Blean KNC22

Event Report

This Blean Wood (there are several around Canterbury) is relatively small (1.5km * 1km) but the difference in height across the area is over 100m. Much of the area is very pleasant runnable forest, but it seems little-visited by the public perhaps because it has  just two, separate Rights of Way. This means that footpaths are easy to miss, or veer off, in the dark.

The position of the Start straightaway offered several direct or path routes to nearby controls. The opportunity to switch whenever/wherever one wanted gave a nice freedom to one's route planning. A key judgement for me was to choose the best balance of distance vs. climb - it was hard work ascending some muddy slopes!

The good turnout - nice to see some newcomers, welcome! - made Simon's efforts worthwhile. Thanks Simon, control collectors and those sorting out the Results.

Next week it's the final Street event in this season's KNC series, hosted by Southdowns at Crawley (Maidenbower) - a new KNC venue.  Hope you will be able to make it.

Mark Glaisher KNC coordinator

Pre Event Info

Location

Nearest town: Canterbury

• Grid Ref:
• Postcode: ME13 9HB
• Latitude: 51.31525
• Longitude: 0.98592
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

Meet at the Dove Inn, Dargate (postcode ME13 9HB). The landlady has kindly given us permission to park in the field adjacent to the pub but if it is very wet it might be advisable to park on the road nearby, if so please park considerately as the roads are narrow.

Directions - from A229 eastbound (continuation of M2) exit left at Highstreet (just before garage & services) signed Dargate and brown signs for The Dove Inn, very soon turn left again going back over the main road, at the end of this short road turn right to Dargate. Pub is on left with field just before (very sharp turn).

Registration & Start Times

Registration: 19:00 to 19:15 (please don't be late).

Briefing at 19:20 followed by short walk to the mass start at 19:30

Course Information

60 minute score event (i.e. find as many controls as possible but be back to the finish within 60 minutes). One point penalty for each minute or part minute late. Controls will be numbered in two series, 90-99 and 100-109, you may start with either series and when you have done enough then swap to the other series but once you have done so you cannot swap back. Full explanation at briefing.

Explanation of Score courses

You don't have to visit all the controls! There is usually a time limit, instead of a set course. Points are scored for visiting controls, and deducted for finishing over the time limit. You decide which controls to visit, and in which sequence. Sometimes controls have different points values. You will need to carry a watch or phone, so you know how long you have been out.

Entry Details

Entry on the Day: Seniors £4, Juniors £1. Dibber hire £1.

Please email the organiser if you intend coming so we know how many maps to print.

SPORT IDENT dibbers to hire if you don't have one. Some sort of torch essential plus a small backup/reserve. Whistle essential.

Terrain Description

Blean woods is a delightful area of mainly deciduous woodland with a hill and small stream valley. It was recently used for a Sunday ranking event but this will be a very different experience using a different meeting point and a start location nearest to the finest runnable forest.

Facilities

Apres O and prizegiving will be in the Dove Inn. Full menu as well as lighter meals such as pizza, pies, soup and sandwiches will be available, please place your order beforehand. Please join us to discuss your run and compare route choices.

Contacts / Officials

Planner/organiser: Simon Blanchflower

Important Information

Health, safety and other important information related to events.

If you have pre-existing helath issues that you feel the organiser should know about please fill in this medical form.

Covid-19:

Before travelling to any orienteering event please make sure you are aware of and following British Orienteering guidelines. 

To ensure that we comply with these guidelines and make our events Covid secure and safe for participants and volunteers, all events will be pre-entry and pre-payment only.

During the on-line entry process, you will select your preferred start window from those available for your course. You must then make payment to reserve your start window. Please do not turn up at the event unless you have pre-entered. If you need help with the registration process please contact the event organiser.

On event day turn up for your allocated start slot

Please move away from the map box after collecting your map.

At control sites do not touch the control, and move through quickly.

Do not congregate at the Finish.

At Download please get your breath back and recover before downloading.

Saxons volunteers are very happy to help beginners understand the courses, maps and timing equipment used at our events. To get advice please contact coaching@saxons-oc.org at least 3 days before the event, or go to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/saxons.oc and ask questions there. It may be possible to arrange for somoene to meet you before your start.

For full BO Covid guidance click here

Ticks and Lyme Disease: Ticks are common in areas where we go orienteering, more information about ticks.

Training and help is available from qualified coaches. Please contact the organiser.

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Data Protection: Your personal information provided for this event or obtained from registration databases will be used to process your entry, publish results, check for missing runners and trace missing SI cards.