SOG S8 Oldhouse Warren Sat 04 May, 2024

Report

Check out the photos from today's event.

Such a splendid day we had at beautiful Oldhouse Warren! Following the return of some wet weather during the week, come race day the sun shone for our bumper entry. Thank you to everyone who came along, including a number of newcomers that may have now caught the O-bug!

I hope you all enjoyed your runs and starting from a different side of the area, thank you to Karen for sanctioning the lakeside start! I was keen for as many of you as possible to stay in the best parts of the forest and avoid long ride runs, this naturally led to more of a middle distance style event. I also liked the idea of incorporating the contrasting areas of bright bluebell woodland and the dark coniferous plantations.

Apologies to those of you who may have had a longer than intended walk to the start / from the finish, I was slightly economical with the tapes!

Please do ensure that you check yourselves and juniors over for ticks. I have found many feasting following my visits to the area. There is an excellent government leaflet here.

Thank you to the many people who helped make the event happen:

Gate marshal - Jill B
Car parking - Steve B, Neil W
Newcomer help - Linda & Tim H
Start assistance - Garry P, Neil W
SI Team - Joe B, Penny P, Mike R, Les C
Control collection & Search team - Euan M, Liam M, James C, Ian C, Maggy S, Garry P, Tim B
Entries & Kit - Neil C
Map updates - Chris H
Map printing - Mike G
Permissions & Event advisor - Steve B
Safety - Karen A
SO Club Committee
Paddockhurst Estate

Notable, Jill for what turned out to be a very very long shift on the gate and everyone involved in the unscheduled, post event training exercise!

Garry

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.

Location Info

Nearest town: Crawley

• Postcode: RH10 7ZL *
• Lat,Lng: 51.10238,-0.14559
• Grid Ref: TQ299353
• 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

Please note parking is NOT at Whitely Hill, which we have used previously.

Access to the gated site is from the B2036 Balcombe Road roundabout, Worth.

• Grid Reference: TQ299353

• Nearest Postcode: RH10 7ZL

• What3Words: lock.unique.mini

From the North, exit the M23 at junction 10a. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit to the West onto a track.

Approaching from the South, from the B2110/ B2036 junction at the Cowdray Arms follow the B2036 north for 1.3 miles (2.1km). At the roundabout take the 1st exit to the West onto a track.

Driving slowly, follow the track SW approximately 700 metres to the assembly area and park as directed. This track is unmade and NOT suitable for low sporty cars - so strongly recommend you do not bring.

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

Please do not leave the parking area before 11:00 to avoid two way traffic on the narrow track back out.

Public Transport

Nearest railway station is Three Bridges followed by a 1.7 mile (2.7km) walk/cycle.

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

Oldhouse Warren, Cowdray & Greentrees Forest 03/23
1:10,000 with 5m contours

Terrain Description

Oldhouse Warren is an ancient hunting forest comprising of deciduous and coniferous forest blocks with a grid network of rides. The forest is looking at its best this time of year and the bluebells are abundant.

No brambles, no nettles. Last year’s bracken is dead and mostly runnable, although more physical in places. This year’s growth is just popping up so hurry along before it takes over!

Many of the wet ditches currently appear on the ground as small streams. There are some unmapped thickets so don’t rely on vegetation alone for fine navigation.

Take care if coming out of the forest to cross any rides, some have been left quite badly rutted following recent forestry works and there may be the remaining brashings.

Dog restrictions

Sorry no dogs allowed at this event.

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

• Yellow course passes close to a lake 40m after the Start. Parents with any concerns are able to observe from the Start lanes that juniors safely pass the lake.

• 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.

• 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: Garry Greenstreet

Organiser:

Controller / Event Adviser: