Hockley WoodsSun 17 Mar

Colour coded

Regional level event

Terrain type: Woodland

Results

• • Results are now final
• • Routegadget available here

Report

Organiser's Report

Thank you to everyone that helped both in the run up to the event and on the day. As my first time as Organiser, it was a steep learning curve, so it was reassuring to have experienced colleagues to help me. Extensive rain prior to the event meant some last minute changes and challenges on the day. We were pleased to hear your feedback, and relieved when all runners returned unscathed.

Sara Prince

Planner’s Report

This was my second attempt at planning courses at a Regional event, so I was hoping to learn lessons from the previous event and create some interesting courses for everyone! Eddie Banks was assigned as the Controller – so I was in good hands whenever I needed assistance!

So, just before Christmas I started thinking about the courses, and had a wander around Hockley Woods, looking for likely Control placements! I drafted my courses, and with a bit of feedback from Eddie, in particular for the White & Yellow (which seemed the hardest to plan), I eventually managed to create some courses which seemed to be acceptable, and with a bit of fine tuning, they were ready for the big day!

However – the weather had other thoughts, and as we got nearer the event, it didn’t stop raining – and another recent event at the woods was actually cancelled. We then decided that we needed some contingency planning – and Eddie and I met at the woods to ‘walk the course’. We decided that the plans for the White & Yellow needed re-working, as the paths were almost running rivers – very deep mud – and we would have likely had some very wet & muddy competitors – if not a few lost running shoes etc! There were also some ‘erosion gullys’ which had now become fully fledged streams. We also decided to move the Start to the drier woodland area – which I think was actually better in the end!

On Saturday late afternoon, I put out just under half of the controls & then I set out early (6.30) with my husband Alan (as my pack-horse!) on Sunday morning, and managed to get all of the controls in place by 8.30, then it was time for a quick cuppa, before I checked out the start & that the final bits & pieces of tapes & signage were in place.

Anyway – the event eventually got underway – and finally some finishers came back to download, it was a great relief when they arrived and everything was OK! I got to chat with quite a few orienteers, and the vast majority had managed to get round OK, and did seem to have enjoyed their run.

However – there was a problem on the Yellow Course – and I do apologise to those on that course. Due to the late re-planning exercise, and the late addition of some controls, I managed to muddle up controls 233 & 223 resulting in some confusion for those on the course.

Generally though, although it was extremely wet & muddy, most people arrived back having successfully completed the courses, and some saying that they had even enjoyed it. Well Done to everyone who took part.

A big thank you to Eddie, Sara, Kevin & Alan who all helped me planning this event, and thank you to all the other volunteers on the day, who helped make the event a success.

Jackie Sibthorp

Controller’s Report

A big well done to Sara for her meticulous organising and to Jackie for giving us such good courses.
Congratulations to everyone who turned out on such a rainy day in the muddy conditions to take advantage of all their hard work.
It was good to be among friends in a familiar area for this, my first gig controlling - a good recommendation from Mike Chopping given during the training.
I enjoyed the early morning spring walk in the relatively dry conditions around the western half of the woods to attach SI boxes to the kites that Jackie had already put out on Saturday afternoon. Running around the eastern half afterwards to check and switch on all the other controls I kept to the woods as much as possible; away from the paths and brambles it was good runnable conditions.
Apologies to our Yellow competitors for my not spotting the mix-up of boxes 233 and 223. I should have done, but was probably getting control-blind by then!
Thanks also to Rochford Borough Council for their permission to use the Woods and Belchamps Scout Centre for hosting our event centre.

Eddie Banks

Last updated: Fri 22 March, 2024

Overview

Regional colour coded event including Essex & Suffolk School League (ESSOL)

Location Info

Near: Hockley, Essex
Lat,Lng: 51.59271,0.66020
OS Grid Ref: TQ847916
Postcode: SS5 4JD
What3Words: ///galaxy.danger.president

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