Christmas ScoreStanmerFri 27 December, 2024

Pre event info

We will be offering free mulled wine, hot fruit punch and mince pies after the event. Please contribute some mince pies to share if you can. Please also bring your own cup for the mulled wine.

Directions / Parking

Lower Lodges pay and display car parks:

• Grid Reference: TQ342087
• Post Code: BN1 9PY
• what3words:asserts.prove.codes

A parking fee applies: Up to 2 hours - £1.90. Up to 4 hours - £3.00. Up to 8 hours - £5.90. Pay via one of the following methods:

• Pay by Phone
• App
• Phone Call 273 458458.

Parking is quite limited so please car share if possible. Additional parking is available at Sussex University, only a short walk away but more expensive.

Public Transport

0.4 miles from Falmer Railway Station, 10 mins walk.

Course Information

60 minute score event

• collect up to 21 different controls in any order. 10 points per control. 10 extra points are available for:
  • every 3 consecutive 70s punched (in any order), individual controls can only appear in one set of three.
  • every 3 consecutive 90s punched (in any order), individual controls can only appear in one set of three
  • punching 100 as your final control before finishing
  • Maximum possible score 280 points (controls can only be punched once

Scoring example: 72 75 76 90 92 91 97 95 99 70 71 73 75 79 100 would score 150 (15 controls, 4 x triplets, 100 as last control)

45 minute score event

• collect up to 20 different controls in any order.
• 10 points per control.
• Maximum score possible is 200 points.

You may run on which ever course you wish but to be eligible for the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Trophy or an age related prize you must enter as follows:

• Elizabeth Brown Memorial Trophy 60 Minute Score
• M/W14- 45 Minute Score
• M/W18- 60 Minute Score
• M/W Open 60 Minute Score
• M/W50+ 60 Minute Score
• M/W65+ 60 Minute Score

An age related points system is used to determine the winner of the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Trophy - From the BOF rulebook there are running speed ratios for age classes (male and female separately), in section 7 of Appendix B: Course Planning. The actual score is adjusted proportionately according to the ratio in the table (except for M10/W10 where we have applied sensible ratios ourselves because BOF use different course data for those classes) by dividing by the ratio. If anybody has got all the controls then their score is also multiplied by 60 divided by the finishing time.

In addition to the Elizabeth Brown Trophy, there are prizes for the first female & male in each category.

Entry Details

Online entry only via Racesignup. Entries close 8pm on 26th December (No entry on the day).

SO/BOF members: Seniors £7.00, Juniors £3.50, SO Juniors free (use discount code SOjuniors).

Non members: Seniors £9.00, Juniors £3.50

'Dibber' hire: Electronic punching (SI) chips are available to hire. SIAC (contactless): £2.00 (£1.00 Juniors), non-SIAC (not contactless) £1.00 (50p juniors)

Registration

9.45am - 10.45am.

Start Times

From 10.00am - 11.00am. Course closes 12.15pm.

Terrain Description

Stanmer Park is an 18th century country estate, former residence of generations of the Pelham family, extending from the South Downs to the edge of Brighton. During World War 2, it was requisitioned for Canadian tank-drivers to practise their warfare skills, and in 1947 the Pelhams decided to sell up to Brighton Corporation. It is now Brighton and Hove’s largest park.
The mainly runnable woodland (yew, Caucasian wingnut, Lebanese cedar, apple, common lime, horse chestnut, sweet chestnut, and elm) consists of a plateau dropping down (steeply in places) to open areas in a small valley, with Stanmer house and the tiny hamlet of Stanmer, including tea rooms (may be open).
Due to recent forestry work, some of the main paths are now muddy and very rutted. While great care has been taken to update the map, there may be additional mountain bike tracks that have appeared. Some small paths can be difficult to see due to leaf fall and/or forestry work. There are some steep slopes in the area (which can be avoided by route choice).
There are many branch hides built by children (young and old) thoughout the area, some quite substantial. However since these come and go at frequent intervals none have been mapped. A black cross on the map normally represents a bench or seat.

Dog restrictions

Keep your dog in sight, under close control and on a short lead in busy areas. Clear up after your dog.

Facilities

There is a cafe and toilets by the car park as well as a children's play area.

Miscellaneous

Safety Bearing: Head east to the open area, then head south along the open area/lane to the assembly area/car park. You must report to Download even if you do not finish.

Other Users: The area is popular with dog walkers and cyclists, please give them plenty of room to pass.

Event History: On Boxing Day 1978 Elizabeth Brown founded - with a couple of her Orienteering friends - what was to eventually become the SO Xmas event. The first event was at Banstead Wood in Surrey, and over the years the event took a number of formats, but from 1997 on it has been a score event. For many years Elizabeth was the event organiser, and following her passing in May 2011 it was felt that it would be a fitting tribute to rename the annual Christmas event in her memory.

Elizabeth was a top-class Orienteer, in the early years of SO, Elizabeth was the club's undisputed star. She helped put SO on the map. She regularly won the British Championship and the JK throughout her Orienteering career, and twice won gold at the World Masters Championships, first as a W80, then 10 years later as a W90.

Elizabeth collected a lot of trophies along the way and the club are indebted to Elizabeth's family for donating a splendid and unique slate W70 trophy from the 1992 JK at Bigland in the Lake District to be presented each year at the "Elizabeth Brown Memorial" SO Xmas event.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Jane Lambert

Organiser:

Controller:

Important Event Information

Safety and Risk: A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event. Information about how to keep yourself and your children safe at an event can be found here.

Whistles: Carrying a whistle is strongly recommended at all our events and may be made compulsory by the organiser depending on identified risks and conditions.

SIACs: Note that in contactless mode no record of a SIAC "punch" is held in the control box. By using contactless punching, competitors are accepting the resulting risk that we may take longer to find them if they are lost or injured.

Covid Prevention: Please adhere to the British Orienteering Code of Conduct and take care to allow others to maintain social distance if they wish.

Ticks: Please be aware that ticks are common across many of the areas we run in and can carry infections such as Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Encephalitis. This is why the rules of orienteering say that you MUST wear full leg and abdomen cover in the forest. Full arm cover is also recommended. Please check for ticks after running and seek medical advice if you develop flu like symptoms or a spreading circular rash after being bitten. There is an excellent government leaflet here.

Insurance: All of our events are registered with British Orienteering and are covered by their public liability insurance; individuals are advised to consider their own private accident insurance.

Please note that the insurance only covers those registered as being part of the event so if you are taking part as a group, or are accompanying / shadowing a child please make sure you register the names of everyone taking part as you sign up.

For club taster / coaching sessions, individuals who are registered as attending are insured for a maximum of 3 initial sessions whilst deciding whether to join; they must be members of British Orienteering by their 4th session.

Privacy: when participating in our events/activities your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports. Read our data protection page to see how we look after your personal data.