that some
paths were pretty much overrun, resulting in a final map update 10
days before the event. Hopefully any subsequent growth didn’t
affect your runs.

My aim today was to give you twisty but fast courses with fast
decision making required along with good speed control. I also tried
to choose control sites that would remain both obvious and
accessible especially with the rapid summer growth. Times were
much as I had hoped, and all competitors were in well before course
closing time meaning that everything had been cleared away by
12:10. It was nice to see a good cluster at the top of the results too,
and some names higher up than usual! Well done to those runners!
As always, these events can’t run without a team of volunteers and
so I would like to extend my thanks to Steve (for permissions), Mike
G (for printing maps), Joe and Les (for SI support), Einar (for running
the start) and Darren, Steve, Garry and John (for control collecting –
in possibly record time!).

Chris Hooker

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.

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: Eastbourne

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

Directions / Parking

Parking on Hampden Park Road, the small 15mph road that goes through the park. Assembly near the memorial.

Post code: BN22 9QR

W3W: spaces.pile.winks

Public Transport

Buses to park. Train station in Hampden Park is about 1 mile away.

Course Information

Sprint 2.6km (juniors under 14 must be accompanied by an adult on the sprint course as there are road crossings)

Orange 1.8km

Yellow 1.1km

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 open

From 9:45 to 10:45

Start Times

From 10:00 to 11:00 Courses close at 12:00

Map Details

Hampden Park 1:4000 mapped by Roger Maher (2008) and updated for this event by Chris Hooker (2024).

Terrain Description

Park with open and wooded areas, sports pitches and a large lake. There is a good path network. A road passes through the area which only the sprint course will cross.

Dog restrictions

Dogs allowed under control.

Facilities

Café near to assembly.

Miscellaneous

Full body cover highly recommended as there is a lot of undergrowth appearing!

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Chris Hooker

Organiser:

Controller: