SOG A1Knowlands Wood & Junior CampSat 01 October, 2022

Report

Despite the late notice of the closure of the level crossing at Cooksbridge, and the grid-locked traffic in Lewes which caused some runners a much longer than anticipated journey to Knowlands Wood, I hope that you all enjoyed your runs today. It was great to see a turnout of almost 120 people for the first SOG of the autumn season, and what a beautiful day it was too!

Knowlands Wood is a very compact area and it is a challenge to provide varied courses of the required lengths and difficulty without covering the same ground twice. Hopefully, the courses offered did that.

A couple of runners commented that the courses were a bit long. In part, I think this is because the conditions underfoot in Knowlands have changed (late summer undergrowth) which made running slower and, due to the introduction of a Short Green course, the Green course has naturally shifted toward the Blue in terms of length.

My thanks to the Lear family for letting us use their beautiful woodland, Mo Fitzpatrick and Mike Bolton for parking, Chris Hooker for his invaluable advice on my draft courses, and last (bit not least) the ever-efficient SI team of Joe Barrett, Penny Parker and Paul Wilson

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

This is the first event of the Autumn Series and will be followed by our Junior Camp (one night camp), where all juniors are invited to come and take part in some great training exercises, mini competitions, fun games, tasty food and camping. It’s an opportunity to get to know friends and have fun in the woods. Great introduction to the new season of orienteering back in the woods. If children are younger, then parents can camp too. We’ll aim to give juniors as much space from parents as possible. Camping takes place on private land at Knowlands. Will and Anna will be hosting the camp with the help of a number of our club coaches and we hope our older juniors will also be able to camp and help with the coaching. Please give us an indication of interest reasonably early so we can plan how many to cater for.

Location Info

Nearest town: Barcombe

• Postcode: BN8 5EF *
• Lat,Lng:50.93387,0.01983
• Grid Ref:
• 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

Post code: BN8 5EF

What3Words: baseballs.deputy.span

Note that there is a possibility that the road through Cooksbridge (across the level crossing) will be closed on Saturday so please be prepared to take an alternative route.

From Barcombe Cross, take School Hill/Spithurst Road north for 0.6 miles. At the crest of Mount Pleasant hill, take the farm track to the west. The entrance to the farm track will be signed.
Parking as directed on grass areas to the east of Knowlands Farm.

Public Transport

Train stations: Lewes (7 miles), Uckfield (8 miles). Bus: 124 from Lewes to Barcombe Cross (0.6 mile)

Course Information

Yellow 1.7 km

Orange 2.4 km

Short Green 3.1 km

Green 4.7 km

Blue 6.0 km

Climb is negligible on all courses

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 club secretary.

Fees:

SO/BOF Senior members £5.00 (non-members £6),

Juniors £2.50 (SO Juniors free - use discount code SOjuniors).

'Dibber' hire: Electronic punching (SI) chips are available to hire. SIAC (contactless): £2, non-SIAC (not contactless) £1. Half price for juniors.

Registration open

9:45 to 10:45

Start Times

10:00 to 11:00. Courses close at 12:30.

Map Details

1:5000 based on 1997 map by Roger Maher with updates by Les Hooper in 2021 and planner’s updates in August 2022

Terrain Description

Knowlands Wood is an ancient coppiced broadleaf wood with hornbeam, oak, birch, quaking aspen and a wide range of other native species. The wood, whjch has wide rides and a good path network, is beautifully managed by the Lear family.

Due to the lengthy period of dry weather, some of the blue features on the map may be brown, and some of the minor mapped paths are seasonal and may be difficult to spot!

The fields to the north and the south of Knowlands Wood are either under cultivation or may contain stock. Therefore, these fields are all out of bounds.

Full leg cover is recommended.

Please note that there are active beehives adjacent to the parking area, and that there are log piles throughout the woods which should not be climbed on.

Dog restrictions

Sorry no dogs allowed at this event as there will be livestock in the area.

Facilities

None. Bring your own water and ensure you are adequately hydrated pre and post event.

Miscellaneous

Safety bearing is south which will bring you to a track. Follow the track east to registration and car park

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Clive Hawkes

Organiser:

Controller: