SOG S2POSTPONED - Rivers Wood + Basic Skills CoachingSat 15 February, 2020

Near: Haywards Heath
Level of event: Local
Type of event: Race

Results will be here

RouteGadget

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Pre event info

Due to the strong winds and heavy rain that is expected on Saturday morning the event has been postponed. It is hoped that the event will take place later in the season once a suitable date has been identified.

The event will be preceded at 10.00 by an informal 45 minute coaching session on navigation aimed at beginners and recent starters. We will cover the basic skills needed to complete an orienteering course and there will also be tips to help save time in competition. Please let Robert Lines know by email if you will attend. Registration on the day is from 09.45-09.55 and there is no additional fee for the coaching session. The session will finish in time for everyone to participate in the main orienteering event.

SOG Series Info

SOGs are friendly club events where children and newcomers are very welcome. 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. Green and Blue courses are run or walked by any age group - you can race competitively or just enjoy the woodland.

There are two series of events - autumn and spring of approximately 8 events each. Electronic timing (SI) is used.

Help on the day always appreciated.

Volunteer here

Enquiries here

Location Info

Nearest town: Haywards Heath

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

Directions / Parking

From the south turn right off Borde Hill Lane in to River's Lane immediately after the skew railway bridge. From the north, turn left immediately before the bridge.

Public Transport

Nearest trains at Haywards Heath or Balcombe

Course Information

Blue 6k 130m climb

Green 4.2k 110m climb

Orange 2.6k 50m climb

Yellow 1.4k 30m climb

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 open

9:45 to 10:45

Start Times

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

Terrain Description

Rivers Wood is a beautiful working woodland with open farmland to the north including several small copses, all part of the much larger Balcombe Estate. The Wood comprises both deciduous and evergreen trees with an extensive network of paths and rides. A public footpath runs north/south through the middle of the Wood, otherwise it is private land entertaining everything from horse-riding, to forestry work, to shooting, to police dog training (not, I should hasten to add, while we’re running on it!). Blue and Green courses will be crossing the River Ouse to the north of the woods up into the fields and copses on the opposite hillside. The Wood now looks very different to when we last ran there in November, the leaves are gone from the paths and rides, and the bracken has died back greatly improving runnability. Some areas of bramble remain and all courses avoid the worst of it. There is of course, given the rain we’ve had, plenty of mud, but nothing like as bad as might be expected, and again, the worst of it has been avoided.
A previous map of the Wood and farmland can be viewed at https://www.so.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#299

Facilities

None

Miscellaneous

Blue and Green courses cross the River Ouse. There are two compulsory crossing points (bridges) that must be used. All other banks of the river are Out of Bounds and under no condition must any attempt be made to cross except at the bridges.
The many large log piles that were present in the registration and parking areas in November have now gone, but please be aware that any remaining piles are strictly Out of Bounds and not to be climbed on.
There is a very small area of dismantled scaffolding partially covered by undergrowth on a slope in the middle of the map. Although not marked on the map, this is Out of Bounds and will be surrounded by black/yellow tape.
The large field in the southern sector of the wood is Out of Bounds and those on the Blue course must not attempt to cross it.
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.

SPRINT TO THE FINISH. All courses at Rivers Wood will share the same finish - 130 metres down a gently sloping grassed ride. Who will be the quickest from the penultimate control to the finish? There will be small but perfectly formed chocolatey prizes for the quickest Male and Female on each colour course. In the event of a tie (inevitable) the time for the previous control will be taken in to consideration, and the one before that if necessary. No, no penalty shoot-outs. So save some energy for a final, mighty effort!
Results of course won’t be known until all finishers are in, but winners will be announced on the SO website. Prizes will be distributed at Great Wildgoose Woods on 7 March

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Mike Turner

Organiser:

Controller: