SOG S6Tilgate & CoachingSat 09 April, 2022

Report

Thank you to everyone who came to Tilgate Park for a great morning of orienteering in what turned out to be splendid weather. A spell of heavy rain overnight had cleared but instantly froze as the temperature dropped by dawn and when I arrived there was a super thick layer of fog covering the lake and forest. Fortunately the sun quickly put it's hat on for us and soon had it all burnt off.

Karen had organised a Map Memory exercise for this weeks coaching session and also made this available for anyone else to try independently at any point during the morning. Hopefully some of you took the opportunity to warm up your memories!

I decided in the early stages of planning not to use the forest south of the motorway for this event and to focus on the contrasting terrain of the parkland and forest on the north side. This suited a SOG event although I knew I'd have to work hard to keep the Blue course interesting and varied (sorry about the lake!). Also, I wanted to get the trial of the new to SOG Short Green right, providing both a stepping stone for juniors moving on from Orange and an option for seniors wanting a less physical Green.

Many thanks to those of you who took the time to comment on how much you enjoyed your courses, it was pleasing to see happy faces! We had a good entry on Short Green and positive feedback indicates that it has been well received, it may well be here to stay. Looking through the results at the split times has been most interesting, legs that I thought may have been too easy seem to have been more challenging for some and vice versa. Clearly I have still have lots to learn!

Thank you to the many people involved in making these events happen, much work is done behind the scenes, you all know who you are. Finally, thank you to all my on the day helpers - the coaching team, SI team, set up team and control collection team.

Garry

Lost Property

Compass found near finish, email si@southdowns-orienteers.org.uk to inquire.

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

We are offering FREE COACHING sessions for those who are learning to navigate the yellow or orange course. It is suitable for primary school age children and those of any age just starting to learn how to get around a course using a map. The sessions are fun and based on learning key skills in short sessions. Please contact Karen Ashworth if you think you may be interested. Parents are welcome to attend too. Meet at 10:30am at the SO Flag near Smith & Western. You will have time to do a course after the coaching, so please pre-book your course.

The Tilgate coaching session will feature a map memory exercise. Trainees will see the map at each control and then need to find their way to the next control based on what they can remember of the route. Choose between ‘nice coach mode’ (will let you have a sneaky peak at the map if you need it) and ‘nasty coach mode’ (will only take you back to the previous control!).

Anyone wishing to try the map memory exercise independent from the coached session is welcome to do so. Just go to the exercise start where a laminated section of map will be attached showing the route to the first control. Memorise the route and follow it to the first control where you will find another laminated section of map showing the route to the second control etc. A map showing the location of the exercise start can be found here.

Before attending any orienteering activity, orienteers, including officials, volunteers and coaches, should self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19. These are:

• A high temperature
• A new, continuous cough
• A loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

If you, or anyone you live with, have one or more of these symptoms you should not attend any sporting activity, even if your symptoms are mild.

Location Info

Nearest town: Crawley

• Postcode: RH10 5PQ *
• Lat,Lng:51.09547,-0.17912
• Grid Ref: TQ276345
• 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

Postcode: RH10 5PQ

Grid: TQ276345
What3Words: second.acid.unwanted

Tilgate Park main car park. From M23/A23 take J11 exit for Pease Pottage, follow signs towards Crawley, then follow brown tourist signs to Tilgate Park (which also directs visitors entering Crawley from other directions). Postcode: RH11 9BQ for K2 Leisure Centre - where Tilgate Park road is signed from. There is another access via Titmus Drive which can also be used.

Car Park - Pay & Display charges apply 09:00 - 18:00 at £1.10/hour or £5.50/day. Payment with coins or via your mobile.

Other car parks are available should the main car park become full.

There is a 2.1m height restriction in all Tilgate Park car parks.

Public Transport

Train stations at Crawley (2.7km) and Three Bridges (3.3km). Buses to Tilgate.

Course Information

Blue 6.1km, 80m climb, 21 controls
Green 4.3km, 55m climb, 15 controls
Short Green 2.9km, 40m climb, 13 controls
Orange 2.6km, 40m climb, 10 controls
Yellow 1.7km, 35m climb, 10 controls

Entry Details

Entry only via Racesignup.co.uk, there will be no entry on the day.

Entry fees: Seniors £5, Juniors £2.50 (SO Juniors free - use code SOJuniors)

SI card hire: Seniors £1 (£2 for SIAC), Juniors 50p (£1 for SIAC)

Registration

10:15 to 11:15

Start Times

Note, start times are slightly later than usual: 10:30 - 11:30. Courses close at 13:00

Map Details

1:7,500 with 5m contours. Survey and cartography by Neil Crickmore 2018. Drawn to ISOM 2017 using a LIDAR base map.

Terrain Description

The area comprises of fast runnable parkland with intricate features and forest (north of the motorway) with areas of technical detail. Part of the western area was used for a Canadian Army camp during the Second World War and large elongated depressions show evidence of it's previous use. The large lake on the park side of the map was used by Sir Malcolm Campbell for flotation trials for his speed boat called the Bluebird, which went on to set the water speed record on Coniston Water in 1939.

Dog restrictions

Dogs must be kept on a lead around Tilgate Lake at all times. Dogs are allowed off lead elsewhere in the park so long as the owner has them in sight, can bring them to heel at any time and they do not cause a nuisance to other park users. Dogs are excluded from the Nature Centre, Walled Garden and play area.

Facilities

No key drop.

Toilets located in the main car park.
Please bring your own water to ensure adequate hydration.

Lakeside café, Ice Cream hut, Smith & Western, Children’s play area, Walled Garden with maze, Nature Centre, Go Ape and Go Ape Junior, boating on the lake.

Miscellaneous

Assembly and Download will be in the main car park. Start will be 200m SW of the car park on Sheep Pen Path in the direction of the Nature Centre. Finish will be close by, please remember to download upon your return to the car park.

Please wear clothing suitable for the weather conditions on the day. Studded shoes and full leg cover are recommended.

The carrying of whistles is recommended particularly if you have any existing medical conditions

The parkland is popular with walkers, joggers, dog walkers, cyclists and other activities will be taking place in the forest. Please be respectful of all other users of the area.

Please observe the Out Of Bounds areas marked on the map which include the zip line landing sites at Go Ape.

Forest Segway will be operating a number of instructor led sessions on the day. They use two tracked areas in the forest and also transit to and from these back to base near the Walled Garden. These areas are not OOB but please exercise caution and pass safely should you see them at any point on your course.

Safety bearing - North to road, then East to main car park.

Access to Tilgate Park and Forest has been granted by kind permission of Crawley Borough Council and Forestry England.

Please:

• Adhere to the British Orienteering Code of Conduct.
• Allow others to social distance if they wish to do so.
• Avoid touching the start, finish and control units.
• Move away briskly from the start and all controls. Take time to recover before making your way to download.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Garry Greenstreet

Organiser:

Controller: