S' Series No.1 Gloucester ParkWed 17 Apr

SOS/HAVOC Summer Mid-Week Series 2024

Local 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: Urban & Parkland

Results

Report

Organiser’s Report

Thank you all for entering the first of the summer series races for 2024, last night in Basildon, based mainly in Gloucester Park. We tried a new format last night to encourage some route choice in Gloucester Park, a line course to and from the park, with a score course in the park itself. This had the desired effect of mixing up the routes and there were a number of different routes taken. Careful planning was needed on the run to ensure you were at the right place to exit the park after collecting all the controls. We only had a couple of wrong control orders. On the long course there were also a couple of other missed controls where the line between controls was perfectly straight, so you needed to be careful to spot the intervening control circle!

All in all a good use of the area, and we weren't plagued with the setting on fire of controls like we were last time we had an event on the park!

Colin Jackson was fastest round the short course, and maintained that win once handicaps were accounted for. On the long course Dean Pepper was the only person to get round in under an hour, but had a penalty for wrong order on the score section. Tim Hull won on handicap.

Full details of the scoring can be found here.

The series website is here. This includes maps and instructions for the Anytime catchup. If you don't manage to get to the event on the night, you can still run the courses, for points in the league (subject to an Anytime penalty) in the two weeks following the event.

A slightly reduced entry field for this event as we kick off the series. With all the SOS events a bit further north, and all the HAVOC events a bit further west this year, will be interesting to see who gets to al the events and bags all the on-the-night bonuses!

The next event is in a fortnight, at Coggeshall. Details here.

Any questions you have about the event or your entry please contact the event organiser: streeto@orienteering-havoc.co.uk

Last updated: Fri 03 May, 2024

Overview

The event will form part of HAVOC/SOS Mid-Week Winter O’ League. Points will be awarded based on finishing times adjusted using an age/gender handicap system. Each missed or incorrect control will incur a 5 minutes penalty. Best 6 results from the 8 event series will count.
'Anytime' catch-up for some events available for 2 weeks after the event, subject to an Anytime time penalty on MapRun.
Bonus points for running on the night compared to Anytime.
You are welcome to run together as a group, but in order to be fair we ask that you keep together, as when running as a group the least advantageous handicap is applied.
100 points will be allocated to the course organiser/planner for each event planned.

League rules and points calculation available here

Location Info

Location map

Near: Basildon
Lat,Lng: 51.58251,0.46239
Postcode: SS14 3WD

Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - BingMap (OS 50k)

Directions / Parking

Free parking is available in the pub car park

Event control will be located in the bar area or externally weather dependent.

Map / Terrain

Open Orienteering Map printed on plain paper in a plastic wallet. Scale: 1:10,000

We are going to run this event using the MapRun software. Therefore, please, if possible, use a smartphone (or Garmin watch) and ensure you have latest version of MapRun installed and the course is downloaded to your phone/watch before you arrive.

Details of how to obtain a copy of the app and how it works can be found here.
There is also a HAVOC user guide here.

Download the course onto the app by clicking on ‘Select Event', in the app, and following the menu path UK > Essex
The courses are:
Gloucester Park Long
Gloucester Park Short

The course map will not be visible on your phone until you receive the PIN number at Registration on the night. (Note – you do not need the PIN number to run using a Garmin watch). There are no written answers required with MapRun and your result will be automatically downloaded when you finish. The full procedure will be explained at Registration. Note, that if a control is missed then the software will show your result as Mispunch, but in the official results we will add the usual penalty for a missed or incorrect control. Please ensure you notify the organiser that you have finished, so that safety checks can be completed.

If you are really unable to use MapRun, you are still welcome to take part by completing the control sheet with pen or pencil but be aware that this is a much slower method. With this approach, timing will be manually by a traditional clock, and written answers will be checked as per previous events.

If you are using MapRun then you will not need to record answers on a control card. However, if the app doesn't register your visit then you need to record the lower number on the H sign, or other reference as directed. If you are not using MapRun, then please bring a pen to mark the control card and a map bag if wet.

Course Information

Short course TBC ( ....controls)
Long Course TBC ( ....controls)

All measured as direct distances between controls. Controls are fire hydrants in street sections and park furniture within Gloucester Park, individually marked on map.

Both course will feature a regular line course to and from Gloucester Park with the section within Gloucester Park consisting of a score format to promote route choice.

The score section will be in a 1-2 order, control numbers will be three digit numbers in the following format either 1X1 or 2X2.
You cannot visit control 131 and then immediately got to 141.
Could however go from 131 to 222 and then 141.

The course is on roads, pavements, footpaths and parkland.

Entry Details

Enter this event via Racesignup on line here

£5 Seniors, £2 under 21 or students, £1 discount for senior orienteering club members

There is also a Golden Ticket available for entry to all races in the series, at a reduced rate.

Entries close at 12:00 noon on Tuesday 16th April.

For late entries email series coordinator.

Registration and Start times

Start times will be between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Competitors must report to the finish by 9pm.

Facilities

Toilets available in the Harvester.

Newcomers are welcome. Help and guidance will be available.

Why not stay behind and join us for food and or a drink in the Harvester, open until 22:00

Contacts / Officials

Organiser/Planner – Chris Prince

HAVOC series co-ordinator – David Float. Email: streeto@orienteering-havoc.co.uk Tel: 07801 216634

Nearest A&E Hospital

Basildon Hospital, Nether Mayne, Basildon SS16 5NL.
NHS Urgent care search

Safety Notes

Participation is at your own risk. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Bring clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions.

As with any street orienteering participants will be required to cross roads and you are asked to take due care and attention at all times. High visibility clothing is strongly recommended.

There may be dog walkers, cyclists or residents on pavements and footpaths – be aware and give them priority.

It is a condition of entry that participants agree to follow the British Orienteering Participant Code of Conduct.

Miscellaneous

SOS/HAVOC Summer Series Following Events

Event 2 Wed May 01 SOS Coggeshall Colin & Lyn West
Event 3 Thurs May 16 HAVOC Harold Hill Paul Beckett
Event 4 Wed May 29 SOS Highwoods C Pk Dean Pepper & Chris Childs
Event 5 Thurs June 13 HAVOC Rainham Seb Parris
Event 6 Wed June 26 SOS Colchester Tim Hull & John Allen
Event 7 Thurs July 11 HAVOC Sth Ockendon Graham Batty
Event 8 Wed July 17 SOS TBC Kevin Machin