Stanmer Park Middle Sun 21 December, 2025

Near: Brighton
Level of event: Regional
Type of event: Race

Results

Report

I hope you enjoyed your runs on Stanmer today, the weather was kind to us and the forest is at its best in December with minimal undergrowth. Neil Crickmore’s new map was a great improvement over its predecessor, and it was a pleasure to plan knowing that nearly every control site I selected for my first draft of the courses would be usable.

Stanmer being long and thin with a path grid parallel to the scarp slope is ideally suited to middle race courses, with short legs cutting across the path network and lots of changes of direction, which can be surprisingly disorientating. Inevitably, cutting across the path network also involves several ascents of the steep scarp slope. I hope you found sufficient technical and physical challenge despite the modest length of the courses.

I would like to thank Controller Steve Jarvis for his many constructive comments which improved the courses considerably and for being a pleasure to work with. Thanks also to my super efficient control collectors Rob Leathley, Liam Marsh, Steve Smithard, and Pete Stubberfield, who were so speedy we were packed up before courses officially closed at 2pm!

Alan Velecky

Organiser’s thanks

Thanks to: Alan Velecky for planning; Steve Jarvis for controlling; Neil Crickmore for mapping; Joe House and Judith Carder for Start and Finish; Joe Barrett, Mike Ralph, Samantha Gibson and Penny Parker for SI; Gary Greenstreet for Routegadget; and Peter Stubberfield, Rob Leathley, Liam Marsh, Steven Smithard and Alan Velecky for control collecting.

Rob.


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.

Read more about RouteGadget…

Pre event info

The area has been completely remapped for this event.

See Brighton City Race page for information about the weekend's other events. Registration via RaceSignUp.

Location Info

Nearest town: Brighton

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

Directions / Parking

Stanmer Park is a popular destination for a winter walk, so there are several options for public parking depending on how busy it is:

Free parking is possible in Coldean which is a 20 minute walk away.

Assembly is located on the flat grassy area adjacent to the Lower Lodges car park, Circa in the Park café, and children’s play area. Enquiries and SI download will be located here.

Start is 350m / 5 minutes walk uphill from Assembly, follow tapes. Finish is 400m downhill to Assembly, route also taped.

Public Transport

Good bus and train connections can be found by using Google Maps.

Course Information

Black: 6.2k, 210m climb, 26 controls (double sided map)
Brown: 4.9k, 185m climb, 21 controls
Blue: 4.2k, 120m, 18 controls
Green: 3.6k, 110m, 14 controls
Short Green: 3.1k, 60m climb, 13 controls
Orange: 1.9k, 60m climb, 8 controls
Yellow: 1.7k, 45m climb, 8 controls
White: 1.3k, 45m climb, 8 controls

Black and Brown are on a 1:10000 map, the rest are 1:7500

Loose control descriptions on waterproof paper will be available in start lanes.

SIAC touch free punching will be enabled, punching start and finish.

Benches are not mapped, neither are hides made from branches, of which there are many, some sizeable. There is a 1m high wooden lattice fence along one of the main paths in the wooded section which is not mapped but can be crossed. There are some small seasonal paths which can appear suddenly and are not mapped, and others can be difficult to see due to leaf fall.

There are many rotted rootstocks, which from a distance may take the appearance of a small knoll, that have not been mapped. Only rootstocks greater than 2m tall have been mapped.

Please note that since the terrain is not sufficiently technical for TD5 legs, the Short Green course is suitable for those who would normally run Light Green.

Entry Details

Entries via RaceSignup which close at 8pm on Friday Dec 19th.

Late fees (from 15th December): Adults £12, Juniors £6

SI-card hire fee £1, or £2 for a contactless SIAC

Discounts:

Half price for Adults entering the Orange, Yellow or White courses (automatically applied).

SO junior members - 100% discount off entry fees - use code SOjuniors

Full time adult students - 50% discount off Adult fees - use code Student

Non-student young adults (18-25) - 30% off Adult fees - use code YA

Registration

Sign up using Racesignup.

Start Times

Starts 10.45-12.00. Courses close at 13.30.

Map Details

Newly resurveyed for the event by Neil Crickmore.
Scale 1:10,000 or 1:7500, 5m contours.
A4 map printed on waterproof paper.

Terrain Description

Varied woodland with a complex path network and numerous depressions and knolls, ideal for middle race courses. A mixture of open, runnable beech forest and areas with denser vegetation including some areas of bramble. Open and semi-open parkland to the east of the area. A steep slope runs NW to SE along the length of the area, this can be slippery in places. The whole area is well used by walkers, many with dogs and children, and mountain bikers, please treat those you encounter with courtesy.

Black, Brown, Blue and Green courses cross a small road in the north of the area which provides access to Chalk Hill car park. The road is narrow and pot-holed so vehicles should be travelling very
slowly along it, but please take care anyway.

Stanmer Park is an 18th century country estate, former residence of generations of the Pelham family. During World War 2, it was requisitioned for Canadian tank-drivers to practise their warfare
skills. It is now Brighton and Hove’s largest park, and contains the tiny village of Stanmer.

Dog restrictions

Well behaved dogs are allowed in the area and on courses, please pick up after your dog.

Facilities

Stanmer village includes the delightful Stanmer Tea Rooms. If you prefer your refreshments in more regal surroundings, Stanmer House Café is a few hundred metres further south. Circa in the Park by the entrance to Stanmer Park offers take-away food and beverage options.
There are toilets by Circa in the Park, Stanmer village (opposite the tea rooms) and also within the Walled Garden (One Garden Brighton)

Miscellaneous

Safety bearing SE

In case of emergency phone 07526 792817

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Alan Velecky

Organiser: Robert Lines ([email protected])

Controller / Event Adviser: Steve Jarvis

Photo Gallery

click/tap photos for a larger version