Parko 5 Tilgate Park Sat 12 July, 2025

Report

Thank you to everyone who braved the heat today and joined us at Tilgate. The courses were a tad different to the traditional Park-O, taking full advantage of the varied terrain this incredible O venue has to offer - hopefully you enjoyed this break from field adventures!

As always, the event wouldn’t be possible without an incredible team of helpers. Thanks to Neil & Euan for map updates and course feedback; Euan and Dad for helping with control site checking; Euan for helping place the controls (and Mum and Garry for hammering a couple of unwilling controls into the ground); Euan and Garry for control collecting; Joe, Samantha and Les for the SI; Peter for permissions and Grandad for expertly manning the finish.

Planning a local event is always a fun experience, getting to try different things and experience old areas from a whole new perspective. When the email comes asking for planners for the autumn SOG series, I would highly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t before!

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

Junior warm up session 10:15 to 10:30

We will be running a junior warm up session from 10:15 to 10:30. Juniors are anyone under 20. Do come and join us. It's a chance to warm up the muscles and have a bit of fun, before your run. Find us by the coaching flag & junior squad banner.

Pre event info

Because of predicted temperatures, all participants and strongly advised to bring their own supply of water to keep hydrated. Whilst part of the Park-O series, much of this event takes place in the woodlands around the park, so full leg and torso cover are strongly advised.

Start times are from 10:30 which is slightly later than usual to avoid clashing with the Parkrun event starting at 09:00.

Location Info

Nearest town: Crawley

• Postcode: *
• Lat,Lng: 51.09555,-0.18012
• Grid Ref:
• 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

Free parking is available off Tilgate Drive (approaching from the West). Main parking is located in the main Tilgate Car Park – Download/Enquiries will be located adjacent to this.

Prices:

Up to 1 hour - £1.50

Up to 2 hours - £3.00

Up to 3 hours - £4.50

Up to 4 hours - £6.00

Course Information

Sprint – 2.4km, 17 controls (most tricky navigation)

Orange – 1.8km, 10 controls (more tricky navigation)

Yellow – 1.2km, 12 controls (easier navigation)

Large portions of Sprint and Orange explore the woods. Courses have been planned to avoid the most significant patches of vegetation, but there are route choices available which include bracken and brambles.

Entry Details

Entry via Racesignup. 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.

Entry fees: Sprint £5.00, Orange £2.50, Yellow £2.50 (SO Juniors free - use code SOJuniors)

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

Registration

10:15 - 11:15

Start Times

10:30 – 11:30 Courses close at 12:30.

Terrain Description

Tilgate features a wide variety of terrains, including large sections of open parkland, portions of runnable woodland and an intricate path network, as well as overgrown sections of bracken and heathland. There are large water features in the area including several lakes which are uncrossable and unsafe to enter.

The access road stretches across much of the Northern boundary of the map. This isn’t an optimum route on courses but there is a wide pavement alongside which can be followed to return to assembly if needed. Cars should be slow moving due to the 20 mph limit and speed bumps.

There is a GoApe outdoor adventure centre which operates in part of the woodland. This has been marked out of bounds on the maps and is not to be entered.

Facilities

Public toilets, play park, picnic tables, usually an ice cream van and a restaurant adjacent to the car park. Assembly is adjacent to the car park, start and finish are both within 200m and will be taped.

Miscellaneous

Start times are slightly later than usual for a Park-O to avoid clashing with the Parkrun event starting at 09:00.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Liam Marsh

Organiser:

Controller / Event Adviser: