Victoria ParkSat 2 Sept

Beryl presents Alan with the BBQ Cup
Credit: Alison Howe

Saxons Summer Picnic & Ultrasprint

Social level event

Terrain type: Parkland

Results

Report

Firstly thank you to all who came to Victoria Park for the Ultrasprint and picnic. The weather was kind, the food delicious and the company superb. I hope everyone enjoyed the experience and forgave the slight mishaps from the organiser. Thanks to Brendon for mapping the area and helping on the day. Another special thank you to Peter Dobra for sorting out the results.

Well done Alan - an Ultrasprint Maestro! We look forward to whatever devilish plan you come up with for 2024.

We had three juniors competing and 1st was George Ransley, 2nd Holly Howe and 3rd Harriet Evans, well done.

Finally if you are missing a blue earthenware pot, please let me know.

Looking forward to seeing you all at Graham's event in Kemsley in 3 weeks time.

Beryl

Last updated: Mon 04 September, 2023

Overview

The Saxons annual summer club gathering is fun orienteering event combined with food and a chance to natter with other club members.

This year we are in Victoria Park in Ashford to try out Ultrasprint orienteering using a new map of the recently renovated park.

The Picnic
The club will be providing a fair proportion of the food, but members will be encouraged to bring something to bolster the provision. Beryl, our event organiser, will make appropriate suggestions to make sure we don't have too much of any one thing, however, if you have a signature dish (sweet or savoury) you'd like to suggest I'm sure that'd be super. The picnic will be along the lines of the 50th Anniversary Do last year for those that remember it!

If you are intending to come please contact Beryl as soon as possible.

You will need to bring chairs/picnic blanket, plates, cutlery, cups etc, and your own choice of drink (Ashford Borough Council have stipulated no alcohol in the Park, so no champagne again!). We will erect the Gazebo and bring some large tables to lay out all the food.

Ultrasprint
Ultrasprint is a series of three very short 1km orienteering line courses around the park. You can take a break in between each circuit, and can undertake the three routes in any order. You'll have 90 minutes to complete the three routes. The winner will be the one with the shortest overall time.

Sounds too easy? read Course Information below for the grizzly details...

Location Info

Near: Ashford
Lat,Lng: 51.14432,0.86378
What3Words: ///acid.warm.bikes

Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap

Directions / Parking

We will be basing ourselves in the centre of the 'formal' part of the park about 100m west from the fountain. You will see the club Gazebo and saxons banner.

Victoria Park is situated off Jemmetts Road, Ashford. Parking on adjacent roads is sometimes possible but limited (Park run on Saturday morning 9am) max 2 hours too.

A better option would be to park in Victoria Road Car Park TN23 7HE which is usually quiet. Cards/cash/Ringo no 26667. £1.20 per hr up to 4 hours. 5 mins walk.
Alternatively there's Elwick Place Car Park TN23 1DY. Cash/cards/Ringo no 26666.
£2.40 for 2 hrs min then £3.60 for 3 hrs. 10 mins walk.

Public Transport Options

Ashford International and Ashford Bus Station are both a short walk from Victoria Park.

Map / Terrain

Terrain is parkland so shorts and vests are permitted. Road or light trail shoes are fine for the terrain.

Course Information

In order to make things a little more challenging and to level the playing field somewhat there are a number of complications with the courses:

• No Control Numbers - The Control Number for each control is not marked on the map or any Control Descriptions. You will need to use your map reading skills to work out the correct feature and read the control descriptions carefully to make sure you're punching the correct control.
• Penalties for bad punches - If you punch an incorrect control, or punch additional controls you will be penalised with a 30 second penalty for each infraction.
• Multiple Controls on a feature - There may be more than one control on a feature. You will need to use your control description reading skills to punch the right control. You'll be penalised for punching the wrong control, or both controls.
• No Kites - As most of the control locations are easily seen from the previous control kites will not be used to mark any control except the start and finish.

Hints and Tips

For any of you who've not taken part in an Ultrasprint before, here are some tips that may help you:

• Accuracy is better than speed. Slow and steady will win the race.
• Memorise each control description as you head to that control.
• A compass may help you identify which is the correct control by ascertaining the location of the control on any feature.
• Most controls are placed on trees. Trees are categorised on this special map as: small, medium and large - based on trunk size at head height (ish)
• In addition, there are a number of non-standard symbols used on the map such as: Bench, Sign, Waste Bin, Lamp Post. Check out the legend on the map to familiarise yourself.
• We're using standard SI dibbers to avoid any mispunching that might occur with SIAC (controls very close together). If you don't have a standard dibber you can borrow one on the day.
• Terrain is parkland so shorts are permitted. No separate control description sheets, just those printed on the map.
• Juniors and novices - familiarise yourself with symbolic control descriptions as we're using these on the map instead of text descriptions you may be used to. You'll need to know the symbol for Tree (Christmas tree shape), Lamp Post (black circle - O ) and Short Pillar (solid square). More importantly the additional info about where the control is on the feature should be understood. For example O. would mean the control is on the South East side of the feature. There's a great online quiz to help you to learn symbols at https://www.maprunner.co.uk/cd/

Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here

Entry Details

The event will be free for Saxons members and their families, but please let Beryl know if you are intending to come along.

Registration and Start times

Registration from 10.30. Start will be at 11.00

Facilities

Brand new toilets and cafe.

Dog restrictions

Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a lead. Probably better that dogs are not on the course or you may get tied up with dog lead, or entangle others.

Contacts / Officials

Organiser: Beryl Pring. Contact Beryl here

Nearest A&E Hospital

William Harvey Hospital, Ashford TN24 0LZ
NHS Urgent care search

Safety Notes

Please watch out for other park users. Courses have been set to avoid the busy kids' play area. Do watch out for dogs off leads. There are some significant bodies of water, but courses do not go near them.