SOG S4 Waterhall with Intro Session & Coaching Sat 07 March, 2026

Report

I hope you enjoyed your runs at Waterhall today. I think it’s one of our best downland areas, much more varied than the likes of Devil’s Dyke, Southwick or Newtimber, and surprisingly tricky in places. Ed’s map is excellent, everything is spot on, with very little updating needed for this event. Being a tall and thin area, there’s scope for some interesting long legs, 7-8 on Blue was 1.3k, and I’m still not sure what the best route was (I went right taking the path route on my non-competitive run). It’s always interesting for the Planner and other competitors to see what route choices people made, so if you have a moment please add your run on RouteGadget which Garry maintains for us all.

I would like to thank Rob Lines for his valuable input as Event Advisor; Ed for the map updates; Kenny, Peter, Garry, Sarah, and Chris for control collecting; Joe and Mike for running the SI operation; and the cows and horses for tolerating us invading their territory with good grace and not eating any controls. See you all next time!

Alan Velecky

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

Entry link

Explore Waterhall and have a go at Orienteering! We have an orienteering fun day based at the Waterhall clubhouse on the outskirts of Brighton. At 10.00 there will be an Introduction to Orienteering session. It’s free to attend for anyone who enters one of the following courses:

- Yellow (1.6km) – Easy and ideal for children up to 12
- Orange (2.1km) – Easy and good for a family adventure
- Short Green (3.0km) – More of a navigational challenge
- Green (3.9km) – Tricky, often our most popular course
- Blue (5.3km) – The ultimate running and navigational challenge

There will be a 30-minute indoor session and Q&A before we head out into the terrain for a practice with maps and compasses. Participants will then be able to tackle their chosen course with starts between 11.00-11.30. There will be tea and coffee available in the clubhouse afterwards and an opportunity to chat with our friendly coaches.

Sign up at RaceSignUp and also reserve a free parking space at the clubhouse. Once, the car park is full, additional spaces will be available on Waterhall Road (300m walk uphill).

For club members there will also be a wide range of junior and adult training sessions. Sign up on Spond or let Anna know you'll be there.

Location Info

Nearest town: Brighton

• Postcode: BN1 8AX *
• Lat,Lng: 50.86526,-0.17894
• 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

We have to share the parking this time and therefore not everyone can park at the clubhouse:

Cars with Passengers - parking is available at the golf clubhouse https://maps.app.goo.gl/n7BZ9X...

Cars with Driver only - parking in the free car park adj to Waterhall playing fields https://maps.app.goo.gl/vsTMD6...

Route to start will be marked from both parking areas.

Course Information

Blue: 5.3k, 230m climb, 17 controls – double sided map

Green: 3.9k, 155m climb, 12 controls – double sided map

Short Green: 3.0k, 115m climb, 10 controls – double sided map

Orange: 2.1k, 80m climb, 10 controls

Yellow: 1.6k, 40m climb, 10 controls

Entry Details

Pre-entry via Racesignup.co.uk 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.

BOF member fees: Seniors £6.50, Juniors £3.25, SO Juniors free (use code SOjuniors).
Non member fees: Seniors £7.50, Juniors £3.25.

If shadowing a junior or going as a family group with one map and one dibber, just enter one junior.

'Dibber' hire:
Electronic punching (SI) chips are available to hire. SIAC (contactless): £2 (juniors £1), non-SIAC (not contactless) £1 (juniors £0.5)

Registration open

9:45 to 10:45

Start Times

10:00 - 11:30 am. Courses close at 12:30

Map Details

1:7500, 5 metre contours. Minor updates to March 2026. Benches and posts (e.g. marking footpaths) are not mapped. Uncrossable fences with crossing points shown in purple overprint

Terrain Description

Waterhall is a rewilding project based on a former golf course. Mainly open hilly downland with patches of woodland and scattered thickets. The area includes large spurs, earth banks and walls, platforms and sandy bunkers. Docile cattle graze parts of the area. They are very timid, so please don’t disturb them unnecessarily.

The Downs can be quite exposed on a windy day, so a cagoule may be advisable. The terrain is slippery in parts, so shoes with good grip are recommended. There are fences in the terrain and these must not be crossed except via the gates / overprinted gaps.

Dog restrictions

Dogs allowed on courses on leads only due to wildlife breeding season from 1 March. Please clear up after your dog.

Facilities

The clubhouse will be open from 09.00-14.00 with access to refreshments and toilets. No muddy shoes are to be worn indoors.

Miscellaneous

Start 300m SE downhill from clubhouse parking and 800m NW uphill from playing fields parking. Route will be taped from both parking areas. Please note there may be some scrub clearance work in the vicinity of the start but this shouldn’t affect courses.

Finish adjacent to clubhouse.

Blue and Green courses cross the access road to the clubhouse. Drivers please drive slowly and carefully, and runners please take care when crossing.

Safety bearing – climb to the top of the hill and make your way to the golf clubhouse

Area shared with walkers, many with dogs (which should be on leads). Please treat with courtesy.

Due to the recent warmer weather, there may be adders present in the longer grass and edges of bramble – please watch out when crossing these areas.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Alan Velecky

Organiser:

Controller / Event Adviser: