Summer Series No.8 GalleywoodWed 26 Jul
SOS/HAVOC Summer Mid-Week Series 2023
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
Results
Report
Coordinator’s Series Report
Thanks to everyone who raced in any of the events in the 2023 joint HAVOC/SOS street O series this summer. All the events were line events this season, with the regular Long and Short course options. Mostly we had winning times in the 40-50 minute range, although a couple of outliers were longer or shorter than this, as the planner tried to make sure the courses visited the best or most challenging areas. We took in the full range of both on street and off road running, and experienced parks, footpaths, woods and fields, as well as hills and even cliffs. We had some interesting locations by the sea, in the gorges and fully within the parks of Chelmsford amongst others.
The move to mainly basing runs at pubs helped with the social aspect of the series, assisting in post race refreshment and analysis. SOS started to embrace the MapRun format, which helps with this analysis, and hopefully that will become more of the norm in future series.
The addition of an on the night bonus seems to have encouraged a few additional runs, and although it didn’t make a difference to the top places in the leagues, certainly it had an effect on scoring further down the tables.
Thanks to all who planned and organised an event – Chris Prince, Marc Owen, Chris Childs, Paul Beckett, Colin & Lyn West, David Float, Colin Jackson, John Allen, Graham Batty and Jackie Sibthorp. Without these volunteers we could not run these events.
Racesignup is now fully accepted as the way to organise entries and collect monies. We continued with trying to make this available as late as possible before the events, and even offered some entry on the night if maps were available.
We offered a 100 point bonus for running an Essex MapRun during the series, and this was taken up by sixteen runners. As we have now got an established set of MapRun courses available, and usage seems to be picking up, we will retire this bonus for the next series.
In total, we had 33 entries for the short course, and 52 for the long. This includes people who ran in both series. There were 76 runs overall on the Short, including MapRun catchups, 168 on the Long. Congratulations to Lorna Pettifer, David Float and Dean Pepper on the Long, who all ran (or planned/organised) in all eight events.
The final league tables were calculated based on the best six scores from the eight races.
On the short course, it was close between David Game and Melanie Sirrett. It was 4-2 to Melanie in head to head battles, but David won both of the other two races outright, and takes the overall series victory by 17 points. Both runners gained their MapRun bonus. In all we had five different winners over the eight races. The final podium spot for the series went to Colin Jackson.
All of the top 5 runners on the Long course took home the MapRun bonus. Paul Beckett won two events, hosted a third, and was within two pints of the win at two other events, cementing his victory. Lorna Pettifer took second place overall, and David Float just edged out Chris Childs by a point for third place. Allen Smalls was the most consistent – four wins from his four starts!
Thanks everyone, for making the series a success.
We are currently planning the next winter series, which will start towards the middle of October. That is before the clocks change, so grab an early start for a light advantage! After that we will have the rest of the series in the dark, in total five events each for SOS and HAVOC with a mid season break for Christmas. Don’t forget to look out your headtorch and make sure all is in order before the season starts! If you can volunteer to organise and plan an event then please consider doing so – Chris Childs and David Float are again co-ordinating. Look out for further details on both the HAVOC and SOS websites.
David Float
Overview
Last in the Series
The event will form part of HAVOC/SOS Mid-Week 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.
You are welcome to run together as a group, but in order to be fair we ask that you keep together.
When running as a group the least advantageous handicap is applied.
100 points will be added for running one declared Essex Maprun during the series.
100 points will be allocated to the course organiser/planner for each event planned.
Best 6 results from the series will count. Full results will be emailed and published on the SOS and HAVOC websites.
Location Info
Near: Chelmsford Lat,Lng: 51.69955,0.45988 Postcode: CM2 8PJ What3Words: ///popped.streamers.bravery
Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap -
OpenStreetMap -
BingMap (OS 50k)
Directions / Parking
Horse & Groom PH, Horse & Groom Lane Galleywood, CM2 8PL
Plenty of parking in front of pub
Map / Terrain
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:
Galleywood Long
Galleywood 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.
Course Information
Long Course Approx 6.0k, 14 Controls, OOMap 1:10,000.
Short Course Approx 3.8k, 12 Controls, OOMap 1:7,500 (subject to change). These are direct distances between controls.
Controls are fire hydrant signs or lampposts, some signs are home made. You will be asked to record the lower number on the hydrant sign, or the lamp post number.
There will be a short taped area on the Long Course, to indicate the public footpath across private land to ensure that we don’t stray off course!
The course is on roads, pavements & trails. Take care where there is no pavement, and run on the pavement if there is one available on either side of the road.
Entry Details
Enter via Racesignup.co.uk
£4 Seniors, £2 under 21 or students
Any late entries after that date contact organiser/planner to check availability of maps’
Registration and Start times
Start at times between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Competitors must report to the finish by 8.45pm.
Facilities
Toilets in pub
Newcomers welcome. Help and guidance available
Contacts / Officials
Organiser/Planner – Jackie Sibthorp Email: jackie_sibthorp@hotmail.com
Series Coordinators:
SOS – Chris Childs Email: christopher.childs@tiscali.co.uk Tel: 01206 574748 Mob 07847 501560
HAVOC – David Float Email: streeto@orienteering-havoc.co.uk Tel: 07801 216634
Nearest A&E Hospital
Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford CM1 7ET
NHS Urgent care search
Safety Notes
TAKE CARE ON THE MAIN ROADS – USE CROSSINGS IF POSSIBLE.
Run/Walk on the pavement if one is available.
Participation is at your own risk. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions.
There will be dog walkers, cyclists and pedestrians in the park – be aware and give them priority.
It is a condition of entry that all participants agree to adhere to the BOF COVID19 Participant Code of Conduct. Please do not attend the event if you have symptoms of Covid.
Miscellaneous
Look out for start of the Winter Series