KOL 7 - Kings Wood, Challock

Sat 19 Mar 2022

Type of event: Local
Type of terrain: Forest

Info updated: Sat 2 Apr

Results

Event Report

On a beautiful sunny spring day, which could not have been more different from the last time we were at Kings Wood, we had some excellent courses on offer.  The fine weather and possibly the end of lock down restrictions, meant people were keen to get out and about.  We only just had enough dibbers for hire and so they all got a good outing too.  The overall feedback was that they were challenging both mentally and physically, with plenty of route choices.  Following on from Brendon’s excellent skill building session, newcomers to orienteering were suitably armed to tackle their chosen courses.

Our thanks go to the Forestry Commission for letting us use the woods.

As always, huge thanks go to those who helped out today.  Some came along just to help out whilst some control collectors got a chance to find the controls again that they had difficulty with during the race.  In no particular order, thanks to Brendan, Alison, Austin, Brian, Beth, Robin, Mike, Roger, Beryl, Wendy, Amy, and not forgetting Karen for planning such wonderful courses.

Nick Betts (Organiser)

Pre Event Info

Location

map

Nearest town: Challock

Directions / Parking

King’s Wood is Forestry Commission land near Challock/Ashford.

Parking will be on a forest track.  Entrance is just of the A251.  Nearest post code TN25 4AR.  What3Words : ///learning.dollars.submitted

After leaving the main road, please drive carefully and keep your speed below 10mph. There will be orienteers on either side of the track. 

Railway station: Ashford 5miles.

Registration & Start Times

Registration will be in advance via Race Signup only: Kings Wood KOL

Starts from 11:00am-12:30pm. 15 minute start window will be selected during online entry process. Please make every effort to arrive at the start for your start window to ensure appropriate social distancing.  Courses close at 14:00

Don't forget our Orienteering Skills Clinic running from 10am. Details here. 

Course Information

Five courses available:

Yellow - Controls (checkpoints) are very easy to find, mostly on main paths, ideal for younger children and complete beginners. Approx distance 1.9 km, 30m climb.

Orange - Moderate, controls are on or near paths with more route choice. Good for progressing juniors and beginner adults who are reasonably confident reading a map. Approx distance 3.2km, 85m climb.

Green - As technically hard as we can make it, for experienced orienteers requiring a shorter run than the blue course. Approx distance 4.4 km, 105m climb.

Blue - As technically hard as we can make it, for experienced orienteers. Approx distance 6.2 km, 150m climb

Score - No set distance, but a 60 minute time limit. Find as many of the 21 controls as possible in one hour. Good for adult beginners, those progressing from orange to green, and those that want to be back in a set time.

 

Control Descriptions will be printed on the maps and will be available in the start lane.

The event is SIAC enabled other than the Start and Finish. Normal dibbers will also work. Don't forget to punch the Clear, Check, Start and Finish.

Basic non-SIAC dibber (electronic timing device) available for hire free of charge. SIAC dibbers available for hire for £1.50.

An Emergency contact number will be printed on the map. Carrying a mobile phone is strongly recommended. You can let us know if you are lost or late, and we can contact you if you have not returned.

Explanation of colour courses

  • White are very easy with all controls on paths. They are mainly used by 6-10 year olds and family groups.
  • Yellow use simple linear features like paths, walls and streams. They are mainly used by under 12’s and family groups.
  • Orange progress to basic use of the compass and route choice. They are ideal for novice adults or experienced youngsters.
  • Light Green are ideal for improvers as the navigational difficulty begins to increase and uses simple contours and point features.
  • Green are used mostly by experienced under 18’s and adults wanting a short but challenging course with a very hard navigational difficulty.
  • Blue are a longer, more physically demanding course in comparison to the green. The distances are more varied between controls and the course attracts experienced orienteers.
  • Brown & Black are very physically demanding and have a very hard navigational difficulty. They are for experienced orienteers only.
  • Score means visiting as many controls as possible in any order in a specific time, like 45mins.

Entry Details

Pre-entry through racesignup.co.uk only: Kings Wood KOL

Individual (member/non-member)
    Senior: £5.00/£8.00
    Junior: £3.00/£5.00
Group (2-5 people e.g. family running Score together)
    Entry Fee: £8.00
    Non member supplement: £5.00

Juniors are under 21 on 31st December.

Terrain Description

King's Wood is, historically, a Royal hunting forest and fallow deer still run free in the woods. It provides probably Kent's best forested terrain. Comprising some beautiful undulating, runnable woodland and a plethora of line, point and other land features.

1:10,000 scale map with 5m contours, by Peel Land Surveys, used at our May 2021 National event. Maps will be printed on A4 waterproof paper.

Facilities

The nearest toilets are at Ashford supermarkets

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Karen Ransley

Organiser: Nicholas Betts

Important Event 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.

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 someone to meet you before your start.

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.

Privacy: when entering our events your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports. Read our privacy policy to see how we look after your personal data.

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.