Sunny Sussex Weekend - Sprint Sovereign Harbour Sat 09 May, 2026

Report

Thank you to everyone who came along to the sprint stage of the SSW at Sovereign Harbour. I hope that everyone enjoyed their courses throughout the unique characteristics that the area brings with the harbour fronts, fountains and dense network of connecting paths. One of my main objectives with planning of the courses was to provide route choice at every possible location, in order to require constant concentration to avoid missing shortcuts or optimal routes, which were not always obvious. If you are wandering if you took all the optimal route choices, head onto routegadget and use the ruler tool, and whilst you are there, consider uploading your route 😊.

An additional thanks to Darren for organising, Julia for controlling & all those who helped with the start, finish, SI & marshalled controls/crossing.

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

Eastbourne is the venue for our Sunny Sussex evening evening event. The water features, urban pathways, bridges, sea locks, and seafront setting provide a great venue to explore and race.

This is a sprint format Southern England Urban Orienteering League event, which will be planned with the aim of winning times of 12-15 minutes in each class. Get your entries in by 8pm on Friday 8th May.

Final details.

Location Info

Nearest town: Eastbourne

• Postcode: BN23 5QG *
• Lat,Lng: 50.79607,0.32574
• Grid Ref: TQ640022
• 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

Car Parking: TQ 64022 02200 What 3 words wanted.grew.motion

The Waterfront Car Park shares a postcode with Harbour Quay please head for the Waterfront Car Park.

The event will be signposted from the A259 Harbour Roundabout.

Take care if using a postcode on your Satnav that you don’t follow directions via the Sovereign Centre Sports Centre, along the seafront to the rear of the Sovereign Harbour Retail Park, where you will not be able to gain access to the Waterfront Car Park. Please use the directions to the Waterfront Car Park.

If approaching from the East: Take the A259 from Pevensey and head in the direction of Eastbourne along Eastbourne Road. Go through the Martello roundabout to the next roundabout, Harbour roundabout. Take the first left at Harbour roundabout (you will pass the Asda Petrol station on your right and Sovereign Harbour Retail Park will be on your right). Proceed to take the first exit to the Waterfront car park with orienteering parking on the left hand side.

If approaching from the West or North: At the Langney roundabout follow the A259 in the direction of Pevensey Bay along Pevensey Bay Road. After 0.5 miles take the second exit on Harbour Roundabout (you will see Asda and Sovereign Harbour Retail park and pass the Asda petrol station on your right). Proceed to take the first exit to the Waterfront car park with orienteering parking on the left hand side.

Please note that the reserved parking for orienteering has a height restriction of 2.1m. If your vehicle is taller than this, then you can take the second exit off the roundabout and there is free, unrestricted height parking for three hours between 06:00 and 22:15 and 10 minutes between 22:15 and 06:00.

Public Transport

Best train Station for transport connections is Eastbourne Train Station. To catch a bus, walk towards the Seafront along Terminus Road to Cornfield Road. Take the Number 5/99/LINK Stagecoach bus. Take one of these buses to the bus stop at Langney, opposite ASDA. At this stop, walk southwest towards Sovereign Harbour and walk towards the Quayside.

Course Information

Course 1 MO: Anyone over 16

Course 2 MV: M40+. WO: any female over 16

Course 3 MSV: M55+, WV : W40+, MJ: M14-16 inclusive

Course 4 : MUV: M65+, WSV: W55+, WJ: W14-16 includive

Course 5: MHV: M75+, WUV : W65+, WHV: W75+

Course 6: MYJ M12-, WYJ : W12-

First prize only awarded to the first eligible competitor in each category.

Competitors may “run up” a class or classes and still be eligible for a prize at all 3 events. eg A W55 may run Blue at both Friston events and WV and be eligible for prizes in those categories.

Competitors wishing to score in the 2026 SEOUL league should enter the course number associated with the age class they wish to obtain a scoring run in.

Subject to final controlling:

• Course 1 - MO - 3.7km - 10m climb - 22 controls
• Course 2 - WO, MV - 3.3km - 10m climb - 20 controls
• Course 3 - WV, MJ, MSV - 3.1km - 10m climb - 21 controls
• Course 4 - WJ, WSV, MUV - 2.6km - 5m climb - 18 controls
• Course 5 - WUV, MHV, WHV - 2km - 5m climb - 18 controls
• Course 6 - MYJ, WYJ - 1.9km - 5m climb - 19 controls
• Free to residents score course - 30 controls

Punching start and finish. All other controls will be SIAC enabled

Entry Details

Pre-entry via Racesignup.co.uk (there will be no entry on the day):

£9.00 BOF Senior/£4.50 BOF Junior up to 27^th April 2026

£10.00 BOF Senior/£4.50 BOF Junior up to 7^th May 2026 (subject to map availability)

£2 non-member supplement (Seniors only)

SO juniors free (use code SOjuniors)

Standard Dibber Hire: £1.00 Senior/£0.50 Junior

SIAC Hire: £2.00 Senior/£1.00 Junior

See series info at the beginning for discounts available.

Registration

6.15pm - 7.15pm

Start Times

6.30pm - 7.30pm. Courses close 8.00pm

Map Details

Newly mapped in 2026, mapped to ISSprOM 2019-2, 1:4000, 2m contours. A4 map

Terrain Description

Originally called The Crumbles, Sovereign Harbour opened in 1993 and is northern Europe’s largest composite marina complex, having been developed from a shingle landscape to an important leisure attraction and residential area over the last 20 years. Premier’s Sovereign Harbours outside Eastbourne, comprise five harbours that together provide more than 800 berths.

The Waterfront at Sovereign Harbour is a waterside leisure complex. A destination for locals and visitors alike, it offers a variety of restaurants and cafés, as well as family-friendly attractions, pampering, and a comprehensive events programme. Premier Marinas acquired The Waterfront in spring 2018.

The terrain varies from waterfront urban pathways with bridges and sea locks, to shingle seafront and urban residential areas. Take care when close to waterways and when in the residential areas along the roads, as residents drive to access their properties. Courses predominately remain on paved paths & roads, however there are some options to cut across grassed areas or shingle beach. There are steps located on all courses, however it is possible to avoid using steps if required.

Dog restrictions

On a lead in the car park and in the harbour. Dogs must be kept on a lead on the seafront, promenades, and some beaches. Clean up after your dog. 

Facilities

There are a wide variety of restaurants at The Waterfront including Indian, Thai, Italian, Mediterranean, Pub/Restaurant, Chippy.

At the Sovereign Harbour Retail park there is a superstore and a variety of other shops.

Public toilets are available. Café’s and local shops are available for refreshments. You may want to bring your own water. Showers are available upon request. Speak with the organizer on the day to gain access to showering facilities.

Miscellaneous

Special thanks go to Premier Marinas, Columbus Point (Management Company) Limited and Eastbourne Borough Council that have given permission for this event to take place.

Safety Bearing: Head west to Atlantic Drive (relatively main road) and follow north to “The Waterfront”.

Long Man Brewery offer a 10% discount to competitors visiting the brewery over the SSW. You can find them at Church Farm, Litlington, BN26 5RA www.longmanbrewery.com

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Thomas Jarvis

Organiser: Darren Warner-Swann

Controller / Event Adviser: Julia Jarvis