SOG S5Rivers WoodSat 30 March, 2019

Report

Planner's Comments:

This was my first go at planning a SOG and I hadn't appreciated just how much work is involved. I downloaded Purple Pen and sat down at the computer. After a few hours of clicking away I had produced 4 routes and sent them off to my mentor Chris Hooker for comments, assuming them to be perfect and that, aside from sending a few emails, I had finished my job as a planner.

How wrong I was. The courses all needed changes, the map needed updating, the courses needed changing again, the map needed more updating. Eventually the courses were signed off and I could get on with actually organising the hundreds of things, big and small, that needed to be done before the event could take place.

So I was very relieved when people started turning up on Saturday morning and then made their way to the start line. And it was great fun, during quiet moments at the start line, to watch a dozen people all running through the woods in different directions. Later on, those same people dibbed the finish and even told me that they had enjoyed the courses. Everything had gone as planned!

When planning the courses I had worked on the principle that most people would use the paths to cover the bulk of the distance between controls so I tried to find legs that would cut across the paths as much as possible to give plenty of chances to pick poor routes or make mistakes. This plan seems to have worked. I'd also, especially on the blue, sent people up and down the contours as much as possible, mostly because I'm sadistic. But if you're doing blue, that's what you sign up for!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the event so I'm very happy with how things turned out. I must thank all the people that helped me, especially Chris Hooker who guided me through the process, parking team, EOD car and the SI Team and finally my girlfriend Julie Drake who put up with me getting stressed and did a lot of the nuts and bolts organisation in the last few days. And sorry to everyone for all the emails that I sent without attaching the attachments!

Richard Sansom

Planner

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

Please note the later start time for this event.

Location Info

Nearest town: Haywards Heath

• Postcode: RH16 1XS *
• Lat,Lng:51.03131,-0.10685
• Grid Ref: TQ328274
• 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

From Borde Hill Lane, turn East onto the concrete farm road (Rivers Road) immediately North of the railway bridge. The turning is very soon after the railway bridge so be prepared as Borde Hill Lane is busy, fast and visibility is restricted.

There is a parking charge of £1.00 per car

There will be NO parking available until 1200 so please do not arrive early!

Public Transport

Nearest trains at Balcombe or Haywards Heath

Course Information

Yellow (1.5km), Orange (2.3km), Green (3.6km), Blue (5.8km)

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.
Non member fees: Seniors £7.50, Juniors £3.25.

'Dibber' hire:
Electronic punching (SI) chips are available to hire. SIAC (contactless): £2 (juniors £1), non-SIAC (not contactless) £1 (juniors £0.5)

Registration

12:15 to 13:15

Start Times

12:30 to 13:45. Courses close 15:00

Map Details

1:7500 with 5m contours. Based on original map by Roger Maher 2004 with updates in 2012 and 2015 plus minor updates March 2019. The path network remains accurate but some vegetation has come and some has gone.

Terrain Description

Mixed woodland with a good network of rides and paths. Plenty of contours and depending on the weather, probably some mud.

Dog restrictions

Sorry no dogs allowed at this event.

Facilities

None

Miscellaneous

Safety bearing is South West. This will bring you to either

a) the fence bordering Borde Hill Lane, in which case head south within the woods to the concrete track and then east to the car park. Do NOT go onto Borde Hill Lane b) the fence bordering the railway line, in which case head west within the woods to the concrete track and the car park. Do NOT go onto the railway line.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Richard Sansom

Organiser:

Controller: