HighwoodsSun 7 Dec
SOS Colour-coded event & SWELL
Regional level event
Explanation of Event levels
Local events are usually low key and in the 'localised' area, ideal for newcomers to try the sport and Training events are non competitive and used for training and coaching, aimed at members of the club, but they can attract people from neighbouring clubs, and are often ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Regional events attract participants from around the local Region, National events are high quality competitions that will attract people from far away, Major events are Major Events such as a British Championships.
Terrain type: Woodland
Results
Report
Organiser’s comments
Thank you for coming out on a rather wet day to enjoy Eddie’s courses around Highwoods. We had comments about the mud, the hills and how complex the courses could be made in a relatively small area. Most came back smiling. Apologies for not being able to give you splits prints at the finish. Our printer suffered a funny turn and refused to cooperate.
Particular thanks go to the HAVOC controlling tag team of Guy Lidbury and Paul Beckett who stepped in to assist when Guy was injured.
Of course an event like this cannot take place without the team of volunteers, most of whom spent the morning standing in the light but persistent rain. Thank you for willingly picking up all the tasks needing covering.
There were three items of lost property at the tent when we packed up. A blue thermos mug, a red baseball cap and an orange whistle. IF they are yours please let me know and we will try to get them back to you.
David Lumby
Planner’s comments
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Highwoods event. It is always a good feeling as planner when the various colour courses have a good number of runners. A pity that the courses aimed at juniors and beginners were not more popular.
Thank you to Guy for his controlling and useful suggestions and Paul for stepping in at short notice to help check the taping.
Choosing a different start and finish location compared to previous years gave a new perspective. Only the longer green and blue courses used the more open SE area, where we usually start. Rather than offer a brown, the blue was at the upper end of the acceptable distance range. The Blue, Green and Short Green courses certainly seemed to offer a good technical challenge to participants. In particular the need to recognise when careful map reading and navigation would be required when interspersed with other, more straight-forward controls. Thank you to everyone who gave their feedback at the time.
Eddie Banks
Overview
Regional Colour coded (Level C) White - Blue
Highwoods Country Park is a mixture of woodland and open grass land with some meadows and a lake.
Location Info
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Near: Colchester Lat,Lng: 51.9067,0.9134 OS Grid Ref: TM009274 Postcode: CO4 9UJ What3Words: kite.exchanges.evenly
Open an interactive map in:
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Directions / Parking
Parking at Tesco Extra, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9ED.
Grid Ref: TM 009 274 W3W ///crate.sprint.panic
The Tesco store is signposted from the junction of the A1232 (Ipswich Road) and Highwoods Approach at The Rovers Tye pub.
NB. Free parking is available for up to 3 hours at the Tesco store and has been agreed by the store manager. There is a £70 penalty for exceeding this duration. If you really cannot avoid being longer than 3 hours you can register your car beforehand inside the store at the Customer Services Counter.
Please park at the far end of the car park (south end) where a marshal will be positioned to direct you.
The Chantrelle car park is not available for parking by competitors.
The walk from Tesco to the Enquiries Point and Start is about 1km and should take about 15 minutes.
Follow the route along Eastwood Avenue, Chanterelle and the footpath to Hillridge marked with tape, fixed to street furniture, trees etc. Car keys can be left at the Enquiries Point.
Enquiries and Start will be located just beyond the Hillridge entrance to the park, east of the main lake.
Public transport should be available via Colchester North railway station, then the number 8 bus.
Map / Terrain
1:10,000, 5m contours for Blue, Green, Short Green, Light Green and Orange courses
1:7,500, 5m contours for Orange Yellow & White courses
Maps printed on waterproof paper.
Control descriptions are printed on the map and separate loose descriptions will also be available.
The various Out of Bounds areas must be respected to ensure continued use of the woods
Course Information
SI electronic punching will be used, with SIAC enabled.
Blue 7.0k 24 controls
Green 5.1k 17 controls
Short Green 3.5k 13 controls
Light Green 3.3k 13 controls
Orange 3.1k 14 controls
Yellow 2.5k 15 controls
White 1.6k 11 controls
Guidance for beginners will be available from the Enquiries Point.
Entry Details
Senior: £10.00 (plus £2 if not member of British Orienteering)
Junior/Student: £4.00 (Juniors are under 21 on race day)
SI card (dibber) hire £1. Hired dibbers will be available for collection from the Enquiries Point. Please note a charge of £30 will be levied if a hired SI card is lost. SIACs are not available for hire.
Registration and Start times
Entry via Racesignup.co.uk
Online entries available from 10:00am 29th October
Closing date for entries Saturday 6th December 17:00
Late entries from Saturday 6th December and entries on the day may be available but will be subject to map availability and a surcharge.
Facilities
There is a café and toilets at the Tesco store and at the Visitor Centre in the car park off Turner Road.
Drinking water will not be provided as part of the event.
Dog restrictions
Dogs are allowed in the Country Park on a lead.
Contacts / Officials
Organisers: David Lumby, Hannah Newton
Planner: Eddie Banks
Controller: Guy Lidbury (HAVOC)
Nearest A&E Hospital
Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, CO4 5JL
NHS Urgent care search
Safety Notes
First Aid facilities will be available at the Enquiries Point.
The closest publicly accessible defibrillator in the Tesco store.
If you have a medical condition that we need to know about please download, print, and complete a medical form. Place the form in a sealed envelope with associated medicine, and write your name clearly on the outside. Prior to commencing the event, hand this to the Enquiries Point in the assembly area where the First Aiders will keep it in confidence. It can be collected unopened at the end of the event. Medical forms can be downloaded using this link.
Please do not attend this event if you are showing any signs or symptoms of COVID.
Full leg cover and carrying a whistle are strongly advised. In the event of particularly inclement weather, wearing a jacket may also be necessary. Mobile phones may be carried for emergency use. Please ensure that your clothing and footwear is appropriate for the time of year, terrain and anticipated weather conditions.
A detailed risk assessment has been completed by the organiser, however entry into this event is at your own risk.
It will be necessary to cross roads when travelling between the Tesco car park and the assembly area. Those aged under 16 should be accompanied by an adult when making this journey.