Summer event at Haysden country park

Location

Nearest town: Tonbridge

• Grid Ref: TQ572459
• Postcode: TN11 9BB
• Latitude: 51.18998
• Longitude: 0.24976
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

Parking at Haysden Country Park central car park; Postcode TN11 9BB. Access from Lower Haysden Lane, parking charge £1.40 up to 4 hrs. £4 over 4 hours. Height barrier 2m. What3Words ///pretty.sits.proper. 

Public Transport options

Tonbridge station is a pleasant 1.5km walk through the park.

Registration & Start Times

Starts 11am - 12.30.

Course Information

Two courses. Firstly a 'trail challenge' course of approximately 10 km where you must visit all controls in order. The controls will be easy to find and there will be route choice between the controls (taking advantage of the many natural and man made barriers to give you different options). Secondly a 60 minute score course, find as many controls as possible in the time limit. 

Both courses are suitable for people with no or limited orienteering experience, with the score course a better option for those that prefer a shorter course.

Please note that, in accordance with British Orienteering rules, as the 'Trail Challenge' runs along and crosses public roads in part of the course, under 16s are only able to compete with an accompanying adult.

Hot Weather: In the event of very warm weather (ie 30 degrees plus), the trail challenge course will be shortened. The score course has no set distance, so can be taken at a slower pace in hot weather.

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

Entry in advance on RaceSignUp: https://racesignup.co.uk/site/event.php?eventid=2869

Run on your own or in a group. Orienteering club members receive a discount. Non members welcome. 

Individual (club member/non-member)
    Senior: £5.00/£7.00
    Junior: £3.00
Group (2-5 people e.g. family running Score course together)
    Entry Fee: £10.00
 

Terrain Description

Haysden is an area of many barriers: lakes, rivers, railways, locks, bridges, fences, paths. This gives a great route choice challenge between controls. There is some woodland and grassland, though at this time of year most controls will be on or near paths. 

You can get a sense of the terrain by looking at a map and courses from a previous event on 'Routegadget' see https://www.saxons.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#26

Facilities

Cafe and toilets near car park. As this is a small orienteering event we will not be supplying water so please bring your own. If it's very hot, the cafe may run out or there could be a queue for drinks and ice cream!

Dogs allowed?

Allowed (on a lead).

Contacts / Officials

planner: David Kingdon