SOG S8Worthlodge Forest & YBT Regional HeatSat 07 May, 2022

Near: Crawley
Level of event: Local
Type of event: Race

Results

Report

Yvette Baker Trophy Heat:

  1. Southdowns SO - 897 points.

Yvette Baker Shield Heat:

  1. Mole Valley MV - 498 points.
  2. Dartford DFOK - 300 points.

Planner’s Comments:

Firstly I would like to thank you all for taking on the challenge of today’s courses, while enjoying the forest in perfect conditions for running.

I would also like to thank

  • Steve Jarvis for assistance with course setting and help getting the kites and stakes out on Friday
  • Steve Blount for his help planning, tagging sites and getting the SI out today and then running the parking today with Jill
  • Neil Crickmore for preparing the SI kit
  • Mike Gammon for printing the maps
  • Colin Dickson for his assistance with planning
  • Chris Hooker for updating the map as necessary
  • Today’s control collectors, Garry Greenstreet, Rob Leathley, Dave Cumins , Liam Marsh & Will Heap. I note 4 of you had already run the Blue, which means I feel less bad about asking Will to go out a second time to collect the control tags, to get his mileage up.
  • Heather Jones for looking after the finish
  • Michele Funnell and Dave Cussens for helping me bring back all the start gear
  • Joe and Penny for taking care of the SI
  • Will & Kate, Anna & Pete and Karen Ashworth for looking after the juniors
  • Everyone else that assisted and others who offered their help, but in the event weren’t needed on this occasion

Despite originally planned to be a SOG, it quickly became apparent that it would include YBT qualifier, which meant I put significantly more effort into ensuring the courses adhered to the planning guidelines, along with the addition of a light green.

The high winds earlier in the year meant my initial desk planned courses were quickly abandoned owing to the number of fallen trees blocking or obscuring key routes for Yellow/Orange. Some couldn’t be avoided however, but the problematic one on Yellow had been cut up and removed just prior to the event. I decided that the taped route should remain given its presence had been publicised in weeks prior.

Yellow specifically had more controls, to stay within the 350m threshold, meaning many of the legs had 0 decision points. I hope you felt challenged despite of this.

For Orange I ensured there was a clear path based route that could be safely used, while offering lots of opportunity to take short cuts, and hence reward the more confident navigators.

My plans to get the longer courses into the far north were abandoned, following my experience of setting out for Rewell, in favour of keeping the “on the day” tasks more manageable. Otherwise my plan was to keep you in the white forest and out of the green, with most control sites chosen to be less likely to be impacted by seasonal vegetation changes, while offering plenty of route choice.

Please take the time to upload GPS or otherwise trace your route into Routegadget, to see if I was successful in this!

Good luck to those heading to the YBT Final in Irchester, for a unique orienteering experience.

Barry

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

This event features the YBT Regional Heat, alongside our standard SOG courses. It takes place in a wonderful private woodland with minimal public access, which has a good combination of deciduous and coniferous woodland, along with some rough open with bracken, all inhabited by deer and foxes.

The area is crossed by two stream valleys with mostly gentle contours, and some brown features that may be good preparation for the YBT final !

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.

SOG Series Info

SOGs are friendly club events where children and newcomers are very welcome. Yellow and Orange courses are suitable for children to run on their own with a bit of practice. Adults are welcome to shadow children until they are confident to go on their own. Green and Blue courses are run or walked by any age group - you can race competitively or just enjoy the woodland.

There are two series of events - autumn and spring of approximately 8 events each. Electronic timing (SI) is used.

Help on the day always appreciated.

Volunteer here

Enquiries here

Location Info

Nearest town: Crawley

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

Directions / Parking

Postcode RH10 4SA

Grid TQ310341

What3Words: tribal.meals.boost

Signed at the junction of Whitely Hill Road and the B2110.

Park as directed by marshals.

Course Information

YBT Courses:

  • YBT Green 4.5km, 110m climb, 16 controls
  • YBT Light Green 3.2km, 70m climb, 14 controls
  • YBT Orange 2.6km, 65m climb, 11 controls
  • YBT Yellow 2.1km, 60m climb, 9 controls

SOG Courses:

  • Blue 5.9km, 180m climb, 17 controls
  • Green 4.5km, 110m climb, 16 controls
  • Short Green 3.2km, 90m climb, 13 controls
  • Orange 2.6km, 65m climb, 11 controls
  • Yellow 2.1km, 60m climb, 9 controls

Entry Details

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

YBT entrants should discuss their entry with their club team captain as entries should comply with YBT Rules.

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

9.45am - 10.45am

Start Times

10.00am - 11.00am. Start and finish are approximately 400m from the car park area.

Map Details

A4. 1:10000. 5m contours. Survey and cartography Roger Mayer April 2018.

Terrain Description

Mixed forest with mixed runnability.
Mapped thickets are rhododendrons.

Dog restrictions

Sorry no dogs allowed.

Facilities

None.

Please bring your own water to ensure adequate hydration.

Miscellaneous

Safety Bearing: South to the main E-W track, then West to the Finish.

Bramble bashers recommended.

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: Barry Jones

Organiser: Will Heap - YBT Coordinator juniorteam@southdowns-orienteers.org.uk

Controller:

Photo Gallery

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