ESSOL-Essex and Suffolk Schools Orienteering League

Last updated: Fri 13 Sep 2024

Sadly, the ESSOL League for 2024/25 season will not be running. Julie Laver stood down as co-ordinator and neither Essex Stragglers nor SUFFOC are able to provide a replacement co-ordinator. Many thanks to Julie for her hard work over many years co-ordinating the events and results. If anyone is interested in taking over the co-ordination of the League, please contact Lyn West for further information.

The League is run by the Essex Stragglers Orienteering Society in conjunction with our neighbours the Suffolk Orienteering Club(SuffOC).

ESSOL events are open to all young people of Junior or Senior School or Sixth Form age. You can compete individually, represent a school, youth group or club or do both.

Trophies are presented at the end of the season to each boy and girl with the best score in each combined year group (3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12/13) and to the best scoring school.

The SUFFOC juniors page is here.

2023/24 Results

2023/24 results have now been processed and points awarded for all events. Final results are available here. Well done to all who took part and congratulations to the class winners.

Many thanks to Marc Owen for completing the scoring for this year.

2023/24 Events

Hockley Woods was the final event of 2023-2024 season. Dagnam Park was cancelled. You can download the fixtures list here

2022/23 Results

See the link below for the final results of this years league. Congratulations to all those who took part this season.

Download latest ESSOL results 2223

2022/23 Events

Please note that the event at Writtle which was going to be our last of the season has been designated an EAL event and as such is incompatible with ESSOL rules. The last event of the season for ESSOL will now be the HAVOC Thorndon South event 23/04/23

Please check these events before travelling. Fixtures may be changed, added or dropped through the season. List will be updated as further information becomes available

Download Fixtures list here

2021/22 Results List

Download the 2021/22 results Here

2021/22 Events

You can download the fixtures list Here

League Rules

Events
The competition consists of approximately 8 events held during the school year (September to July). The majority will be hosted by SOS or SUFFOC, and the remainder by adjacent East Anglian orienteering clubs.

Eligibility
ESSOL events are open to all young people of School age in the catchment areas of SOS, SUFFOC, WAOC and HAVOC clubs. Competitors can represent a school, youth group or club.

Courses
Competitors compete in the following classes and should normally enter the course appropriate to their age -

School Year Class Colour Coded Course
Years 3 & 4 White Controls on paths with a control at every junction no route choice about 1.5 km.
Years 5 & 6 White Controls on paths with a control at every junction no route choice about 1.5 km.
Years 7 & 8 Yellow Controls on obvious line features no route choice about 2km.
Years 9 & 10 Orange Controls on prominent point and contour features route choice about 3 km.
Years 11 & 12 Light Green Controls on any feature significant route choice about 3-4km.
Year 13 Green Controls on any feature significant route choice about 4-5km.

Competitors and their teachers, leaders and parents are responsible for ensuring that the correct course is entered, but the scoring scheme adjusts for those who run a different course. Competitors normally run as individuals, but those lacking experience may run as part of a pair.

Scoring
The winner of each class (boys and girls separately) is awarded 100 points.

Other competitors in the same class are awarded Winner's time (in seconds)

Competitor's time (in seconds)
x 100 points.

Competitors running up one course (e.g. a Year 8 running the Orange course) will receive 110% of the points above.
Competitors running up two courses (e.g. a Year 6 running the Orange course) will receive 120% of the points above. They may run up more than two classes but would still only score a maximum of 120%.
Competitors running down one course (e.g. a Year 11 running the Orange course) will receive 90% of the points above.
Competitors running as a pair will each receive 75% of the points above, based on the class of the older member of the team with a default to the lower time if a mixed pair.
Competitors running in groups of three or more or with adult (or other) help do not score.
A related adult or supervising person who wishes to run the same course as the competitor must leave at least 10 minutes after the competitor has started their run before setting off on their own run for white and yellow courses, and at least 15 minutes for other courses.
Competitors having a second run on the day must declare themselves non-competitive for the second course and will not receive points for the second run, and neither will any partner who runs with them.

Teams

There is no limit on the number of competitors from any school, youth group or club at any ESSOL event.
The team points score for each ESSOL event will normally be the sum of the best 6 individuals representing that team at that event.

Individual Awards

A trophy will be presented to each boy and girl in each school year group class (3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12/13) who has the highest cumulative points score from his or her best 5 results. This may be adjusted if the number of available fixtures changes.
A certificate will be presented to each boy and girl who wins their year group course at each event and to those who score at least 100 points cumulative during the league season.

Whole Team Trophy

A trophy will be presented to the team which has the highest cumulative points score from their best 5 results.

Junior Team award
An award will be presented to the team which has the highest cumulative points score in the Y3/4 & Y5/6 categories from their best 5 team results.

Senior Team award

An award will be presented to the team which has the highest cumulative points score in the Y7+ categories from their best 5 team results.

Start Times

Competitors from the same team on the same course must have start at least 4 minutes apart.

Registration

Competitors must include the following details when registering for an event -
Full Name
School Year (e.g. Year 6)
Team Name.

Disputes

Every effort is made to avoid mistakes or omissions but should any be found then please email the details to the ESSOL co-ordinator.
The decision made by the ESSOL co-ordinator is FINAL.

Schools League Results Archive

You can see the 2000/01 - 2018/19 results here.