Scotney Castle Estate. Kent Night Cup 19

Event Report

This was the first time the whole Estate has been used for a KNC round, although there was a score event held here last July. Considering last summer's results it looked just feasible to make it a simple score event (no 'funny business' as Nick Barrable would put it). 

The car park location meant that the Start & Finish would be in the parkland, and slightly awkward with the large out-of-bounds area nearby. To give everyone some choices I positioned half the controls within reasonable reach of the S/F. For the more ambitious there was an early decision to be made, ie whether to do a circuit of the Estate, and if so, which way round. 

The wet ground and slippery conditions in the woodland did slow people down, with winner Chris Hooker having to miss out 99 and 111. For those making a circuit, anti-clockwise was the more popular direction (10 vs 2).

There were some well-judged runs, with 6 finishing between 59 and 60 mins, and 12 between 58 and 60 mins.

Thanks for coming, specially with the inclement weather, and to control collectors Christine & Keith, Alison & Brendon, Sarah Howes and Sam & Andrew.

Event held courtesy the National Trust.

Mark Glaisher

Pre Event Info

Location

Nearest town: Lamberhurst

• Grid Ref:
• Postcode: TN3 8JN
• Latitude: 51.09278
• Longitude: 0.40820
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

Note that there are extensive roadworks on the A21 betweenTonbridge and Pembury - please allow sufficient time to get to the event.

Parking is in the main NT car park. Signed from the A21 SE of Lamberhurst. Use postcode TN3 8JN and once on the A21 follow the Brown Tourist Signs for Scotney Castle. Nearest  Railway stations (none nearby): Wadhurst 10km, Marden 11km, Tunbridge Wells 15km.

Registration & Start Times

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

Please bring your SI dibber to Registration (if you have one). For event safety purposes you will be asked to fill in a KNC Registration Card (if you haven’t done so at a previous event).                                                            

Briefing and mass start at 19:30 sharp. New volunteers to collect controls will be much appreciated.                                                         

Order food for apres-O at Registration

Course Information

60 minute score suitable for all abilities. 22 controls numbered 90 – 111; controls may be visited in any order. 10 points per control with 10 points penalty per minute/part minute beyond 60 minutes.

If you are new to Night Orienteering and would like someone to help you get started please email the organiser or make yourself known on the night.

1:10,000 scale map with 5m contours, updated 2015. Maps will be printed on A4 waterproof paper.

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. Carrying a whistle is mandatory (as a casualty, blow six short blasts, wait 1 min, repeat). A cagoule may be required if there's inclement weather.

Terrain Description

Mixed forest, parkland and fields. A good variety and particularly hilly in the eastern part!

Facilities

Apres O & Prizegiving: The Brown Trout, The Down, TN3 8HA (less than 1km away). From the Castle exit, follow B2169 towards The Down and it’s on the left after 400m.

Food to be ordered at registration.

Prize giving will take place in the pub afterwards.

Contacts / Officials

Planner & Organiser: Mark Glaisher

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.

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.